Assessment of the impact of comprehensive thermal modernisation on the energy efficiency of a historic building: a case study of a house in Lower Silesia, Poland

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Łukasz Czemarmazowicz
Aleksandra Nowysz


Keywords : thermal modernisation, building energy performance, building renovation, historic building
Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of comprehensive thermal modernisation on the energy efficiency of a 19th-century residential heritage building. The central hypothesis posited that a substantial reduction in primary energy demand could be achieved without compromising the building’s architectural and historical integrity. The research was conducted as a case study of an existing historic structure located in the Dolnośląskie Voivodeship of Poland. The proposed modernisation strategy involved the implementation of a ground source heat pump, mechanical ventilation with heat recovery, low-temperature underfloor heating, photovoltaic panels, and the use of natural, vapour-permeable insulation materials. A comparative analysis of the building’s energy performance certificates demonstrated a significant reduction in primary energy demand (from 878.9 kWh×m²×year−1 to 54.6 kWh×m²×year−1), thereby confirming the research hypothesis. These findings underscore the feasibility of reconciling contemporary energy efficiency requirements with the conservation of historic architecture, provided that context-sensitive, technologically appropriate solutions are employed.

Article Details

How to Cite
Czemarmazowicz, Ł. ., & Nowysz, A. (2025). Assessment of the impact of comprehensive thermal modernisation on the energy efficiency of a historic building: a case study of a house in Lower Silesia, Poland . Acta Scientiarum Polonorum. Architectura, 24(1), 205–223. https://doi.org/10.22630/ASPA.2025.24.15
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