OPW Guidance

This ‘OPW Approaches to Improving the Energy Performance of Heritage Properties in State Care’ guidance was developed as a roadmap to support OPW architects in designing and commissioning effective and appropriate energy upgrade works for heritage buildings. OPW properties range from iconic heritage sites to the more everyday buildings used by essential government and public services, so a flexible and replicable methodology was required that would work across a wide range of building typologies, constructions, uses and contexts. The guidance provides practical advice on the steps necessary to arrive at rigorously assessed and suitable solutions that can be tailored to each building and its particular requirements and constraints.

The guidance, therefore, is not intended to provide universal answers. Instead it sets out the procedure to follow, allowing the user to arrive at an informed position at each stage of the project, from setting goals to identifying upgrade strategies to material selection. It provides general advice on the steps involved and highlights useful tips to be aware of at various stages.

The guidance is structured into three main parts. The first section lays out the relevant policy context and additional considerations to be aware of. The second section comprises the step-by-step energy upgrade guidance based on I.S. EN 16883:2017 from project initiation to post-occupancy evaluation and monitoring. The third section – the appendices – includes useful resources such as the project stage checklist, an energy upgrade report template and sources for further information.