Affiliation:
1. UCL Institute for Sustainable Heritage, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
2. UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
Abstract
On 26 April 2017, Mexico formally adopted the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda to link the national government to local governments, the private sector, civil society and academia. The restoration of heritage residential buildings (recovery programme) and the construction of new residential buildings aim to create a diversified environment for populations at different economic levels. However, the restoration programme faces conservation challenges. Given this context, this paper presents the results of in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted with stakeholders in Mexico’s heritage and energy sectors. The duration of each interview was approximately two hours, with 52,372 total interview words. The paper identifies prevailing opinions regarding prioritising historical values, energy efficiency, historic buildings and users concerning Mexico City’s Historical Centre, a World Heritage Site needing a more appropriate sustainable development plan. Using grounded theory and thematic analysis, the interview data were analysed based on the interrelationship between thermal comfort, energy efficiency and heritage conservation changes over time. The results of this research will strengthen our understanding of the interventions and processes involved in managing and living in this World Heritage Site and its future impacts on buildings. The approach also underscores the importance of how stakeholders prioritise different values in making energy efficiency-promoting decisions and enhances awareness of the decision-making process and actions adopted by heritage building users. Thus, understanding the dynamic interrelationship between values, users and energy could improve the sustainable management of heritage sites and future development.
Funder
SENER-CONACyT, Mexico
EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in Science and Engineering in Arts, Heritage and Archaeology
Subject
Materials Science (miscellaneous),Archeology,Conservation
Reference20 articles.
1. Energy behaviours as promoters of energy efficiency: A 21st-century review;Lopes;Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev.,2012
2. Existing building retrofits: Methodology and state-of-the-art;Ma;Energy Build.,2012
3. User-driven energy efficiency in historic buildings, a review;Berg;J. Cult. Herit.,2017
4. Energy reduction and the conservation of cultural heritage: A review of past, present and forthcoming initiatives management priorities for environmental control and energy-efficient practice in museums;Cassar;Int. Preserv. News,2011
5. UNESCO (2023, September 14). Policy Document on the Impacts of Climate Change on World Heritage Properties, Document WHC-07/16.GA/10 adopted by the 16th General Assembly of States Parties to the World Heritage Convention: Paris, France. Available online: https://whc.unesco.org/uploads/activities/documents/activity-397-2.pdf.