Older, traditionally built properties are notoriously hard to treat in terms of improving energy efficiency, and this can be greatly exacerbated where their historic status places planning restrictions on improvement measures. Many of the most popular and cost-effective measures are not viable for use in these buildings. Edinburgh-based sustainable development organisation Changeworks has been at the forefront of pioneering research and practical demonstration projects in this area. Their recent award-winning projects, Energy Heritage and Renewable Heritage, provide best-practice examples of what can be done to reduce the energy demand in such properties and allow them to generate their own renewable energy, all without compromising their historic appearance and cultural integrity.