Event
Energy Efficiency & Net Zero for Heritage Buildings: Real Solutions
A practical discussion on improving energy efficiency & cutting carbon in heritage & listed buildings & how innovative solutions can help.
Energy Efficiency & Net Zero for Heritage Buildings: Real Solutions
Heritage and listed buildings form a significant part of commercial, public and institutional estates, yet many can be costly to operate, difficult to maintain and challenging to upgrade.
With rising energy costs, net zero commitments and the need to keep buildings fit for purpose, owners and occupiers are increasingly asking the same question:
How can heritage and listed buildings be made more energy‑efficient while respecting and protecting their unique architectural or historic significance & value?
In this webinar we will explore the realities of retrofitting heritage and listed buildings in commercial and institutional settings, focusing on what is achievable, what works in practice, and sharing examples of what is being done. In particular we’ll look at how innovative solutions can make a difference: both improving energy efficiency AND protecting unique building characteristics.
Why this matters for heritage building owners and occupiers
Many heritage buildings were never designed for modern energy demands. As a result, organisations often face:
- High and unpredictable energy costs
- Poor thermal comfort and internal conditions
- Pressure to meet energy, carbon and net zero targets
- Concerns about damaging heritage value or breaching constraints
Retrofitting is not about changing the character of these buildings, it’s about protecting their long‑term use, performance and value.
Well‑planned, sensitive retrofit can:
- Reduce running costs and energy waste
- Improve comfort and usability for occupants and visitors
- Support decarbonisation and energy targets
- Help protect the building fabric by reducing damp and condensation
- Future‑proof assets against evolving standards and expectations
- Enhance the significance and value of a heritage (historic) building and secure it for future generations
- Enhance the aesthetic significance with sympathetic interventions
What you’ll learn
Through practical insight and real‑world examples, the discussion will cover:
- Key challenges faced when improving energy performance in heritage and listed buildings
- Common myths that prevent progress – and how they can be addressed
- Retrofit projects already delivered or underway, and what’s being learned from them
- What ‘good’ looks like when planning energy efficiency and decarbonisation work
- How opportunities are identified and progressed, including what decision‑makers should look for and ask
Who should attend?
This session is ideal for:
Building owners, occupiers and decision‑makers, including:
- Local authorities and councils
- Universities and education estates
- Museums, galleries and cultural buildings
- NHS and healthcare organisations
- Commercial organisations responsible for heritage or listed assets
Innovators and solution providers seeking to better understand:
- The realities of working in heritage contexts
- Buyer needs, constraints and priorities
- Where effective retrofit opportunities exist
Why attend
You’ll leave with:
- Greater confidence about what is possible for heritage retrofit
- Insight to support better decision‑making and business cases
- Clearer understanding of how energy efficiency can align with conservation goals
- Practical learning that can be applied to real buildings and estates