A comparative analysis of retrofitting historic buildings for energy efficiency in the UK and China

In the UK retrofitting, or 'retrospective refitting' has become a central strategy in reducing energy inefficiency and carbon emissions. However, whilst implementation has increased, research shows that there are still several problematic barriers to the full implementation and embedding of energy efficiency retrofit policies. Likewise, international ecological commentators, developers and policy-makers have also pointed to the growth of retrofitting ideas and policies in modernising nations such as China; however, as investigations are beginning to show, the full implementation of retrofitting practices in modernising countries is also difficult, with local policy-makers and developers showing much more interest in newbuild, as opposed to retrofitting existing buildings and/or heritage sites. Taking the UK and China as two key examples of earlier and more recent retrofitting cultures, this paper reflects on the different barriers to retrofitting historical buildings for energy efficiency in these countries and explores the potential drivers for retrofitting in each of these contexts.