Conference article

The paper presents a tool for defining the most appropriate energy and environmental retrofit on cultural heritage; to enhance the historical value of a building; to preserve the surrounding landscape; to reduce energy consumption and to improve human comfort; health and safety. It allowed the evaluation of the conservation risks; energy consumption; spatial layout and maintenance procedures and also led to a proposal on the most appropriate energy actions. The tool examines the synergies and difficulties of integrating green practices with historic preservation; and offers recommendations for ways in which sustainable standards could be more accommodating for historic and bounded buildings. The approach was used in the Renaissance building of Sant’Alessandro University located in the centre of Milan (Italy).

Renewable energy; Cultural heritage; Compatibility; Integration; Reversibility