Energy performance of built heritage in the subarctic climate zone of northern Sweden : Applying existing standards and methodologies for improving energy efficiency of built heritage

• Main Author: Vilhelmsson, Petter
• Format: Bachelor Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Luleå tekniska universitet, Institutionen för samhällsbyggnad och naturresurser 2019
• Subjects: Cultural heritage; cultural value assessment; energy improvement; energy performance; refurbishment measures; Energibesparing; energiprestanda; kulturarv; kulturvärdesbedömning; renoveringsåtgärder; Civil Engineering; Samhällsbyggnadsteknik; Norra Sverige; Northern Sweden; Subarctic; subarktisk
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-73733

In Sweden, as well as in Europe, buildings are estimated to consume 40 % of the total energyuse. Moreover, one third of the European building stock consists of buildings with some sort ofdistinguable cultural or historic significance, and it follows logically that a considerablepercentage of Sweden’s and Europe’s total energy is consumed by this category of buildings –historic buildings. Especially when considering that historic buildings typically have inferiorenergy performance than other buildings. The challenge to improve the energy performance inhistoric buildings while also taking heritage values into consideration is undertaken within thescope of this master’s thesis. The European standard “Conservation of cultural heritage –Guidelines for improving the energy performance of historic buildings” (SS-EN 16883:2017) ispartially applied to a case-building in order to approach the challenge methodically.The energy performance of a building and proposed refurbishment measures is evaluatedthrough the use of computer-generated building energy models. Three different scenarios withsets of refurbishment measures have been simulated; (1) light impact, (2) moderate impact and(3) heavy impact on heritage values. Categorization of the refurbishment measures have beenaccomplished by using an objectivistic approach based on contemporary conservation theoriesand definitions. The theoretical framework is primarily based on conservation practices laid outby the Burra Charter.The light refurbishment package would reduce the heating energy use by almost 11 % whilehaving little to no impact on the building’s heritage values. The moderate package would reducethe heating energy use by 34,5 % without having a major impact on the building’s heritagevalues. The most invasive refurbishment package would, the heavy refurbishment package,would reduce the heating energy use by almost 40 %. This significant energy use reductionwould not come without its drawbacks. This package of measures would infact alter some of theexpressed ...