Climate Change

In 2009 the HHA held a one day conference for members at the Royal Society in London looking at the issues of energy efficiency and the impact of climate change on historic houses, in association with Smiths Gore and generously sponsored by Coutts & Co and Saffery Champness. 

The day examined the challenges that historic house owners and managers face from the effects of climate change on their houses, and provided practical advice on adapting houses to cope with more extreme weather; reducing their energy use and CO2 emissions; assessing the merits of alternative energy, and minimising the carbon footprint of public visiting. Speakers included experts on climate change forecasting, historic house conservation and alternative energy, together with professional advisers on planning, grants and taxation issues. The conference also heard from HHA members with experience of developing renewable energy projects such as the establishment of a biomass heating system at Aske in Yorkshire.

The conference benefited from a sample survey, conducted by Smiths Gore, of energy use among HHA members which indicated that houses could typically save 10-25% per year of energy costs by employing low-cost or no-cost measures - equivalent to £1,500-4,000 pa on bills, saving 8-14 tonnes of CO2. More significant savings could be achieved through energy projects with capital returns of between one to five years. The survey showed that a fifth of the houses had installed at least one type of renewable energy technology, the most popular being biomass boilers, solar thermal panels and hydro electric power.

Smiths Gore produced a practical guide to energy conservation for HHA members giving detailed advice on energy audits, heating, lighting, humidity, insulation and draught proofing. Whilst the guide stressed the importance of conserving the fabric and contents of the house, it emphasised that energy efficiency of houses can be increased without compromising historic character.

The HHA has become a member of the heritage sectors’s Climate Change taskforce which will examine the main challenges facing the sector and will share resources and knowledge of mitigation and adaptation measures to promote solutions that respect the historic environment’s quality and integrity.

Here Dr Jason Beedell and Lee Evans of Smiths Gore discuss the results of the energy survey of HHA member properties.  Members should visit the Members' website (Energy Conservation) to read the full report.