The City of London Corporation, in partnership with Purcell Architects, renowned for their expertise in heritage, has introduced a groundbreaking open-access toolkit. This toolkit is specifically crafted to assist owners of heritage buildings in navigating the intricate challenges of reducing carbon emissions and bolstering climate resilience.
London is facing a major challenge of safeguarding its vast historical and cultural assets including over 600 listed buildings, 28 conservation areas, 48 scheduled ancient monuments, and four historic parks and gardens, against the impacts of climate change. Recognising the urgency of the climate crisis, the City of London Corporation advocated for retrofitting these heritage buildings to enhance their energy efficiency and resilience to changing temperatures and weather patterns.
The Corporation aims to provide stakeholders with a comprehensive toolkit, called the Heritage Building Retrofit Toolkit, based on the latest guidance and best practices to facilitate retrofitting and achieve sustainable outcomes.
Alderman Alison Gowman emphasises the importance of this approach in ensuring the preservation and adaptability of these cherished structures for future generations. “This toolkit transforms our heritage buildings from historical artefacts into active participants in the fight against climate change, ensuring their legacy and resilience for the future.”
Amid growing concerns about the environmental impact of the built environment, the introduction of the toolkit by the City of London Corporation arrives at a crucial time. Collaborating with architecture firm Purcell, the City of London Corporation initiated the Historic Buildings Carbon Reduction and Climate Resilience Challenge from 2022 to 2023. It is designed to suit the distinctive architectural setting of the Square Mile, one of London’s most historically significant areas, by targeting eight primary building types. This classification allows owners to make comparisons with similar structures and facilitates a flexible yet considerate approach to retrofitting.
This endeavour is a pivotal component of the overarching Climate Action Strategy, which outlines the corporation’s commitments to achieving net zero emissions, enhancing climate resilience, and promoting sustainable development.
Despite growing interest in addressing the environmental footprint of heritage buildings, efforts have been inconsistent, and innovative projects have often gone unnoticed. The toolkit aims to shift this narrative by offering a transparent and user-friendly framework, empowering building owners to successfully undertake retrofitting projects.
Methodology of Retrofitting
The toolkit’s methodology initiates by thoroughly examining the existing building, considering its architectural and historical significance, current state, and performance. Subsequently, it proceeds to identify potential risks presented by climate change, assess opportunities for reducing carbon emissions and enhancing resilience, formulate a comprehensive retrofit plan, and establish a persuasive argument for taking action.
Critical stages of the process include designing and specifying details, obtaining necessary approvals, supervising installation and on-site work. This iterative approach guarantees a comprehensive understanding of building retrofits, taking into account the unique challenges inherent in heritage structures. Finally, the methodology concludes by establishing a feedback loop, ensuring continuous monitoring and opportunities to integrate acquired knowledge into future projects.