I have done quite alot of serching through the internet on the topic of EPC's have negative impact on historical buildings and found alot of information from bdoies such as english hertiage stating that there are problem with EPC's. However the information i have found doesn't really go into detail explaining why EPC's don't provide an accruate assesment of the energy perfromance of historic buildings. I have found a good technical paper from historic scotland that is like a case study on a historic building using a number of energy modelling software programs and seeing what the results are: (link to document is below:)

http://www.historic scotland.gov.uk/energy_modelling_analysis_tenements.pdf

I would like to know if there is any more dcouments like the one from historic scotland (from link aobve), or does anyone know of academic journals where I would be likeley to find moreinfromation like this. I have had a quick look through journals such as cornerstone and conservation bulletin and not found any infromation on this topic that is useful.


thanks

david garland

http://www.ewht.org.uk/Climate-Challenge-Fund-.aspx

http://www.ewht.org.uk/Energy-Heritage-Project.aspx

http://www.ewht.org.uk/Renewable-Heritage-Conference.aspx


http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/heritage/conservation/conservation-conferences-and-seminars/energyefficiencyseminar.htm (now updated in some areas)

Very recent

http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/heritage/conservation/conservation-conferences-and-seminars/energyefficiencyandsustainability.htm

http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/heritage/climatechange/energyefficiency.htm

http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/heritage/climatechange/energyefficiency/climatechangeresearch.htm



A few links.

Edinburgh World Heritage has a Climate Change Officer now in place, might also be worth contacting.

Not an historic building as it is 1996, but even this young, EPCs can't even predict the energy performance of our house. See: http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=5067 and http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=2896 I imagine that these things would be multiplied when a building was built to unknown standards, then extended and modified. Even something as simple as changing a bathroom can ruin the thermal performance if the old holes etc. aren't sealed.

Some info here that would be more relevant http://www.greenbuildingforum.co.uk/newforum/comments.php?DiscussionID=3581 discusses possible variation of U values for stone walls.

Not really what you wanted, but might help.
Brian.

Architect Fergal McGirls article in Construct Ireland should be of interest to you David
http://constructireland.ie/Vol-4-Issue-9/Articles/Conservation/Balancing-conservation-and-energy-conservation-in-historic-buildings.html


Quote

"The BER regime should be treated with caution however when applied to historic buildings as the results may not be accurate and could lead to inappropriate interventions being recommended. English Heritage has issued a Home Information Pack entitled Energy Performance Certificates for Historic and Traditional Homes which advises caution in relation to acting on the recommendations of an EPC (UK equivalent of a BER). This is due to the standardised approach which may not be suitable for an historic or traditional building. The standard recommendations generated by a software package may not be applicable or suitable to an historic building."