Guidance for Finding a Sustainable Balance between Energy Savings and Heritage Preservation When Retrofitting Heritage Buildings

Abstract A guidance was developed to find a sustainable balance between energy savings and heritage preservation when retrofitting heritage buildings. It was applied in a study on the retrofitting of typical Alsatian heritage buildings. Seven buildings were analysed before retrofitting to evaluate them on five criteria: energy savings, heritage preservation but also comfort in winter and in summer and moisture damage. Then, compatible retrofitting works on walls, ceilings, floors, front door, windows, ventilation and heating and hot production water systems were selected in order to create three retrofitting scenarios: a high-energy efficiency scenario with moisture-permeable materials, a balance scenario between energy efficiency and heritage preservation and a high heritage preservation scenario. The results of the study showed that these sustainable retrofitting scenarios preserve heritage while saving energy and are available in a web publication headed to Alsatian private individuals. The guidance in itself can be easily replicated to other types of heritage buildings.