Energy efficiency and environmental impacts of building with heritage values in Australia

This paper investigates the embodied and operational energy of selected residential buildings with heritage values and provides appropriate intervention when necessary to improve their energy performance and environmental impacts. A number of buildings in Australia having heritage significance were investigated and modelled for their operational energy, embodied energy, maintenance and primary supply energy impacts. The buildings selected have heritage overlay controls, and represent different dominant archetypes in Australia ranging from the years 1826 to 2000. The operational energy consumption data has been analysed using the Australian 2nd generation residential energy rating software AccuRate. The life cycle and environmental impacts assessment has been analysed using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) software, SimaPro. This paper demonstrates the importance of recognising issues governing the environmental performance of existing buildings with heritage values, particularly with respect to reducing CO2 emissions.