European Heritage Homes and EPBD

Energy Performance of Buildings Directive is one of the key legislative documents that influences the built heritage. To foster the inclusion of the heritage sector and heritage aspects in the implemantation of the directive, the ICOMOS Europe group created an …

Energy and Environmental Improvement of Built Heritage

The integration of environmental design and conservation theory provides a valuable framework for guiding climate mitigation interventions on built heritage and preventing maladaptation. After outlining the theoretical foundations of this approach, the presentation showcases case studies from research projects that …

Maintenance as Sustainability Strategy for Historic Housing

Building maintenance has long been an established part of building conservation work, but through maintenance and small, benign changes, significant improvements to a building’s energy performance and carbon emissions can be achieved while preserving the building’s cultural value in a …

Year: 2026 Authors: Dr. James Ritson Source: ICOMOS Estonia Type: , Topic: , , , , , , , Region: Language:

Decarbonizing the Built Environment through Heritage

Built heritage around the world demonstrates a range of proven, measurable, and largely underrecognized decarbonization solutions. This presentation will share principles, case studies, and key policy levers from the Decarbonizing the Built Environment through Heritage initiative and present how built …

The Role of Cultural Heritage in Global Climate Policies

The presentation highlights current trends and strategies for cultural heritage and historic buildings in climate policies within UNFCCC and UNESCO processes from the perspective of ICOMOS contributions. The author argues for the importance of implementation pathways and mechanisms that move …

The Role of Historic Buildings in Climate Policies in Europe

The presentation will be about the role of the EU`s policies in responding to the different threats of climate change and how they affect cultural heritage, what kind of technologies are available to tackle the challenges highlighted by examples from …

Conference “European Heritage Homes in Climate Policies and Action”

Europe’s green transition must build upon its cultural foundations. Europe’s path toward climate neutrality must be one that values its past as much as its future. Historic buildings are living witnesses of our shared heritage, identity, and craftsmanship – yet …

Understanding carbon in the historic environment : scoping study

The UK is committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2050, necessitating fundamental changes in energy sources and end uses over the next three decades. As climate change mitigation policy continues to grow in importance, securing and communicating opportunities to improve …

Year: 2019 Authors: Duffy, Aidan / Nerguti, Aneta / Engel Purcell, Caroline / Cox, Peter Source: Historic England Type: Topic: , , , , Region: Language:

A study of architectural measures to reduce overheating

Historic England commissioned this report to identify historic architectural measures that can demonstrate and support England’s historic buildings in adapting to the changing climate. The purpose of this report is to investigate how passive architectural measures, such as awnings or …

Year: 2026 Authors: Ruhlig, Vanessa / Boddington, Jen Source: Historic England Type: , Topic: , , , , , Region: Language:

Heat pumps in historic buildings : air source heat pump case studies – large buildings

Electrifying heat is key to reducing reliance on fossil fuels for historic buildings. No technology is better placed to electrify heat for space heating than heat pumps. The technology is mature, and if the whole heating system is well designed …

Year: 2026 Authors: McNaughton, Dan Source: Historic England's case studies Type: Topic: , , , , , Region: Language: