Adapting Historic Buildings for Energy and Carbon Efficiency
Historic England Advice Note 18
As historic buildings continue to change and evolve, they need to contribute to a greener future and be fit for purpose for the people who live in, experience and care for them. If done thoughtfully and carefully, changes to historic buildings can achieve the complementary goals of protecting our heritage and adapting to climate change. Keeping historic buildings in use, through sensitive repair, maintenance and adaptation, can help to reduce carbon emissions, reliance on fossil fuels, and energy costs.
The Advice Note provides:
- Advice on 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
- Advice to assist local planning authorities – and other parties involved in the planning process – in determining proposals to decarbonise and improve the energy efficiency of historic buildings to enable positive climate action. Some typical building adaptations in response to climate change impacts are also included
- Signposting to other relevant information, advice, and guidance.
Whilst primarily aimed at a specialist audience (such as local planning authorities, heritage consultants and those involved in the planning process), it will also be useful to building owners and occupiers.
Contents
- The need for climate action
- Climate action through adapting historic buildings: an approach
- Permissions and decision-making
- Climate action through adapting historic buildings: common interventions
- Glossary
- Abbreviations
Case studies
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Climate Change Adaptation Case Study: A 'Whole Building' Approach at a Medieval Chapel: Becket’s Chapel, Norfolk
A climate change adaptation case study of implementing roofing insulation and low-carbon heating at a medieval chapel.
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Climate Change Adaptation Case Study: Cooling A Country House
This case study shows how installing awnings to a country house helped cool a home that had been overheating in summer months.
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Climate Change Adaptation Case Study: Installing Solar Panels at Chester Cathedral
This case study shows how the staff at a Grade I listed cathedral gained consent for installing solar panels.
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Climate Change Adaptation Case Study: Ledston Hall, West Yorkshire
This case study shows how to take pragmatic decisions to improve the thermal performance of a historic building by improving its windows sensitively.
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Climate Change Adaptation Case Study: Chippenham Hall
This case study shows how owners of a stately home gained consent for installing solar panels in the registered landscape near the listed building.
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Energy Efficiency Improvements in a Modern Listed Building: The Herman Miller Factory
A case study about making a Listed 1970s steel framed building more energy efficient as part of the building’s adaptation to a new use.
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Updating a Stone Farmhouse and Barn to Create an Energy Efficient and Comfortable Home
This case study is about adding insulation and secondary glazing to make a stone farmhouse a more comfortable home to live in.
Additional Information
- Series: Guidance
- Publication Status: Completed
- Pages: 47
- Product Code: HEAG321
Accessibility
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