Comprehensive energy diagnosis methodology integrating non destructive testing

Historic buildings are responsible for a large amount of energy consumption and CO2 emissions, besides presenting comfort condition problems, due to, among others, pathologies derived of their constructive conditions. There is a strong need to bridge the gap between conservation of historic buildings and climate protection, through a comprehensive method for diagnosis. This paper deals with this diagnostic method applied to one of the case studies of the FP7 EU funded project “Efficient Energy for EU Cultural Heritage” (3encult) project where the specific techniques integrating the diagnosis procedure are depicted, concluding how the development of this scientific based diagnosis and evaluation tool can benefit the whole process. The methodology proposed covers three main phases to drive these interventions: comprehensive diagnosis, evaluation of retrofitting strategies and assessment of the interventions after their implementation, based on a set of targets in the fields of historical value conservation, energy balance and comfort conditions improvement. The diagnostic phase, through a scientific procedure, is based on the utilization of building energy performance simulation tools combined with non-destructive tests, such as the IR thermography, blower door test, and wired and wireless monitoring networks used to set up the baseline of the current conditions.