Balancing heritage values, thermal comfort and energy efficiency in world heritage sites

A critical insight emerges from studying how residents of historic buildings balance heritage values with energy efficiency needs, revealing that successful retrofitting strategies must prioritize understanding the social and cultural significance attributed to these structures. The research, conducted through in-depth interviews and environmental monitoring across five historic residential buildings in Mexico City's UNESCO World Heritage-listed center, demonstrates that occupants' willingness to modify their homes hinges on preserving features they perceive as culturally or socially valuable—even when doing so could improve thermal comfort or reduce energy consumption. This finding underscores the need for energy efficiency regulations to account for such nuanced human decision-making processes if they are to be both effective and sustainable, particularly in contexts where heritage preservation is a priority.

Camacho, K. S. M., Fouseki, K., & Altamirano, H. (2022). Balancing heritage values, thermal comfort and energy efficiency in world heritage sites. Routledge Handbook of Sustainable Heritage, 305–322. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003038955-26