ABSTRACT
Global climate change and the conservation of non-renewable energy resources are widely held to be among the most pressing challenges facing humanity. It sets out the context of the research that the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) has under way into the energy efficiency of old buildings and discusses the results so far. The knowledge the SPAB has accumulated over many years has led it to appreciate the important differences between old and new buildings. The SPAB’s research into the energy efficiency of traditional, pre-c1919 buildings is revealing some fascinating and useful findings. The research findings have allowed the SPAB, Sustainable Traditional Buildings Alliance and others to advise the government on more effective ways to implement its schemes to improve the energy efficiency of the nation’s large stock of traditional buildings. The SPAB's research, while addressing specific questions, has inevitably prompted a series of supplementary ones that could form the basis of possible further investigations.
