Environmental Assessment and Energy Certification for the Sustainable Restoration of a Traditional Residential Building

Abstract

This paper presents a study of a residential building located in the historical centre of the city of Seville, Spain. It is a typical example of the domestic architecture that dates from the 17th to 19th centuries. Two restoration proposals (Model B and C) were analysed from an eco-efficiency and sustainability perspective. Model B was executed by the architects in strict compliance with planning rules, whereas Model C is an alternative restoration plan proposed by the authors, in which sustainability and eco-efficiency criteria are guided by the choice of suitable materials and construction solutions. In both cases, we carried out a study of the materials and an energy survey by quantifying the KgCO₂/m² emissions. The results show that the materials and the construction solutions applied in Model C reduce KgCO₂/m² emissions from 21.9 to 14.4, thus raising the building’s certification level from E to D. In conclusion, any restoration project must be seen as an opportunity to make use of traditional building systems and to promote a new construction model with sustainability as the centrepiece of the architectural refurbishment.