Retrofitting Traditional Buildings: Energy Efficiency Meets Heritage Conservation

For Heritage Week 2026, ACT (Accelerating Change Together) will host a public-facing session at the Ballina Innovation Quarter focused on Understanding and Improving Your Traditional Building.

The session will translate the professional content into accessible information for homeowners and members of the public. ACT's design team will explain how owners can begin to understand their buildings before considering energy upgrades, including how to recognise traditional construction, understand the condition of the existing fabric and identify where specialist advice may be required. Rather than promoting a standard package of retrofit measures, the session will demonstrate a building-first approach.

Property owners will be encouraged to consider the relationship between energy efficiency, moisture, ventilation, materials, architectural character and long-term building durability. Information will also be provided on relevant financial supports and routes through which owners can obtain professional and technical assistance.

This Heritage Week event will therefore help connect the conservation of Mayo's architectural heritage with one of the most significant contemporary challenges facing its continued use: how to make traditional buildings comfortable, energy-efficient and viable for future generations without losing the qualities that make them part of our built heritage.