Basics of energy-efficiency of renovation of existing office buildings and restoration of listed buildings

Abstract

The article highlights the basics of energy-efficiency of renovation of existing office buildings, adaptive reuse of buildings for the office function and energy restoration of listed buildings. The advantages of renovation over the new construction in terms of sustainability and reduction of energy consumption were considered. Three different approaches to energy renovation were studied, depending on the location of the buildings and their listing status: existing buildings located outside the historical areas of the cities; existing buildings located in the historical areas of cities; and listed buildings. Principles and methods of energy-efficient renovation of existing office buildings and energy restoration of listed buildings were reviewed. As for the listed buildings, during the modernization or restoration aiming the increase of energy efficiency - the material component of the buildings, which determines its authenticity, should be preserved as much as possible. Regarding the renovation of existing not listed buildings but located in the historical areas - the height, scale, plastic solution, character, finishing materials, etc. must be preserved. It has to be done in order to preserve the identity and the character of the historically inherited environment of a certain area of the city. A list of passive and active design strategies for energy consumption reduction of office buildings during renovation and energy-efficient restoration was provided. Including following passive strategies: facades and roof insulation; low infiltration values; optimization of the glazing ratio; optimal selection of glazing types; use of solar shading devices; use of daylight; passive heating due to solar radiation in winter; use of natural ventilation; integration of greenery into the building; use of internal structures of the building with high heat capacity; use of "double" glass facades, etc. The limitations that reduce the possibilities of energy modernization of listed buildings were considered. Ukrainian and foreign case-studies of renovation, adaptive reuse and restoration were researched and critically analyzed.