A proper systematic approach to the restoration of historic buildings is crucial in the preservation of heritage buildings. This paper presents the unity between the restoration of a historic building and sustainability. The aim of the research is to establish an effective method for the restoration of historic buildings and their reuse and sustainable renovation in terms of energy efficiency, in accordance with modern needs and conservation requirements while maintaining the authentic appearance. The main method in the paper is the observation of a historic building during its restoration and exploitation, analysis and evaluation of the results achieved in improving energy efficiency and energy saving in the example of the building within the Žica Monastery in Serbia, a cultural monument of exceptional importance. The subject of the research is the Dining Room within the Žiča Monastery and the analysis of the restoration results in order to ensure energy refurbishment and cultural heritage enhancement. The research findings are recommendations for the restoration and adaptive re-use of historic buildings, in accordance with modern requirements for comfort and environmental protection. The greatest contribution of this paper is the practical verification of energy refurbishment of the restored historic building, the Dining Room, by applying the principles and measures of energy efficiency, maintaining the authentic appearance of the building, in accordance with the conservation requirements.

Authenticity is a core principle in conservation guidelines and a key goal of heritage preservation, especially in Serbia, where many aging objects face ongoing deterioration. The subject of this study is the church within the Blagoveštenje Monastery complex in the Ovčar-Kablar gorge, built using stone from a local quarry at the beginning of the 17th century. The inclination of the structure, observed as progressively increasing over the centuries, raises important concerns regarding its stability. This research focuses on identifying the underlying causes of this phenomenon in order to support its long-term preservation. The methods used the study are long-term in situ observations including analysis, geodetic research, 3D laser imaging, geophysical, geological, archaeological research, evaluation of current condition, determination of structural failures and their cause and monitoring the structural behavior of elements. All methods were carried out in accordance with the definition of rehabilitation measures and the protection of masonry buildings. The main contribution of this study is identifying that the church’s inclination and deviation result from the northern foundation resting on weaker soil and a deeper rock mass compared to the southern side. The research approach and findings presented in this paper can serve as a guide for future endeavors aimed at identifying the causes of deformations and the restoration and structural rehabilitation of masonry buildings as cultural heritage.

Use of renewable energy sources is an important element for achieving ambitious results for CO2 emission reduction in EU, emphasized and obligated by Renewable energy Directive (RES Directive), among other documents. In Serbia, as a candidate country and a signatory of Energy treaty, targets set by relevant documents reflect in benchmarks set by National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, setting the level of reduction of energy consumption until 2018 for 9%, with more ambitious projections up to 2030. This calls for extensive research of possibilities for the use of renewable energy in buildings, its potentials and possible restrictions. Since the Directive states that low amount of energy required should be covered to a very significant extent by energy from renewable sources, including energy from renewable sources produced on-site or nearby, an investigation of possibilities for application of geothermal ground probes for a typical residential urban block in the city of Kragujevac is presented. This enables analysis of limitations imposed by legal and physical conditions: planning guidelines, type of ground, functional requests and infrastructural capacities. Typology of characteristic urban block layouts for residential buildings is generated, leading to projections of possible area covered with ground probes and calculations of relevant energy needed for heating, based on current regulations on energy efficiency in buildings. From these calculations, percentage of defined energy needs from possible geothermal ground probes is defined, enabling estimation of geothermal energy potential for new residential building blocks.