Indoor thermal analysis for energy and cultural heritage interaction

Historic buildings of significant cultural value present unique challenges, where the competing demands of energy efficiency, art conservation, and occupant comfort often require careful consideration. This work investigates the indoor thermal condition within the 12th-century church of Santa Maria Annunziata located in L’Aquila, Italy. This building houses valuable artworks, including paintings and wooden objects, which necessitate specific environmental conditions for their preservation. Despite the presence of these sensitive artworks, the church currently lacks a dedicated HVAC system. This study employed a multi-pronged approach, combining experimental measurements, statistical analysis, and the application of predictive algorithms with varying time horizons. The findings revealed that the current indoor thermal conditions frequently deviate from optimal levels for art conservation. The monitored period revealed that 55% of temperature measurements deviated from the optimal range of 19 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">◦</sup>C to 24 <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">◦</sup>C. Consequently, evaluating and implementing an appropriate HVAC system to stabilize the microclimate within the church is crucial.