Assessment of Embodied Energy/ U-Value in Historic Buildings of Karachi-Pakistan

Wajeeha Laiq

doi:10.21625/resourceedings.v2i2.602

Assessment of Embodied Energy/ U-Value in Historic Buildings of Karachi-Pakistan

Wajeeha Laiq

The benefits of reusing historic and existing buildings versus those of constructing new buildings are frequently discussed considering economic, cultural, and design values. If those discussions are expanded to include environmental impact, one must address the topic of embodied energy. Due to the recent focus on sustainable construction practices; conservationists have explored the benefits of building conservation in relation to embodied energy calculations. Such studies are popular in international market and became important ground for expanding restoration practices. In our local context it is comparatively a newer domain.Different methodologies have been devised by Advisory Council for Historic Preservation (ACHP), in year 1979, for assessing the embodied energy calculations in historic structures. For performing the respective study, inventory model of assessment has adopted. The focus of this study is “to provide practical guidance on how to calculate embodied energy/ u-value in historic structures of Karachi and promote the concept of adaptive reuse from the environmental perspective”. “If more widely and comprehensively used, embodied-energy assessment can be a benefit to preservation and sustainability advocates alike.”Mike Jackson

Keywords

Embodied Energy; Historic buildings; Preservation; Adaptive Reuse

References

Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP). (1979). Assessing the Energy Conservation Benefits of Historic Preservation: Methods and Examples. Retrieved from https://dnr.mo.gov/shpo/docs/ACHP_embodied-energy_1979.pdf

Hassan, A., (2018. November 26). Interview by W. Laiq [In-person]

Bennetts, H., and Pullen, S., (2011). Valuing embodied energy in the conservation of historic residential buildings. Proceedings of the 45th Annual Conference of the Architectural Science Association (ANZAScA). The University of Sydney. Available on URL http://anzasca.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/31P57.pdf

Dixit, K. M., Fernandez-Solis, L. J., Lavy. S., Culp, H. C., (2012). Need for an embodied energy measurement protocol for buildings: a review paper. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 16, 3730– 3743. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2012.03.021

Dixit, K. M., Fernandez-Solis, L. J., Lavy. S., Culp, H. C., (2010). Identification of Parameters for embodied energy measurement; a literature review. Energy and Buildings, vol. 42, 1238-1247. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2010.02.016

Hasenfus, L. Erika., (2013). Measuring the Capital Energy Value in Historic Structures (Master Thesis). Retrieved from URL https://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=1218&context=hp_theses

Harris, S. Y., (2001). Building Pathology Deterioration, Diagnostics, and Intervention. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Retrieved from URL https://www.wiley.com/en-ae/Building Pathology Deterioration Diagnostics and Intervention-p-9780471331728

Hensley, J. and Aguilar, A. (2011, December). Preservation Briefs 3 – “Improving Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings. Retrieved from URL https://www.nps.gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs/3-improve-energy-efficiency. (Accessed on 18 August 2016)

Heritage Council of Victoria., (2009a). Heritage Buildings and Energy Efficiency Regulations Technical leaflet. ISBN 978-921607-02. Available on URL: www.heritage.vic.gov.au/admin/file/content2/c7/Heritage_buildings_energy_efficiency.pdf

Jackson, M., (2005). Embodied Energy and Historic Preservation: A Needed Reassessment, APT Bulletin: the Journal of Preservation Technology, vol 36 no. 4, 47-52. Available on URL https://www.jstor.org/stable/40003163

Karachi Building and Town Planning Regulations. (2002 edition). Chapter 25. Historic Buildings. Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA). Department of Culture and Planning. Government of Pakistan

Menzies, F. Gillian., (2011). Embodied energy considerations for existing buildings, Historic Scotland Technical Paper 13, Retrieved from URL www.historicscotland.gov.uk/technicalpapers (Accessed on 12 August 2016)

Merlino, K. R., (2011). Report on Sustainability and Historic Preservation. Washington State-Department of Archaeology and Historic preservation. Retrieved from URL http://www.dahp.wa.gov/sites/default/files/sustainability_SummaryReport.pdf

Pettit B., (2009). Embodying the past in the future? Sustainability and built heritage in Fremantle. Historic Environment Vol. 22 No.2.

Preservation Briefs 3., (1978). Conserving Energy in Historic Buildings. National Park Service. Retreived from URL www.nps.gov/tps/how-to-preserve/briefs/3-improve-energy-efficiency (Accessed on 18/08/2016)

United States ICOMOS., (2009). Historic Preservation in the United States, Retrieved from URL http://www.usicomos.org/preservation (Accessed on 5 August 2016)