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How can historic buildings be made more sustainable?

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Image of the Koen Federal Building in the Ozark-St. Francis Forest in Region 9.

The Koen Federal Building (Ozark-St. Francis Supervisor's Office)
was renovated and expanded. The project achieved LEED Gold
certification as well as meeting requirements of the National
Historic Preservation Act.

Forest: Ozark-St. Francis
Region: 8

 

You may have heard it said that "the greenest building is the one that is already built" (Carl Elefante, FAIA). Continuing to use existing buildings means that the materials and energy used to construct the existing buildings doesn't go to waste, and additional materials and energy don't have to be used to replace them.  

Historic buildings often have great features, such as large windows, solid construction, and convenient locations that are also sustainable features.  However, they usually also have antiquated HVAC systems and the building envelopes may leak like a sieve, making them real energy hogs. Most historic buildings can be successfully renovated to meet 21st Century sustainability standards, and in many cases, life cycle cost analysis shows that the cost is lower than demolishing and rebuilding. 

There are plenty of resources available to help guide the work of greening historic structures.

  • The National Park Service's Technical Preservation Services division's Sustainability Website contains guidance and technical information about how historic properties can incorporate sustainable practices to reduce energy consumption, while maintaining those characteristics that make historic properties significant.

  • Sustainability and Historic Federal Buildings is a 41-page document from the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation that explains how to integrate Federal requirements for sustainability and historic preservation, including optimizing energy performance, protecting and conserving indoor and outdoor water, enhancing indoor environmental quality, and reducing the environmental impact of materials.  

  • The Whole Building Design Guide's Sustainable Historic Preservation Website contains in-depth information about melding historic preservation and all facets of sustainability.

  • The National Trust for Historic Preservation's Greening Older and Historic Buildings Website contains practical information including weatherization, daylighting, and energy efficiency upgrade information.


  • The Technology and Development Program's historic buildings publications.

Buildings that have outlived their original purpose, but are worth saving, need a new purpose if they are to remain intact. It’s extremely important to choose a sensible use for these buildings, one that serves the Forest Service mission and to which the building is already well suited or for which it can be cost-effectively renovated.

Some sustainability improvements for historic Forest Service buildings work better and are more cost effective than others, as explained in sustainability strategies that work for historic Forest Service buildings.

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