Sustainability in heritage building retrofits: A case study of the Polytechnic University of Tirana, Albania

Abstract

Sustainable design is often seen as conflicting with heritage conservation due to the invasive measures required for new technologies, challenging the principle of minimal intervention. However, heritage conservation is also a form of sustainable development, protecting social and cultural resources. Research shows that heritage buildings can achieve high energy efficiency while preserving their value. Adaptive reuse projects, like the 1940-built Polytechnic University of Tirana, exemplify this by maintaining heritage integrity while meeting modern standards. The goal of this thesis is to create a simulation of the Polytechnic University of Tirana using building energy modeling software to understand its current energy usage. This serves as our baseline. Additionally, we aim to explore the potential benefits of various sustainable measures. These measures include adding thermal insulation, installing double-glazed windows, adding shading to the facade, implementing internal lighting controls, using natural ventilation, and installing solar panels on the roofs. According to the thermal analysis of the object, the most efficient intervention for enhancing energy performance is the implementation of photovoltaic (PV) panels. This intervention leads to a significant energy saving of 49.10% compared to the base case. Using DesignBuilder software, we found that sustainable interventions reduced energy consumption by 20.18% on average, showing that heritage buildings can be made sustainable without compromising their historical and cultural significance.