Enhancing the sustainability and energy conservation in heritage buildings: The case of Nottingham Playhouse

  • Amin Al-Habaibeh , 1 ,
  • Allan Hawas 1,2 ,
  • Lama Hamadeh 1 ,
  • Benachir Medjdoub 1 ,
  • Julian Marsh 3 ,
  • Arijit Sen 1
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  • 1. Product Innovation Centre, School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
  • 2. Future Energy Center (FEC), School of Business Society and Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering and Energy Systems, Mälardalen University, Västerås, Sweden
  • 3. Department of Architecture and Planning, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield, UK

Received date: 30 Apr 2021

Revised date: 12 Aug 2021

Accepted date: 01 Sep 2021

Published date: 15 Feb 2022

Copyright

2021 2021 Higher Education Press Limited Company. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of KeAi Communications Co. Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Abstract

Today, there is a growing interest in developing energy efficient buildings since it is estimated that buildings account for about 40% of the total primary energy consumption in the world. In relation to existing buildings, energy efficiency retrofits have become an important opportunity to upgrade the energy performance of commercial, public and residential buildings that may reduce the energy consumption, demand and cost. In this paper we cover the energy efficiency deep retrofit process that has been carried out for Nottingham Playhouse theatre building for the aim of enhancing its environmental performance and analysing the energy efficiency gained after implementing certain proposed modifications. It is a nationally protected historic building, listed as Grade II* on The National Heritage List for England (NHLE). The building has had insulation enhancement, doors modifications, solar energy installations, energy-saving lights, in addition to improved heating and air conditioning system. The paper presents a novel methodology; and its results indicate significant improvements in the building’s energy performance which is demonstrated using infrared thermographic images and data logger sensors where significant energy savings to the building’s thermal performance are obtained. The energy saving measures have been completed while maintaining the heritage building’s general appearance and architectural features, which have received a Commendation Certificate from The Nottingham Civic Society for this achievement.

Cite this article

Amin Al-Habaibeh , Allan Hawas , Lama Hamadeh , Benachir Medjdoub , Julian Marsh , Arijit Sen . Enhancing the sustainability and energy conservation in heritage buildings: The case of Nottingham Playhouse[J]. Frontiers of Architectural Research, 2022 , 11(1) : 142 -160 . DOI: 10.1016/j.foar.2021.09.001

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