Can Heritage Buildings Be Made More Sustainable?

As we strive to reach net zero by 2050, heritage buildings can be even more tricky to make sustainable whether privately owned or looked after by a charity or organisation.

There’s no doubt that trying to conserve the character of a heritage building while complying with listed status regulations can make it more difficult to introduce greener measures.

However, there are still many improvements you can introduce to improve energy efficiency, slash energy bills and cut the carbon emissions.

Historic England Advice

A great to place to start is Historic England’s advice in Adapting Historic Buildings for Energy and Carbon Efficiency report and its Energy Efficiency and Retrofit in Historic Buildings.

The organisation promotes a whole building approach prioritising interventions that are proportionate, effective and sustainable.

It suggests starting with low impact interventions such as examining how areas are heated and installing smart thermostat controls to regulate the temperature can help lower energy prices.

Block The Drafts

One of the most cost-effective ways to reduce energy consumption and cut emissions in heritage buildings is to draught proof chimney flues and block any chimneys that are no longer used.

You can also draft proof doors and windows though it depends on how fragile the windows are because grooves need to be cut into the joinery in order to fit the draught strips. However, it can be done in such a way as not to harm the frames.

Any draft proofing isn’t likely to need listed building permission, according to Historic England.

Double Glazing

Secondary glazing can make a huge difference to the warmth of a building and energy consumption, though for historic buildings it usually has to be very thin compared to modern glazing. Again, it is unlikely to need listed building consent.

Insulate, Insulate, Insulate!

Loft insulation is another easy way to improve a building’s thermal performance and probably won’t need listed consent.

You could also investigate insulating the floor void where the floorboards hang over a space. It is fine to do insulate the area as long as the floor level isn’t changed and no harm comes to historic floor surfaces.

Wall insulation isn’t permitted though you may be able to insulate external walls.

Keep Your Buildings Cool In The Summer

This might sound counterintuitive when you consider many heritage buildings are often drafty and cold in the winter.

Yet during hot weather the south side of a building can become uncomfortably stuffy without protection from the solar glare.

External awnings, blinds and shutters can all help reduce the temperature by five degrees and are allowed on listed buildings as long as they’d don’t impact the architectural integrity of the building.

Many buildings in the 19th and early 20th centuries were built with these features and you may find evidence they were fixed to a building in the past. It is also worth looking at similar buildings to see if there are historical precedents.

Guard Against Sun Damage Without Impacting A Building's Character

Blinds are excellent at protecting historic artefacts from fading and other sun damage in heritage buildings and you will often see them in the windows of historic homes.

External blinds are usually fitted to the window reveals so they are barely visible and don’t impact the character or fabric of the building.

The special weave of the fabric allows light to enter the window while blocking harmful solar rays and allow occupants to enjoy the view outside.

External & Internal Blind Solutions To Complex Heritage Problems

We also specialise in installing external and internal blinds, especially in unusual and difficult spaces such as atria and high ceilings.

Our range of classic styles and finishes are tailored to your exact needs and are motorised so they can be controlled remotely.

Our extensive experience and passion for preserving architectural history means we understand how to design and fit both external blinds and internal commercial blinds and complement the period features of your restoration projects.

If you’d like to speak to one of our specialists, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.