Conservancy Seminar Features Expert Panel on Sustainability in Historic Houses, Nov. 12
Walter Sedovic, Principal and CEO of Walter Sedovic Architects, discusses the importance of building responsibly.
Rebecca Williams, Program Officer with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, talks about why greening existing buildings is a critical component to fighting climate change.
The recent rush in the U.S. to build green has created a climate of confusion for those seeking practical advice on sustainability in historic houses.
The Conservancy, with funding from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, has set out to ensure that preservation basics are not lost when buzzwords such as “greenscape,” “lo-energy” or “LEED” leave homeowners unsure how to maintain their properties, or under the impression that “green” building is only for new construction.
This third and final seminar in a series, “Preservation is Sustainability: How to Make Your Older House More Energy Efficient” featured a select group of preservationists and architects who provided the critical framework on sustainability in historic houses.
Located in the historic Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn, experts discussed their own experiences in restoration amid the green-building boom, highlighting successes and areas that should be rethought.
Rebecca Williams, Program Officer with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, talked about why greening existing buildings is a critical component to fighting climate change. She also said homeowners should restore rather than replace historic wood windows.
“The result (of replacing historic wood windows) is the rapid erosion of the building’s character, the waste of a historic resource, and a potential loss in energy conservation,” Williams said.
Adding to the conversation was Walter Sedovic, Principal and CEO of Walter Sedovic Architects, who debunked advertising campaigns suggesting that the first order of business should be to replace old windows. Sedovic also discussed in detail about the importance of building responsibly.
“Sustainability and preservation are a natural marriage, so long as one remains mindful that sustainability is not just about energy conservation.” Sedovic said.
Diana F. Pangestu, NYSERDA Energy $mart Communities Coordinator, spoke on energy efficiency and renewable resources using community-based outreach, energy education forums, and one-on-one consulting as well as financial incentives for energy efficiency in existing buildings.
Having rehabilitated eighty-one apartment buildings in New York City, Chris Benedict, R.A. ARCHITECTURE AND ENERGY LIMITED, is a licensed architect in the region who spoke on “ideal building” from an energy and performance perspective as well as on performance issues and solutions for existing buildings with modern “programs.”
William Neeley, Jr., Deputy Director at Preservation, New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, gave an in-depth talk on working with the Landmarks Preservation Commission, energy efficiency enhancements and the LPC’s “Green Committee.”
Reverend David Dyson, Pastor of Lafayette Avenue Church, also treated attendees to a special tour of the historic church, which was a stop on the Underground Railroad. The awe-inspiring house of worship features an impressive collection of Tiffany windows and a massive mural commissioned to reflect the diversity of the community and the church, titled “Mighty Cloud of Witnesses.”
This project has been funded in part by a grant from the Johanna Favrot Fund for Historic Preservation of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Online Resources
Energy Star Tax Credit Program
http://www.energystar.gov/taxcredits
National Trust for Historic Preservation
http://www.preservationnation.org/issues/weatherization/
New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
http://www.nyc.gov/landmarks
New York State Energy Research and Development Authority
http://www.nyserda.org
http://www.getenergysmart.org/
Seattle Green Building Guides
http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/GreenBuilding/SingleFamilyResidential/Resources/RemodelingGuides/default.asp
Solar One
http://www.solar1.org
