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Sustainable Building Conservation Skills - ARC00075M

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  • Department: Archaeology
  • Module co-ordinator: Dr. Louise Cooke
  • Credit value: 5 credits
  • Credit level: M
  • Academic year of delivery: 2022-23
    • See module specification for other years: 2021-22

Module summary

This module will provide an introduction to the sustainable adaptation and responsible retrofit of historic buildings by focussing on the environmental value of the built historic environment. This is a fast changing field and students will understand the issues and challenges in planning building conservation with sustainability in mind.

Students say they enjoy learning about sustainable approaches to conservation and the relationship between historic buildings and energy use.

Related modules

In order to study this module you must first have completed at least 1 of the following modules: 

Practical Buildings Conservation

Approaches to conservation

Analysis of Historic Buildings

Module will run

Occurrence Teaching period
A Spring Term 2022-23

Module aims

To understand the relevance and apply the principles and detail in practice of the sustainable retrofit of traditional and historic buildings

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, student will:

  • Understand and evaluate the construction, behaviour and thermal performance of traditional buildings

  • Understand the principles and key considerations for the thermal upgrade of traditional buildings

  • Understand the thermal upgrade measures available for traditional and historic buildings and apply this knowledge in practice

  • Understand and evaluate the suitability of renewable energy measures available for traditional and historic buildings

  • Have gained practical skills in traditional and historic building assessment for current condition and energy performance, improvement options and renewable energy options

  • Have enhanced transferable skills in research, report writing, time and project management, & independent working

Module content

In order to study this module you must first have completed at least 1 of the following modules: 

  • Practical Buildings Conservation
  • Approaches to conservation
  • Analysis of Historic Buildings

This module will provide an introduction to the sustainable adaptation and responsible retrofit of historic buildings by focussing on the environmental value of the built historic environment. This is a fast changing field, developing in line with international obligations under the Paris Climate Change Agreement and new ideas around Zero-Carbon living and the circular economy (amongst others). 

Alongside practical work students will be introduced to the relevant literature and through group work gain an understanding of sustainability and buildings.  Students will understand the issues and challenges in planning building conservation with sustainability in mind.

Assessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
Report - 1500 words		 N/A 100

Special assessment rules

Pass/fail

Reassessment

Task Length % of module mark
Essay/coursework
TBC		 N/A 100

Module feedback

Feedback will be available within 4 weeks

Indicative reading

Historic England (2019) Heritage Counts 2019 - There's No Place Like Old Homes: Re-Use and Recycle to Reduce Carbon https://historicengland.org.uk/research/heritage-counts/2019-carbon-in-built-environment/carbon-in-built-historic-environment/

Prizeman, O (2015) Sustainable Building Conservation: Theory and Practice of Responsive Design in the Heritage Environment London: RIBA.

Sustainable Traditional Buildings Alliance. Responsible Retrofit Knowledge Centre. http://responsible-retrofit.org/


The information on this page is indicative of the module that is currently on offer. The University is constantly exploring ways to enhance and improve its degree programmes and therefore reserves the right to make variations to the content and method of delivery of modules, and to discontinue modules, if such action is reasonably considered to be necessary by the University. Where appropriate, the University will notify and consult with affected students in advance about any changes that are required in line with the University's policy on the Approval of Modifications to Existing Taught Programmes of Study.