Are green policies compatible with conservation practises?
Nicholas: The energy saving and insulation requirements for modern dwellings are extremely difficult to achieve in listed buildings. For instance if sash windows are fitted with their original glass replacing with say vacuum glazing with a 20mm gap will alter the exterior appearance. Testing for air tightness can reveal that historic buildings actually ‘breathe’ and rarely comply with the requirements of the building regulations. Indeed the ability for the structure to breathe may be critical in preventing the conditions for rot to breed within floor and ceiling voids. In short much work needs to be done to move historic and listed buildings to retain their qualities whilst reducing their carbon footprint. Stephen: Conservation work is generally ‘green’ can be sustainable. However attempts to comply with modern energy conservation regulations can be damaging to them. This creates pressure to use systems that may not be practical, for example adding sealed unit double glazing into slend
