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Towards the Necessary Decarbonization of Historic Buildings: A Review

Author

Listed:
  • Manuela Almeida

    (Department of Civil Engineering, ISISE, ARISE, Campus de Azurém, Guimarães, University of Minho, 4800-058 Braga, Portugal)

  • Fabrizio Ascione

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125 Napoli, Italy)

  • Anna Iaccheo

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125 Napoli, Italy)

  • Teresa Iovane

    (Department of Industrial Engineering, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125 Napoli, Italy)

  • Margherita Mastellone

    (Department of Architecture, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Toledo 402, 80134 Napoli, Italy)

Abstract

The critical and urgent issue of decarbonization by 2050 needs to include the existing historical built environment in the process of energy requalification. These buildings, subjected to heritage preservation, are extremely inadequate to the modern standards of energy efficiency and thermal comfort, and they exhibit the poorest energy performance. In this study, a review of the existing scientific literature on the matter of energy renovation processes applied to historic buildings is provided. The reviewed papers, selected from scientific databases, were initially categorized according to their reference scale—either individual buildings or urban contexts. Subsequently, the papers were grouped on the basis of the main energy efficiency levels they investigated. The goal is to offer a comprehensive overview of the materials, technologies and strategies currently in use, as well as future perspectives, to aid the ecological transition and foster sustainable development, all while preserving the artistic, cultural and architectural heritage of these buildings.

Suggested Citation

  • Manuela Almeida & Fabrizio Ascione & Anna Iaccheo & Teresa Iovane & Margherita Mastellone, 2025. "Towards the Necessary Decarbonization of Historic Buildings: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(3), pages 1-48, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:18:y:2025:i:3:p:502-:d:1573833
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Cho, Hyun Mi & Yun, Beom Yeol & Yang, Sungwoong & Wi, Seunghwan & Chang, Seong Jin & Kim, Sumin, 2020. "Optimal energy retrofit plan for conservation and sustainable use of historic campus building: Case of cultural property building," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    2. Qu, Ke & Chen, Xiangjie & Wang, Yixin & Calautit, John & Riffat, Saffa & Cui, Xin, 2021. "Comprehensive energy, economic and thermal comfort assessments for the passive energy retrofit of historical buildings - A case study of a late nineteenth-century Victorian house renovation in the UK," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    3. Pochwała, Sławomir & Anweiler, Stanisław & Tańczuk, Mariusz & Klementowski, Igor & Przysiężniuk, Dawid & Adrian, Łukasz & McNamara, Greg & Stevanović, Žana, 2023. "Energy source impact on the economic and environmental effects of retrofitting a heritage building with a heat pump system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(PB).
    4. Blázquez, Teresa & Ferrari, Simone & Suárez, Rafael & Sendra, Juan José, 2019. "Adaptive approach-based assessment of a heritage residential complex in southern Spain for improving comfort and energy efficiency through passive strategies: A study based on a monitored flat," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 504-520.
    5. Cho, Hyun Mi & Yang, Sungwoong & Wi, Seunghwan & Chang, Seong Jin & Kim, Sumin, 2020. "Hygrothermal and energy retrofit planning of masonry façade historic building used as museum and office: A cultural properties case study," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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