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As newly constructed buildings are increasingly able to achieve very low and even net zero energy consumption targets, improving the energy performance of existing buildings has become a more pressing concern. Historic buildings represent a unique subgroup of the existing building stock. By definition, these buildings hold special societal significance. They were also constructed using materials and methods no longer common in contemporary building practice, and operated to meet thermal comfort conditions no longer considered acceptable. The need to maintain their significance and avoid damage to historic building fabric imposes additional constraints.Since the advent of building energy codes in the 1970s, the dominant approach to energy efficiency in historic buildings has been exemption. Early studies suggested that older buildings had lower energy consumption per square foot than newer ones, and preservationists have attributed this trend to the presence of inherent energy-saving features in these buildings. These findings, combined with the desire to preserve significance, led to the status quo in which historic buildings are exempt from energy codes, leaving open questions about appropriate target setting and energy retrofits.This dissertation re-evaluates the dominant approach to energy efficiency in historic buildings using contemporary data and analysis methods. Each of the major parts of the established narrative are examined. First, the claim that older buildings use less energy is evaluated using a statistical model constructed from nationally representative data. Second, the concept of inherent energy-saving features is explored using a novel quantitative method. The method developed here combines building energy simulation with regionalized sensitivity analysis and tree-based classification models, and is demonstrated using a case study historic building on the Penn State campus. Third, the technical problems implementing energy retrofits in historic buildings are synthesized via a review of recent research. Overall, the findings from this dissertation suggest that the preservation community relinquish the argument that historic buildings are inherently energy efficient in favor of a more utilitarian approach to energy retrofits in these buildings.
This handbook holistically summarises the principles for the energy retrofitting of historic buildings, from the first diagnosis to the adequately designed intervention: preservation of the historic structure, user comfort, and energy efficiency. The content was developed by an interdisciplinary team of researchers. The wide range of different expertise, design examples, calculations, and measuring results from eight case studies makes this manual an indispensable tool for all architects, engineers, and energy consultants.
NOTE: NO FURTHER DISCOUNT FOR THIS PRINT PRODUCT -- OVERSTOCK SALE -- Significantly reduced list price Helps property owners, preservation professionals, and stewards of historic buildings make informed decisions when considering energy efficiency improvements to historic buildings. This brief targets primarily small-to medium-size historic buildings, both residential and commercial. However, the general decision-making principles outlined here apply to buildings of any size and complexity. This guidance is provided in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation to ensure that the architectural integrity of the historic property is preserved. Other related products: A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Sealing and Insulating With Energy Star: Sealing Air Leaks and Adding Attic Insulation is available here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/055-000-00684-9 Preservation Briefs: 15-23 (2007) is available here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/024-005-01256-7 The Seismic Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings is available here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/products/sku/024-005-01322-9 Renovation & Historic Preservation resources collection can be found here: https: //bookstore.gpo.gov/catalog/science-technology/construction-archit..."
This book provides a methodological framework to set properly the thermal enhancement and energy efficiency in historical buildings during a renovation process. It describes the unique thermal features of historical properties, closely examining how the building materials, structural elements, and state of conservation can impact energy efficiency, including sample calculations and results. It also describes means and aims of several fundamental steps to improve energy efficiency in historical buildings with an experimentation on a case study. This timely text also introduces leading-edge technologies for enhancing the energy performance of historical buildings, including the potential for integration of co- ad tri-generation though micro-turbines, photovoltaics and solar collectors and their compatibility with architectural preservation.
This guidance is for anyone who wishes to improve energy efficiency in an historic building. There are many reasons to do this. Improving energy efficiency will lower carbon emissions and fuel bills and often increase comfort. It also might be necessary to ensure that a building complies with legal requirements. More broadly, improving energy efficiency forms a part of the wider objective to achieve a sustainable environment. It is a widely held view that older buildings are not energy-efficient, and must be radically upgraded in order to improve their performance. In reality, the situation is more complicated, and assumptions about poor performance are not always justified. Even so, the energy and carbon performance of most historic buildings can be improved, which will help them remain viable and useful, now and in the future. But striking the right balance between benefit and harm is not easy. The unintended consequences of getting energy efficiency measures wrong (or doing them badly) include: harm to heritage values and significance, harm to human health and building fabric, and failure to achieve the predicted savings or reductions in environmental impact. Getting the balance right (and avoiding unintended consequences) is best done with a holistic approach that uses an understanding of a building, its context, its significance, and all the factors affecting energy use as the starting point for devising an energy-efficiency strategy. This 'whole building approach' ensures that energy-efficiency measures are suitable, robust, well integrated, properly coordinated and sustainable. In addition, this approach provides an effective framework for communication and understanding between the various parties involved in the process. These include assessors, designers, installers and the people who occupy and manage the building. A logical and systematic process of energy planning underpins the 'whole building approach'. This guidance describes the key stages of the process, illuminating any problems that might occur and providing solutions. It also includes checklists of practical measures that might be considered, along with links to sources of more detailed information about how to install these measures.
This guidance is aimed at homeowners and those managing or renting historic or older domestic buildings who may need to commission an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) or who have received one for an older property that has been purchased or rented. Details are provided on the type of information included in an EPC, how it is calculated, and its limitations as an assessment method when applied to older buildings. The guidance also covers the issues to be taken into account when commissioning an EPC and considering its recommendations. Almost every older building can accommodate some energy improvements without harming either its special interest or environmental performance. However, an appropriate balance needs to be achieved between building conservation and measures to improve energy efficiency if lasting damage is to be avoided both to a building’s character and significance and its fabric.
Buildings are one of the main causes of the emission of greenhouse gases in the world. Europe alone is responsible for more than 30% of emissions, or about 900 million tons of CO2 per year. Heating and air conditioning are the main cause of greenhouse gas emissions in buildings. Most buildings currently in use were built with poor energy efficiency criteria or, depending on the country and the date of construction, none at all. Therefore, regardless of whether construction regulations are becoming stricter, the real challenge nowadays is the energy rehabilitation of existing buildings. It is currently a priority to reduce (or, ideally, eliminate) the waste of energy in buildings and, at the same time, supply the necessary energy through renewable sources. The first can be achieved by improving the architectural design, construction methods, and materials used, as well as the efficiency of the facilities and systems; the second can be achieved through the integration of renewable energy (wind, solar, geothermal, etc.) in buildings. In any case, regardless of whether the energy used is renewable or not, the efficiency must always be taken into account. The most profitable and clean energy is that which is not consumed.