Analysing EN16883:2017 guidelines on energy retrofit and its use outside of Europe:A proposal for New Zealand tailored guidelines

As nations set more ambitious carbon dioxide reduction targets as result of international climate agreements, the energy retrofit of historic and heritage buildings has emerged as a key strategy for reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This approach not only helps mitigate climate change but also preserves the cultural and historical significance of these buildings. With growing concerns about climate change, there is an increasing recognition that addressing environmental impacts in the built heritage sector can yield both environmental and social benefits, aligning with global efforts to achieve sustainability and resilience. Internationally, many countries have adopted energy retrofit policies, and there has been an increasing number of projects and published material on the energy retrofit of historic buildings. However, New Zealand, unlike Europe, has no country-specific guidelines for historic retrofit considering social, cultural, environmental and economic aspects. This article explores whether other countries outside Europe, such as New Zealand, would benefit from adopting guidelines similar to the European Standard EN 16883:2017 by its application onto three hypothetical energy retrofits of heritage buildings in the country. It investigates the benefits and limits on the application of this specific procedure, multiple criteria assessments, some recommended methods and risk analysis for the renovation process. This paper discusses the environmental, economic and social benefits of such guidelines, the country-specific requirements for adopting energy retrofit guidelines for historic buildings, and the recommended adaptations to enable a better usability of energy retrofit guidelines both locally and internationally aiming to reduce historic buildings environmental impact.