Old is the New Green

One of the main reasons Preservation of Historic Resources is considered green, is the concept of embodied energy. Old buildings contain an enormous amount of embodied energy, which is the materials, energy, and human capital already expended at the time of their construction. No matter how much green technology is employed in its design and construction, any new building represents a new impact on the environment. When you preserve or restore a historic structure you maximize the use of existing materials and infrastructure, reduce waste (by avoiding the financial and environmental costs of hauling the debris off to a landfill), and preserve the historic character and sense of place within our City. When you reinvest in older and historic buildings you support a more sustainable world.  The “greenest” building is the one that’s already built! Here are the key points to remember about “green” building and historic preservation.

Check out the 2010 Historic Preservation Awards.  ____________________ Both award recipients used sustainability techniques in their projects. Autrey Arcade

Rehabilitation is greener than building a new building.  Reuse, Reinvest, Retrofit, Respect! Embodied energy-the retention and reuse of older and historic buildings preserves the materials, energy, and human capital already expended in their construction.   Reduction of landfill materials-the retention and reuse of historic structures keeps millions of tons of used construction materials out of landfills. The retention and reuse of older and historic buildings uses these resources to their fullest and makes use of the existing infrastructure-water/sewer/electricity/transportation-already paid for by public dollars. Check out the links below for more information on Sustainability and Historic Preservation:   Links to Articles/Information: 1. Facts about Preservation and Sustainability, Why Our Existing Buildings and Neighborhoods Matter 2. National Trust Sustainability Website. 3. Weatherization Guide for Older and Historic Buildings.  4. Preservation Green Home Tips 5. Sustainability Background Information   6. Historic Preservation and Green Building: A Lasting Relationship Feature - Environmental Building News January 2007 7.    Sustainable Historic Preservation By the WBDG Historic Preservation Subcommittee | August 25, 2009 8. Sustainable Design and Historic Preservation By Sharon C. Park | 1998 9.    A Cautionary Tale Amid our green-building boom, why neglecting the old in favor of the new just might cost us dearly. By Wayne Curtis | From Preservation | January/February 2008  10. Natural Allies: Preservation and Sustainable Development? Urban Land June 2008 11. Greenworks Orlando 12.  US Green Building Council - Green Building Research General Articles/Links on Green Building/Preservation: 1.  Historic Preservation Projects Can Be Green UW’s Cobb Building renovation pencils out despite complexities . By Michael S. Wishkoski GGLO | Seattle DJC Newspaper | March, 30, 2006 2.  OUC Reliable Plaza – Greenest Building in Downtown 3.  How Changes to LEED™ Will Benefit Existing and Historic Buildings By Barbara A. Campagna, AIA, LEED AP 4.  "Going Green," by Charles L. Rosenblum, Preservation Magazine, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Vol. 58, No. 5, September-October, 2006. 5. Going Green At Home How does a preservation-minded architect make his own house greener?Carefully… very carefully. By James Schwartz | From Preservation | March/April 2009 6.  The Greening of the Empire State Building By Margaret Foster | Online Only | Apr. 14, 2009 7.  Sweet Home, Again Chicago's bungalows, long neglected, are going green—and enjoying a massive revival. By Eric Wills | From Preservation | January/February 2008  8.   It’s good business to be green Wal-Mart’s green roof paying dividends for store, community . By Debbie Lively | Austin Weekly News | July 25, 2007 9. Orlando, OUC help energy-wasting homes. 10. Green Buildings and the Bottom Line *Large File* The ‘New Reality’ of Green Building . Building Design+Construction | November 2006 11.  Environmentally conscious tenants want green buildings When it comes to commercial construction these days, find out what’s in and what’s out. By Jerry W. Jackson | Orlando Sentinel | November 5, 2007 12.  Preservation and Sustainability: The Greenest Building is the One Already Built . By Kim K. Del Rance, LEED AP | AIA | Spring 2007 13.   2007 NCSHPO Annual Meeting Squaretable Discussion on LEED By Wayne Donaldson, the California SHPO and Kak Slick, the New Mexico SHPO 14.   City shows off architectual heritage 15.    A Natural Connection – Sustainable Design and Historic Preservation Energy, Currency, and Memory: Sustaining the Value of Historic Resources Presented by the AIA Historic Resources Committee with the Committee on the Environment | November 17-19, 2006 | University of Minnesota 16.   Tapping the Synergies of Green Building and Historic Preservation Proponents of these two highly dedicated and concerned movements are finding ways to work together to advance their many shared values . By Nancy B. Solomon, AIA | GreenSource 17. Green Local Governments Setting the Standard for Cities and Counties Version 3.0 Florida Green Building Coalition | 2009 18. Cambridge City Hall Annex: Melding Sustainable Design and Historic Preservation Community Development Department, City of Cambridge, Massachusetts   Speeches/Presentations: 1.   Sustainable Stewardship: Historic Preservation’s Essential Role in Fighting Climate Change By Richard Moe | December 13, 2007 | Speech for Receiving the Vincent Scully Prize 2.  Historic Preservation and Green Building: Finding Common Ground Richard Moe| U.S.G.B.C. Greenbuild Conference | Boston, MA | November 20, 2008 3.  Green Building and Historic Preservation Symposium Richard Moe | Washington D.C. | April 28, 2008 4.  Economics, Sustainability, and Historic Preservation A Speech by Donovan D. Rypkema | The National Trust Annual Conference | October 1, 2005 5.     ***Historic Preservation and Sustainable Development Donovan D. Rypkema | Economic Benefits of Preservation Session | March 10, 2007   | Historic Preservation Main |