[throwawayyy9237]

I lived in one the buidings mentioned in this article.

Pros: It was the most spacious flat I've lived on. I'm not talking about area, but the layout itself, it was amazingly well architected. Massive windows too, great lighting (but see cons).

Cons: Single glaze windows (and a protected facade) meant eye-watering energy bills. Poor quality subfloor (with carpet) meant 24/7 creaking when walking over it.

[peterpost2]

I live in a similarly protected flat in Scotland and in the last decade there has been quite some development with double glazing for historic buildings. Quite a bit more expensive than normal double glazing though but at least you can get quite decent windows for historic buildings.

[mattlondon]

Also secondary glazing is a thing and is not awful, even if not as good as "proper" double glazing.

Lots of heat is lost through solid walls though (and ceilings and floors) it is not just windows.

[physhster]

energy efficiency > historical preservation

[rubidium]

Historical homes are energy efficient. They don’t require any new resources to build, and will typically last much longer if they were built with old growth lumber.

Retro fitting is the way. Don’t tear them down for some new crap.

[physhster]

That's not what I meant, sorry... Not being able to install proper double- or triple-glazed windows because of historical preservation is really backwards.

[twelvechairs]

Good places to live > a little cost in retrofitting

[creativenolo]

An interest free loans from the Scottish government to buy them (repayable over 12 years)