Common practices of energy retrofit with insulation on the indoor face of Historic Buildings (HB) tend to recommend the use of vapour barrier to avoid the formation of interstitial condensation. For historic heritage this issue has to be deeply analysed to not compromise the buildings conservation. In HeLLo, three materials’ companies (already in the market, especially addressed to new buildings) were involved. The tested materials technologies, adapted to HB, were defined in agreement with Heritage Authorities in Italy.
The involved companies were able to confirm the possibility of the use of their materials, though within certain boundaries, in the refurbishment / energy retrofit of HB, strengthening their competiveness and growth. In this case, the innovation was not in the material itself but on the whole developed technology: material, thickness, structure / fixing point, and, more importantly, on the non-application of a vapour barrier.
For the research on-site – implementation and testing activities, two significant innovations were settled: one new sensing technology compatible with HB and a new metering “hot-box” prototype, adapted for HB in situ monitoring campaigns.
Concerning the method / process, the search for insulation solutions which balanced the energy gains with the hygrothermal risks of this energy retrofit action brought to light new installation practices.
The check of the compatibility of some technological solutions for energy refurbishment within HB can provide professionals and common users this valuable information, i.e. making available guidelines / instructions. Potential users are other researchers, professionals or other materials’ companies which aim at expanding their market toward the building refurbishment sector.
Therefore, the innovative approach of the project concerned both the experimental research and the dissemination. Indeed, one of the specific objectives of the HeLLo proposal was to create a structured dissemination programme that opened the doors of laboratory life to the outside of the academic boundaries and raise awareness of the topic. The idea of the open lab was positively brought to the extreme: a series of ‘dissemination laboratories’ created to offer an “experimental experience” that integrated field experimentation and made known, by telling the practice of the living lab.
