Helping save the planet, one historic building at a time . . .

The greenest buildings—as Carl Elefante, a noted Washington DC architect, told us during Preservation NC's 2007 Annual Conference—are the ones already built, and many are the historic places that tell North Carolina's story. "Taking into account the massive investment of materials and energy in existing buildings," Elefante has written, "it is both obvious and profound that extending the useful service life of the building stock is common sense, good business, and sound resource management."

The work of protecting our state's historic places generates many positive environmental effects:

Reuse
Want to help keep over 85 tons of reusable materials out of the landfill? Help save a 1,500 square-foot house. (According to EPA estimates, demolition of domestic structures results generates 115 pounds of waste per square foot on average.)

Energy Efficiency
You may not think so, given all the advertisments, but your original wood sash windows are good for the environment! With proper weatherstripping and storms, they outperform replacement windows in terms of energy efficiency. Plus, traditional windows are made from sustainable materials, are easy to repair, and don't emit toxic gasses (like vinyl manufacturing does).

Smart Growth
Live in a historic neighborhood? Chances are you walk more and have better access to public transportation. If you have to commute, the distance is probably shorter. If you can support local businesses in your historic downtown, you're helping discourage sprawl.

Life-Cycle Impact
When analyzed in terms of environmental impact over the long term-accounting for material extraction, manufacturing, transportation, operation, and disposal-rehabilitation of existing buildings is better for the planet than new construction.

We want to feature some of the innovative ways people have found to preserve North Carolina's historic places and its environment on PreservationNC.org.

Maybe you have a tip on saving energy in your historic home, a question about how preservation planning can improve sustainability, or a story about a person or group making environmentalism and preservation work together. Let us know! Send an email to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .

Read more

Historic Preservation and Sustainability (National Trust for Historic Preservation)

Carl Elefante, AIA, "The Greenest Building Is . . . One That Is Already Built" (National Trust Forum, summer 2007, PDF 605 kB)

Sarah P. Wolff, "Historic Windows and Energy Efficiency" (PreservationNC.org)

Donovan D. Rypkema, "Economics, Sustainability & Historic Preservation" (PreservationNC.org)

---, "Historic Preservation as Sustainable Development" (NC Preservation, summer 2005)