Developing multi-criteria model for the protection of built heritage from the aspect of energy retrofitting

In civil engineering and architecture, sustainability requires energy optimization minimizing the energy amounts needed for heating and cooling. Revitalization of built heritage, except the renewal of the orig-inal identity, and preservation through adaptive reuse, must meet the requirements set within the frame-work of energy postulates. Given that the physical interventions for improvement of energy efficiency can affect the visual appearance of the building, energy retrofitting of built heritage under the protection regime represents a challenge in the management of cultural heritage. The paper aims to identify the most optimal measures to be applied to increase energy efficiency, depending on the protection level, using the fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. Results show that for the highest protection level, the maximum degree of optimism indicates complete preservation of building identity, favoring indicators related to the technical systems, while for the medium protection level, all degrees of opti-mism favor internal insulation of thermal barriers and collector walls. Despite the allowed interventions for the lowest protection level, the optimistic view suggests alternative solutions not to greatly under -mined identity. At the maximum degree of optimism, the application of indicators for technical systems dominates, which only in the last resort makes changes to the building. (c) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

The study aimed to identify the most optimal measures to increase energy efficiency in built heritage, depending on the protection level, using the fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method. Results revealed that for higher protection levels, preserving building identity was favored, while for medium levels, internal insulation and collector walls were preferred.