Adapting from glorious past to uncertain future

The purpose of this paper is to valuate existing building stock with respect to its contribution to a changing and uncertain future, especially in relation to energy performance.

The authors review literature related to existing buildings, climate change and future environmental needs; present energy performance data from ten case studies; and identify inadequacies and scope for improvements with reference to typical housing stock.

Current policies and programmes are inadequate to the scope and scale of the task; a step‐change in thought and practice is needed.

A massive programme is warranted if the substantial stock of existing buildings is to be adapted to meet identified environmental standards to “save the planet”; a radical re‐conceptualisation of building adaptation is required.

The paper prompts a review of the role of the surveyor in achieving sustainability through adaptation of existing buildings.