As part of this workshop series, a prevailing objective was to explain the rationale for clustering building types leading to retrofit and low-carbon methods and technology. The objective is to provide validated and informative solutions to the existing built heritage which is available to all building users, owners and property portfolio managers.
The invited speakers and discussions first turned to the existing domestic buildings sector (non-historic) to identify the typologies and the ones that prevail in our Scottish towns and cities which are in desperate retrofit. A second workshop discussed buildings from the non-domestic realm with varying uses and energy requirements. Finally, a third workshop discussed the complexities and solutions of buildings that are listed, in conservation areas or simply have a historical context and affiliation.
The workshops aimed to discuss and debate the different challenges faced and how an archetype approach can be the vehicle for improving the conditions of buildings for sustained performance (energy & carbon) whilst providing comfort and well-being to its occupiers. Within the scope was to discuss the opportunities in the construction, conservation and retrofit skills and the need to train our current and future workforce. Lastly, there was the need to appropriately select the best possible heating technology that delivers demands in a low-carbon way and is feasible according to current infrastructure capacities but can adapt to changing and emerging energy delivery methods using renewables and the future decarbonised grid.
The debates focused on ways to characterise buildings and to find a common approach to retrofitting each typology resulting in building archetypes clustered by age, methods of construction and use. Within the conversations and round table discussions, were the challenges and opportunities for low-carbon heating that is suitable for each archetype considering the best technology and the required infrastructure to meet demand. Beyond identifying the technical challenges, the discussions acknowledged the need for workforce training in construction, conservation, and retrofitting skills. Additionally, choosing the right heating technology is crucial, balancing low-carbon performance with existing infrastructure limitations and adaptability to future renewable energy sources.
The culmination of these workshops will be to create a website and tool to access retrofit examples and case studies showcasing the before and after conditions of the buildings. This can be shown in a case study website available to all stakeholders and building owners/ occupiers to learn from exemplar projects that have applied retrofit interventions and there is evidence of its success and approaches. Data gathering of these case studies will help to show the impact of such work and also provide a series of best practice details suitable for different archetypes and technology solutions. A tool to select and suggest the best retrofit intervention with varying options for low-carbon heating can indicate energy and carbon reductions against the cost and other constraints such as required decanting and special planning/ building control restrictions
The outcomes of these discussions hope to inform and agree on the best characterisation of domestic and non-domestic buildings with and without a significant historical location and classification. However, the approach and methods need to be available and easily interpreted by all levels of building users and stakeholders such as tenants, landlords, local authorities, conservation bodies, and government. Equally, the solutions and archetype measures need to be clear and concise for their application and procurement, material purchasing and technical viability.