During the Little Ice Age, Hardwick Hall in Derbyshire used clever architecture to stay warm. Built in the 1590s by Elizabeth (Bess), Countess of Shrewsbury, its design maximized solar heat and minimized heat loss. The house's orientation, thick walls, and strategic fireplaces offer lessons for modern energy efficiency.

The mansion's new wing was rotated 90 degrees to capture sunlight. Bess moved with the sun, spending mornings in the east-facing Long Gallery and evenings in sunlit bed chambers. North-facing windows were often fake, and fireplaces sat on a central 1.37m-thick spine, storing heat in its thermal mass.

This historic approach contrasts with today's reliance on fossil fuels. Architects like Ranald Lawrence see passive design principles from Hardwick Hall as relevant for reducing energy use now. The house shows how pre-industrial solutions can inspire contemporary, low-carbon heating strategies without sacrificing comfort.