Researchers from the Lublin University of Technology (PL), the Energy Institute Hrvoje Požar in Croatia (project leader), Stendal University of Applied Sciences in Germany and the Energy Management Agency of Friuli Venezia Giulia in Italy are working on modern methods to improve the energy efficiency of historic districts in Zamość, Karlovac and Palmanovo.

“Zero energy buildings for zero energy neighbourhoods” is an international project under the Interreg Central Europe programme. It will run until June 2026 and has a budget of more than €2 million.

“The historic centres of historic towns present a particular challenge. Historic buildings have incompatible parameters and, as a consequence, thermal comfort at an appropriate level is often not achievable indoors. Therefore, in order to protect the environment and ensure an appropriate standard of use, it is necessary to thermo-modernise historic buildings”, said Professor Bogusław Szmygin from the PL’s Department of Historic Preservation.

Researchers are currently working on creating digital maps of historic centres. Such a map has already been created for Zamość. What lies ahead of them is the analysis and interpretation of the data, as well as the adaptation of coherent action plans to the varying climatic and legal conditions of individual countries.