The Protection of Cultural Heritage in Poland in the Process of Enhancing the Energy Performance of Historic Buildings: An Analysis of Recent Strategic Policy Documents of the European Union and Poland (2005–2025)

Over the past two decades, cultural heritage protection and the improvement of energy efficiency in historic buildings have become parallel yet frequently conflicting priorities of public policy. This paper analyses the contemporary strategic directions of the European Union and Poland between 2005 and 2025 with regard to the modernisation of historic buildings, within the broader framework of energy and climate transition. This study involves a comprehensive analysis of legal and strategic documents and national conservation guidelines, evaluating their impact on heritage protection practices. The research employs desk research and comparative analysis, as well as a preliminary empirical component based on indicators W1–W12. These indicators reveal a significant modernisation gap: only 0.3–0.5% of heritage buildings in Poland have undergone energy retrofitting, indicating low implementation of EU strategies. The study’s findings confirm the necessity of developing a coherent policy model that integrates the requirements of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive with national conservation law, as well as harmonised assessment tools, such as energy and conservation audits. In conclusion, the implementation of ‘heritage-inclusive renovation strategies’ is required—respect the character, materiality, and authenticity of heritage buildings, while recognising their social and cultural significance.