FuturHist: An integrated typology-based approach to guide the future development of European historic buildings towards a clean energy transition

FuturHist is a European Commission funded HORIZON2020 project that will develop both passive and active solutions to retrofitting historic buildings with a focus on:

• an efficient use of energy and resources
• improved wellbeing
• enhanced durability
• revalorization of existing materials and techniques
• integration of renewable energy systems
• and smart solutions for decarbonising heating, cooling and ventilation.

The solutions developed, as well as the approach, will be implemented and tested in 4 cases in Spain, Poland, Sweden, and the UK – the diversity and geographical distribution ensuring the validation under different climates, construction typologies and socio-economic environments.

ICOMOS, and its International Scientific Committee on Energy and Sustainability (ISCES), is involved in several activities of all 8 work packages:

• Participation in the synthesis of state-of-the-art knowledge and know-how regarding the planning process of energy efficiency in historic buildings, with 1) a particular contribution to the identification of barriers with a survey design and analysis conducted by ICOMOS, 2) the contribution to the analysis of the policy framework, 3) the contribution to the analysis of existing guidelines and tools, and 4) the contribution to the definition of Key Performance Indicators and assessment methods.
• Steering of the External Advisory Board (EAB)
• Dissemination of the project results

Stay tuned for updates on the project in the next 4 years!