Herit4ages project

Europe's historic buildings are more than just structures of stone and timber; they are the living embodiment of our shared cultural identity. For centuries, they have withstood the test of time, their resilience serving as a testament to the craftsmanship and ingenuity of past generations. Yet, as society transitions to a low-carbon future, these heritage buildings face an existential challenge: how can they be preserved while meeting modern comfort, sustainability, and energy efficiency standards?

The Herit4ages project is taking on this challenge, demonstrating that it is possible to enhance the performance of these buildings without compromising their architectural and cultural integrity.

Heritage buildings often suffer from inadequate thermal performance, with many lacking proper heating or cooling systems. Those that do have climate control mechanisms frequently struggle with high energy costs due to the need to regulate large interior volumes. The Herit4ages project is working to bridge this gap by developing innovative, cost-effective, and reversible solutions that can be replicated across Europe. More than just renovation, it aims to redefine how we integrate our past into a sustainable future.

Herit4ages aligns with key European sustainability policies, tackling the unique challenge of energy-efficient renovation in heritage sites where energy-upgrading materials and methods might conflict with conservation laws. By developing non-intrusive, digitalized, and environmentally conscious solutions, the project is redefining sustainable heritage preservation, ensuring historic structures meet modern energy and comfort standards while safeguarding their cultural integrity.

The project is testing internal retrofitting solutions that utilize heritage friendly materials and insulation techniques to improve thermal comfort while respecting their cultural integrity by being reversible. Herit4ages also introduces cutting-edge solutions such as the Digital Twin Ecosystem (DTE), a monitoring system that enables real-time assessment of energy efficiency, structural conditions, and environmental parameters, allowing for optimized energy use and predictive maintenance. Complementing this, innovative environmental sensors detect temperature, humidity, and air quality shifts that could accelerate material degradation. The project also pioneers the Smart Energy Router for use in heritage buildings. This is an intelligent energy management system integrating renewable sources, battery storage, and grid electricity, using non-intrusive load monitoring (NILM) to regulate energy consumption which can be easily adapted for residential use.

Herit4ages also prioritizes human-centric design. The Co-Creation Toolkit encourages community involvement in the renovation process, ensuring that interventions align with local cultural values and social needs. This inclusive approach promotes acceptance and engagement among stakeholders, from local residents to heritage conservation authorities.

These solutions are being tested in five culturally significant buildings across Europe. They include: Spain's Canduela Heritage Lab, an experimental site within a 13th-century Romanesque hermitage, and the Posada Santa María la Real, an 18th-century monastery-turned-hotel; Italy’s University of Bologna Historical Engineering Building with its Modernist façade. In Funchal (Portugal) heritage social housing will be included. In Estonia, Korporatsioon Vironia, a Neo- Renaissance cultural monument used as offices.

By seamlessly integrating digital tools, renewable energy solutions, and socially inclusive design, the project is proving that sustainability and cultural preservation are not mutually exclusive. Instead, they are two sides of the same coin - ensuring that our architectural legacy remains not a relic of the past, but a vibrant and functional part of our future.