Historical structures could slash carbon emissions by an estimated 5%

Historical structures could slash carbon emissions by an estimated 5%

In a bid to combat climate change, the historic Chester Cathedral has recently installed 206 solar panels on its roof, serving as a shining example of the potential for energy efficiency improvements in historic buildings. This case study is just one of many presented in a new Advice Note published by Historic England.

The document, titled "Adapting Historic Buildings for Energy and Carbon Efficiency," offers clear advice to local planning authorities, heritage consultants, and those involved in the planning process, as well as building owners and occupiers. The Note is divided into four sections, each addressing a different aspect of adapting historic buildings for energy efficiency.

However, the Note highlights that improving the energy efficiency of older establishments comes with its own unique challenges. To address these challenges, a holistic, project-specific approach is recommended. This approach integrates careful technical expertise with tailored training and guidance, aligned with Historic England's Advice Note.

Key strategies include specialist skill development and training, collaboration with heritage and retrofit technical advisors, comprehensive retrofit planning, capacity building through specialist training programs, early-stage assessment of retrofit opportunities, and promoting awareness of updated building regulations.

The lack of skills, training, and capacity within local planning authorities is a significant obstacle to obtaining planning and listed building consent for retrofitting older establishments, as revealed in the government report 'Adapting Historic Homes for Energy Efficiency: A Review of the Barriers.' To overcome this, local planning authorities and heritage consultants must combine targeted skills training, thorough assessment, expert collaboration, and adherence to evolving technical guidance.

The Note also aims to ensure England's historic buildings are adapted appropriately to respond to the climate crisis. By adopting these strategies, it is hoped that the energy efficiency of older buildings can be improved, potentially reducing emissions from buildings by 5% annually. The Note provides advice on various energy efficient improvements, including insulation, boilers and heating systems, heat pumps, draft-proofing, replacing or adapting windows, and installing solar panels.

One case study presented in the document involves a Medieval chapel, where Historic Norfolk guided a conservation architect, a retrofit specialist, and heritage consultants through the planning and listed building consent process for energy efficiency improvements. The Note explains what permissions, such as listed building consent, are needed for some of the common changes required to decarbonise and improve the energy efficiency of historic buildings.

Ian Morrison, Director of Policy and Evidence at Historic England, states that the Advice Note demonstrates how the sustainable use and reuse of historic buildings can help address the impacts of climate change. The Note serves as a valuable resource for local planning authorities and heritage consultants, providing them with the knowledge and tools necessary to effectively address the lack of skills, training, and capacity to retrofit older establishments for energy efficiency.

[1] Historic England (2021). Adapting Historic Buildings for Energy and Carbon Efficiency. [Online] Available at: https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/adapting-historic-buildings-for-energy-and-carbon-efficiency/ [2] Historic England (2021). Part L: Conservation of Historic Buildings. [Online] Available at: https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/part-l-conservation-of-historic-buildings/ [3] Historic England (2021). Retrofitting Historic Buildings: Guidance for Owners and Occupiers. [Online] Available at: https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/retrofitting-historic-buildings-guidance-for-owners-and-occupiers/ [4] Historic England (2021). Retrofitting Historic Buildings: Guidance for Planning and Conservation Officers. [Online] Available at: https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/retrofitting-historic-buildings-guidance-for-planning-and-conservation-officers/ [5] Historic England (2021). Historic Landscape Characterisation. [Online] Available at: https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/historic-landscape-characterisation/

1. The new Advice Note published by Historic England, titled "Adapting Historic Buildings for Energy and Carbon Efficiency," proposes strategies like specialist skill development, collaboration with heritage and retrofit technical advisors, and adherence to evolving technical guidance to improve the energy efficiency of historic buildings.
2. The Note also emphasizes the need for sustainable finance and energy management in historic buildings, recommending the use of renewable energy sources such as solar panels, as demonstrated by the Chester Cathedral's recent solar panel installation.
3. To effectively address the lack of skills and training in local planning authorities, the Note suggests combining targeted skills training, thorough assessment, expert collaboration, and adherence to updated building regulations, as identified in the government report 'Adapting Historic Homes for Energy Efficiency: A Review of the Barriers.'
4. Furthermore, the Note serves as a valuable resource for the industry, providing environmental-science-based advice on various energy-efficient improvements such as insulation, boilers, heat pumps, draft-proofing, window replacements, and solar panel installations.

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