Historic windows with passive heat loss reduction strategies and their effect on indoor thermal comfort
Dennis Mathew1,2*, Richard O'Hegarty1,2, Oliver Kinnane1,2
1: UCD Energy Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland;
2: School of Architecture Planning and Environmental Policy, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
DOI: 10.62744/CATE.45273.1146-514-522
Email: dennis.mathew@ucdconnect.ie
Abstract:
Ireland's ambitious goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050 necessitates significant reductions in
operational emissions from its building sector, prompting the government to target the energy retrofitting of a quarter of its building stock by 2030. However, retrofitting historic buildings poses substantial challenges stemming from concerns related to architectural conservation, cost, and technical complexities. In this context, focusing specifically on addressing heat loss through single-glazed historic windows, this study revisits traditional heat loss mitigation techniques that were once prevalent in historic buildings but have since fallen out of common use. With in-situ tests, we investigate the thermal performance of curtains, blinds and shutters on single-glazed wooden sash and case historic windows. We present variations in heat loss through the window and its associated thermal comfort in response to each strategy. Test results show significant heat loss reduction from a combination of traditional strategies which is on par with secondary glazing. These strategies offer viable solutions for energy efficiency and thermal comfort in historic buildings without major interventions on the protected historic fabric.
Keywords: Historic Windows, Experimental U-value Calculation, Thermal Comfort, Historic Buildings, Passive Retrofit Strategies