Preservation of build heritage and improvement of energy efficiency are important aspects of sustainable development. Build heritage is part of the overall cultural heritage that bears cultural-historical significance and constitutes a component of human environment. Protection and preservation of heritage buildings is an obligation rooted in every community’s sense of responsibility to cherish and safeguard its cultural goods.

Simultaneously, energy and environment issues as well as the fact that buildings comprise the largest single energy drain with the biggest energy savings potential oblige us to systematically reduce energy consumption in buildings. Along with thorough and necessary modernisation and adjustment to current building requirements and life standard, energy efficiency improvements made during renovation of heritage buildings extend the buildings’ life expectancy. In the long run it also reduces expenses for the buildings’ owners and users, increases the occupants’ comfort and quality of life while positively affecting the environment and the buildings’ value.

In Croatia, energy retrofitting of buildings will make up the largest part of construction activities in the next few years, due to clearly defined energy savings and environment protection goals. Therefore, it is necessary to develop guidelines for renovation of cultural heritage buildings for the purposes of their energy efficiency improvements while respecting conservation requirements and protecting heritage buildings.

This Guidebook includes works and examples presented at the International Conference on Energy Management in Cultural Heritage (2011) held in Dubrovnik. It represents an excellent first step towards establishing national guidelines and recommendations for energy efficiency improvement during renovation of listed buildings. A multidisciplinary approach to energy renovation and synergies between heritage buildings and application of contemporary principles of energy efficiency is the only correct approach to systematic management of existing buildings. 

In accordance with the conclusions reached at the Conference, the Croatian legislation introduced mandatory regular energy audits and certifications of heritage buildings, thus providing the first and necessary step towards the implementation of energy efficiency measures in those valuable and important buildings.

UNDP website : Energy Efficiency and Energy Management in Cultural Heritage - Case Studies Guidebook [pdf; 15MB]