How can historic buildings become more energy efficient without losing the qualities that make them worth preserving? This question will be at the centre of the 6th International Conference on Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings (EEHB), taking place on 13 and 14 October 2026 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. Organised by CEREMA, the conference will bring together researchers, practitioners and policymakers working at the intersection of building renovation, energy performance and cultural heritage.
Historic buildings account for around a quarter of Europe’s building stock, making their renovation an important part of the wider transition towards a more efficient and decarbonised built environment. At the same time, interventions need to balance energy performance with architectural value, building physics, occupant comfort and long-term climate resilience. EEHB 2026 will examine how this balance can be achieved through approaches that are both technically effective and compatible with historic structures.
The programme will address topics including climate resilience, bio-based materials, digital tools, governance and public policy, professional skills, social sciences and heritage-compatible retrofit solutions. These themes also connect closely with ASCEND’s work on district transformation, building decarbonisation and the challenge of adapting energy solutions to different urban contexts rather than applying a single approach everywhere.
By bringing technical expertise together with policy and practical experience, the conference offers an opportunity to examine how Europe can improve the performance of its existing building stock while preserving the identity and value of historic urban areas.
Join the conference and register via this link.
