Hygrothermal Performance of Worship Spaces: Preservation, Comfort, and Energy Consumption

Carmen Mª Muñoz-González, Ángel Luis León-Rodríguez, Rafael C. Suárez Medina and Catherine Teeling
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Carmen Mª Muñoz-González: Departamento de Arte y Arquitectura., Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Málaga, Universidad de Málaga, Plaza del Ejido 2, 29013 Málaga, Spain
Ángel Luis León-Rodríguez: Instituto Universitario de Arquitectura y Ciencias de la Construcción, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad de Sevilla, Av. de Reina Mercedes 2, 41012 Seville, Spain
Rafael C. Suárez Medina: Instituto Universitario de Arquitectura y Ciencias de la Construcción, Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad de Sevilla, Av. de Reina Mercedes 2, 41012 Seville, Spain
Catherine Teeling: Creative and Cultural Industries, Department Portsmouth School of Architecture, University of Portsmouth, Eldon Building, Winston Churchill Avenue, Portsmouth PO1 2DJ, UK

Sustainability, 2018, vol. 10, issue 11, 1-20

Abstract: The energy problem, one the most important on a global scale, greatly affects the environment. Much of the current energy consumption occurs in existing buildings, including heritage buildings with varying protected status. Energy intervention and heritage conservation conflict to some extent, as research focuses more on the search for improved energy efficiency solutions for materials and systems than on their application to heritage buildings. This study describes experimental research on environmental conditioning techniques in spaces of worship in a temperate climate in southern Spain. Buildings were monitored and assessed in the implementation of different environmental techniques—active and combined (passive and active)—with the aim of improving the thermal comfort conditions of the faithful while preserving the cultural heritage of these buildings. The need for a control system of RH and the air system was concluded, as well as radiant floors and radiators, which, in the considered case studies, would barely affect the artworks. 24- and 12-h operation are better suited to heritage preservation than occasional use. All operation schedules are valid for thermal comfort.

Keywords: cultural heritage; energy consumption; preservation; comfort; HVAC; worship spaces; movable heritage (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:11:p:3838-:d:177748

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