Bridging the gap between environmental sustainability and heritage conservation in New Zealand

Bridging the gap between environmental sustainability and heritage conservation in New Zealand is a research project funded under the Faculty Research Development Fund (FRDF). It aims to develop a solid knowledge on how to save energy while renovating historic buildings through conservation-compatible energy retrofit approaches, starting from the examination of the state-of-the-art regarding their Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and energy performance. The ultimate goal of the research is to understand how to preserve historic and aesthetic values while increasing comfort, lowering energy bills and minimizing environmental impacts for heritage buildings in New Zealand. Dr Paola Boarin is the principal investigator, collaborating with associate investigators Assoc Prof Julia Gatley, Prof Mohammed Farid and research assistant Priscila Besen.