In this age of “green technologies” and “sustainability,” responsible property owners are rightfully searching for ways to retrofit their homes to improve energy efficiency. The first fix that springs to most people’s mind is new windows, but when it comes to weatherizing an older building, the interventions need not be drastic in order to see […]
Archive | Reduce, Reuse, Rehab
Reduce, Reuse, Rehab: Historic Buildings and Energy-Efficient Roof Treatments
In recent years, green building advocates have proposed alternative roof treatments for the achievement of greater energy efficiency. Green building certifications – like LEED and others – place particular emphasis on green roofs. In 2009, United States Secretary of Energy Steven Chu advocated cool roofs for greater energy efficiency – a method most recently adopted […]
Reduce, Reuse, Rehab: Green Cleaning and Historic Exteriors
As spring blooms and temperatures rise, the effects of the harsh winter weather become apparent on historic exteriors. Excessive precipitation and wind can leave biological growth, dirt, grime, and rust clinging to walls, which, if not cleaned properly, can cause damage to the historic fabric. In the September issue of Reduce, Reuse, Rehab, Laura L. […]
Reduce, Reuse, Rehab: Cambridge City Hall Annex
Cambridge, Massachusetts The City Hall Annex in Cambridge, Mass., is an excellent model of how historic preservation and sustainable design can work together to simultaneously cut costs, lower carbon emissions and preserve historic buildings. In 2005, following a one and a half-year renovation project in which 85 percent of all construction waste was recycled, the […]
Reduce, Reuse, Rehab: Monahan Building, the Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, Connecticut
A sense of physical place can factor significantly in memory, particularly when associated with the formative years spent in school. The buildings in which young people learn often remain inextricably linked to the educational lessons themselves. When several Hotchkiss School alumni and trustees, including Forrest Mars, Jr. (class of 1949) and John L. Thornton (class […]
Reduce, Reuse, Rehab: Green Rehabilitation: the BNN Charles J. Beard II Media Center
The green rehabilitation of a historic structure can be quite complex, particularly if the building is large and in serious disrepair. Such was the situation facing the Boston Neighborhood Network (BNN) and Urban Edge when they undertook the large-scale rehabilitation of the former Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) substation in the Roxbury neighborhood of Boston, […]
Reduce, Reuse, Rehab: New Insulation Options for a Greener Historic Home
The energy efficiency benefits of insulation are easily achieved and widely understood. While preservationists generally do not recommend its installation between walls of historic buildings – due to its potentially damaging effects to historic materials, high cost, and less effective energy savings – insulation installed in the attic and roof can save a historic-home owner […]
Reduce, Reuse, Rehab: Using Sustainable Sources of Wood in Historic Home Maintenance
Historic-home inhabitants know that wood elements require maintenance from time to time. The cornice may rot over time, or pieces of the stairway balustrade may become significantly damaged. If a historic-building inhabitant is unable to repair the wood element, and needs to replace it – either in part or in total – how does s/he […]
Reduce, Reuse, Rehab: Exploring Cultural and Economic Sustainability through Heritage Tourism
In the broadest sense, sustainability means meeting present needs while not hindering future generations from meeting theirs. While the concept of environmental sustainability is generally well-understood, sustainability on the whole necessitates a multi-faceted understanding including social, cultural, and economic elements. In Reduce, Reuse, Rehab, we often explore how historic preservation is environmentally sustainable, but it is […]
Reduce, Reuse, Rehab: Green Cleaning in Your Historic Home
Historic buildings are natural allies of the sustainability movement. They are typically long-lasting, built of durable materials, and designed for passive heating, cooling, and ventilation. Reusing old buildings cuts down on the landfill waste, carbon emissions, and gasoline required for new construction. But, for a truly sustainable mode of living, it is not enough just […]