The toolkit for a holistic and multi-scale planning of the future-proofing of historical neighbourhoods and deep renovation of townhouses creates a clear plan for the clean energy future for heritage buildings. It includes:
Click in the boxes below and find out more about the toolkit.
Holistic transdisciplinary assessment methodology of the historical buildings
HeriTACE partners develop a new way to evaluate the best energy-saving upgrades for historic buildings and neighborhoods. This approach looks at the issue from many angles, making it easier for conservation authorities, building owners, and designers to work together when choosing retrofitting solutions.
The model is built on both people's experiences and measurable data. It draws on interviews with residents and owners, surveys, and assessments of a building's heritage value, while also improving existing evaluation methods.
One feature of the model is a "visibility map," which shows how much different parts of a historic building can be seen from public spaces. This helps to understand which areas are most noticeable to citizens and therefore most sensitive to changes in public perception.
Overall, the method offers conservation authorities a clear guide for making decisions about energy retrofits in historic urban areas. By combining public perception with detailed information about the buildings, it ensures that upgrades save energy while respecting cultural heritage.
TargetDemonstrate in case-study heritage townhouses in three climate zones, representing 1-10% of the building stock.
Optimal and integrated design approach tool on renovation technical solutions
Current renovation methods for heritage buildings often use standard energy-efficiency measures designed for modern buildings. However, these don't always work well in older structures, where insulation, air tightness, and heating/cooling systems interact differently. Traditional calculation methods can't fully predict how these measures perform in real life, and advanced energy simulations are rarely used because they're costly.
The HeriTACE project aims to change this. It focuses on making heritage buildings smarter, more adaptable to users' needs, and better connected to renewable energy sources (R²ES). Because energy use depends on factors like weather, time of day, and how people move through rooms, HeriTACE uses dynamic, multi-zone simulations. These models capture how the building, its systems, and local energy sources work together.
The project develops a new design method that integrates the building envelope, HVAC, and renewable systems with smart controls. By testing different renovation scenarios for common heritage building types across various climates and user behaviours, HeriTACE creates practical guidelines and tools for architects and designers. These results also feed into a broader assessment model useful for conservation bodies, planners, and building owners, ensuring energy upgrades respect both heritage value and sustainability goals.
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