A Scottish study how buildings adapt to the changes in climate has suggested that, although there is no immediate risk, it needs to be carefully monitored.

The five-year plan has been drafted to research the effects of climate change on historic buildings in Edinburgh's World Heritage site.

It is feared changes in rainfall patterns, heavy winds and rise in temperatures could increase the damage and weathering of the site's buildings.


Over the past four months, Edinburgh World Heritage has been looking into the issue of climate change.

It said rainfall was the big thing Edinburgh had to address.

Since April 2010 Edinburgh World Heritage (EWH) has employed an energy efficiency officer, funded by the Climate Challenge Fund.

The aim of the project is to demonstrate how historic buildings can be made more energy efficient, helping to alleviate fuel poverty without impacting on the character of the building.

As part of this initiative a student intern with EWH has spent the past four months looking into the issue of climate change, to begin to scope out what this might mean for the conservation of Edinburgh's World Heritage Site.

(BMcC/CD)