The Italian territory faces rising energy demands, especially for cooling due to climate change and poor-quality buildings from the 1960s-1980s. Recent fuel and electricity price increases have intensified the need for energy-saving solutions. This paper explores passive design strategies for improving residential energy efficiency in Italy's Mediterranean climate. 

It reviews various passive measures, including heat reduction, heat gain, and heat protection. Specific retrofit strategies discussed are solar greenhouses, natural ventilation, and methods to manage heat transfer through building envelopes. Effective design of these envelopes, responsible for 50% of energy balance, can significantly enhance thermal performance.