Based on the reflexive process of the standard EN 16883, how can the energy retrofitting of historic and traditional residential buildings be supported? Decision-making tools provided by the “P-Renewal” research project

Energy renovation of old traditional buildings with heritage specificities has become a major challenge for European regions. Over the past two decades, numerous scientific projects have focused on this issue. However, the professional practices have not evolved much in the renovation sector across Europe, despite significant advanced scientific knowledge, development of specific guidelines, and adoption of the standard EN 16883 on conservation and energy renovation performance of cultural heritage.
The “P-Renewal” project on the energy retrofit of pre-war Walloon housing with heritage value, aligned with the objectives of the standard, provides a more detailed reflexive planning process supported by various technical data and decision-making tools. These outcomes enable the selection of renovation strategies that effectively combine the preservation of heritage value with improvements in internal comfort, energy efficiency, and environmental performance. They can be regarded as a significant contribution towards the evolution of the standard EN 16833 and energy efficiency in historic buildings. This paper briefly describes the reflexive process of the project. Then it presents the different decision-making tools while discussing their practical and technical support. Finally, it discusses their contribution in enhancing the usability of the standard.