Energy efficiency in historical heritage - An analysis of the possibilities with the use of BIM

Abstract

The global demand for reducing CO2 emissions highlights the role of buildings as one of the sectors with the highest energy consumption today. In this context, using processes and technologies related to BIM becomes essential to ensure agility and efficiency, both in the elaboration of the project and throughout the entire life cycle of the building. However, the reduction in CO2 emissions will only reach significant levels if historic buildings are included in the process. This study aims to analyze BIM processes regarding their feasibility of offering optimizations concerning energy efficiency in historic buildings. In doing so, it seeks to identify potentialities and limitations reported by other authors. The research is considered exploratory, with a qualitative approach. The methodology used was a narrative review, seeking to clarify concepts and report previous experiences of applying BIM technology in historic buildings to achieve energy efficiency, respecting all aspects related to the demands of a historic property. The research indicates that BIM is promising for developing energy retrofit projects for historic buildings. However, there is still much to be done in terms of technologies and processes, especially in terms of interoperability between different software programs. The results allowed us to understand the scientific production on the subject, with emphasis on the organization of the BIM process, the possibilities and barriers encountered. Furthermore, it was noted that there is little scientific production on historic buildings, with most studies referring to the design phase of new buildings.