Energy Efficiency in traditional buildings
This draft guidance has been developed as an action of the Climate Action Plan 2019 (Action 50d) to develop guidance for retrofitting traditional buildings. |
Public Consultation Document
The purpose of the document is to update and build upon the advice and principles included in the existing Advice Series publication ‘Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings’ in order to provide clear and robust advice to professional users, such as specifiers and installers, while being accessible to a wide audience. It has been developed by Carrig Conservation, KRA Visionary, Passivate and the IGBC.
Under Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2019, 500,000 homes must be retrofitted to a B2 equivalent Building Energy Rating (BER) or cost optimal equivalent or carbon equivalent by 2030. All public sector buildings, of which around 15% are traditional buildings, are to achieve a BER of B by 2030, with around one third of commercial properties aiming to achieve the same target. The EU’s Renovation Wave aims to at least double the annual energy renovation rates in the next ten years.
While the current emphasis on energy retrofit of buildings is important, the integrity of those buildings of traditional construction, which have a cultural heritage value, needs to be respected. To upgrade these buildings to achieve the required BER rating, or as close to it as possible, their specific physical properties and performance need to be considered. The risks of inappropriately applying energy-efficiency methods designed for use on modern construction to traditional buildings include potential damage to the character of the building, the building fabric and the health of the building occupants.
Given the nature of the historic building stock, the guidance is intended to be strategic more than prescriptive. Its purpose is to describe and, where appropriate, to illustrate best practice, what energy-efficiency outcomes this should achieve, and to establish the principles and processes by which due consideration of the factors involved can be properly considered. This guidance will be applicable to both residential and non-residential traditional buildings.
Feedback on the document can be provided until September 10th, 2021.
The public consultation document can be found here.
Feedback can be provided here.
Under Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2019, 500,000 homes must be retrofitted to a B2 equivalent Building Energy Rating (BER) or cost optimal equivalent or carbon equivalent by 2030. All public sector buildings, of which around 15% are traditional buildings, are to achieve a BER of B by 2030, with around one third of commercial properties aiming to achieve the same target. The EU’s Renovation Wave aims to at least double the annual energy renovation rates in the next ten years.
While the current emphasis on energy retrofit of buildings is important, the integrity of those buildings of traditional construction, which have a cultural heritage value, needs to be respected. To upgrade these buildings to achieve the required BER rating, or as close to it as possible, their specific physical properties and performance need to be considered. The risks of inappropriately applying energy-efficiency methods designed for use on modern construction to traditional buildings include potential damage to the character of the building, the building fabric and the health of the building occupants.
Given the nature of the historic building stock, the guidance is intended to be strategic more than prescriptive. Its purpose is to describe and, where appropriate, to illustrate best practice, what energy-efficiency outcomes this should achieve, and to establish the principles and processes by which due consideration of the factors involved can be properly considered. This guidance will be applicable to both residential and non-residential traditional buildings.
Feedback on the document can be provided until September 10th, 2021.
The public consultation document can be found here.
Feedback can be provided here.
If you would like more information or to discuss a project, please contact the office to speak to one of our conservation consultants.