Energy Efficiency and Preservation in Our Cultural Heritage

Energy Efficiency and Preservation in Our Cultural Heritage, EEPOCH, concerns our builtheritage. The aim is to find models for integrated balancing of energy and preservationdemands.Preserved objects for a number of case studies are chosen within the co-operation project HallandModel performed in the County of Halland in the 1990s recession. The aim at that time was regionalgrowth, strengthening competitiveness, sustainability and development of building conservation.For economists a buildings lifecycle is about 50 years and during this time the lion’s share of the costslies within managing. A building holds many investments and physical resources within. Henceenergy efficiency is considered a key action and a path to social, financial and environmentalsustainability. The potential is pointed out in the existing building stock. What this implies for thebuilding itself is rarely mentioned.In officially protected monuments energy efficiency is of minor interest. But most of our olderbuilding stock is not protected and the buildings are not considered as monuments. How about allthese buildings not so ancient and sometimes at risk, yet important for the cityscape and for theexperience of a neighbourhood? Are these tangible and intangible values protected when energyexperts do their job according to the directive 2010/31/EU on energy performance? There is a complexset of problems that hold between energy efficiency and preservation perspective. In Halland bothperspectives were taken into account in the conservation work.EEPOCH has two parts. Through generic research the case studies form a foundation for a theoreticalmodel directed on application for integrated balance of energy and preservation demands based onwell grounded practical skills and on theoretical expertise. EEPOCH is financed by the NationalEnergy Agency and local companies in Halland and these are also engaged in workshops wheresolutions evolve.The qualitative research includes interviews for analysis on communication between differentoccupational cultures to illuminate methods within and between connected professions, especiallytheir interdisciplinary approach. This part begins late autumn 2011.Cautious increase of efficiency can make our built heritage useful for the future creating attractiveenvironments with low running costs. EEPOCH will provide the models for managing of energyperformance without diminishing cultural values in our built heritage