Energy efficiency and traditional buildings

The most sustainable building is one which already exists and avoids the increase in carbon emissions from a new build. Many of the UK’s 5.9 million pre-1919 buildings can provide opportunities to help achieve net zero through carefully considered retrofit measures.  

However, pre-1919 buildings have generally been designed differently from those built later, especially in terms of how they manage heat and moisture. Buildings of traditional construction in the district generally have solid masonry walls with no integrated moisture barrier. This is unlike modern buildings which tend to be of cavity wall construction.

While modern buildings depend on barriers which ensure that the structure is watertight, traditional solid walled buildings cyclically absorb and release moisture through their fabric. This process depends on maintaining an equilibrium of heating and ventilation, which can be easily upset by changes to the building, causing unintended consequences. This is known as maladaptation. For this reason, it is crucial that a ‘whole building approach’ is taken when seeking to find an appropriate retrofit solution.

This approach involves understanding the building’s significance, fabric, its location and needs of its occupants. The measures should be designed to prioritise those with the biggest impact on carbon reduction and lowest impact on heritage significance. This is known as ‘Responsible Retrofit’; a risk-based approach to retrofit endorsed by the Sustainable Traditional Buildings Alliance (STBA)

• Find out more in our new energy efficiency & tradition buildings guide.

Last updated: 17 December 2024