Preservation Green Lab Partners
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is dedicated to the sustainable stewardship of the built environment through the adaptive reuse of its existing structures and the redevelopment of its urbanized areas. The city is developing the Dubuque Warehouse District Energy Efficiency Zone, which will make technical assistance available to a 28-building industrial complex in the heart of the city's downtown area.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Preservation Green Lab hope to work with the City of Dubuque to develop guidance that will include a toolkit for evaluating and implementing energy efficiency improvements in the historic buildings that are located within the Warehouse District. The Preservation Green Lab would also like to work with city leaders to incorporate the principles of reuse, reinvestment and green retrofits in both their climate change action plan and their long-term comprehensive plan.
San Francisco, California
The City of San Francisco has long been a leader in its efforts to not only increase public awareness about climate change, but to create programs that actually address the environmental problems that we're facing today. While the city’s agenda includes efforts to improve recycling and to green new construction, the current climate action plan does not actively promote the reuse of the city's existing building stock. Additionally, there is limited focus within the plan on promoting green retrofits of older and historic structures.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation and the Preservation Green Lab are developing a scope of work that will identify the city’s specific needs and estimate a timeline for the proposed work. One possibility for a partnership is a demonstration project that would illustrate the many ways in which an affordable housing project can go green.
Seattle, Washington
During the first year of operation of the Preservation Green Lab, the City of Seattle and the National Trust for Historic Preservation will partner on a pilot rehabilitation project to create code language that will make the Emerald City a national role model in the greening of historic buildings. The energy code will require significant energy performance improvements while providing the flexibility needed to maintain historic integrity. It is our hope that the proven environmental benefits of this new approach will be magnified as other jurisdictions across the country adopt the model code. Additional work may include partnering on demonstration projects that showcase today's best green retrofit practices.
Submitted by Ca Heritage Bd Member at: May 5, 2009
My community, Santa Rosa California is moving forward with what is probably the first mandatory sustainablity upgrade ordinace to include all existing (including residential and historic) structure in the nation. The City Council wishes to act quickly and we would be delighted to partner with Green Lab in this endeavor. Money is already coming available from a recent state senate bill and we are working hard to create reasonable/effective upgrade requirements for historic structures and get them integrated into the ordinance. The optimistic goal is 80% retrofit by 2015 to include all housing stock. The city and staff have been attentive to the preservation aspect and are already on board regarding the window replacement issue. We would welcome any input as we strive to craft the most effective conservation measures for both energy and the historic resource in our mild climate. M. DeBacker landmarc@sonic.net
Submitted by preservation lady at: April 30, 2009
In Fell's Point, Maryland, we are restoring two of the eight remaining 18th century wooden properties. One of these properties is a Baltimore City Landmark. Both are under easement to the Maryland Historical Trust. We are in a Main Street neighborhood. We want LEED designation and have been using the ideas in the Forum article on the Lincoln Cottage and recent issues of Preservation Magazine. We even went a step further and put in an earth toilet instead of renting spot- a- XXXs during our preconstruction stage. Could these properties be considered as demonstration sites? Our City has just created an Office of Sustainability and we are anxious to show others in our City and especially in our National Register Historic Districts what can be done. We also provide architectural design review services for this community and Federal Hill across the harbor. Involving our DRC and City Office of Sustainability would enable us to significantly expand our ability to demonstrate what we can do, if only we dare.
Submitted by seasalt at: March 25, 2009
This is the way to go. Our Woods College Preservation School project would be an excellent site for a Preservation Green Lab. Please contact me at jrcminc@hughes.net thanks. This is where stimulus ought to be.