Allyson Brooks
Allyson Brooks
State Historic Preservation Officer
Washington Department of Archeology & Historic Preservation
What is preservation's role in promoting sustainable development?
Historic preservation is sustainable development. Preservation needs to educate the environmental and political communities that we don't just promote it; we do it.
What is your personal vision for the Preservation Green Lab?
My vision is that it will make our political leaders understand that we are part of the climate change discussion. Preserving existing buildings has the same importance as promoting the use of hydrogen fuel cell or electric cars. You can't protect the climate if you are focused on greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, but ignore the waste and problems created from building debris.
What do you hope the Preservation Green Lab will accomplish within its first year? Its first five years?
I hope the Preservation Green Lab will have a successful example project in the Pacific Northwest. People need to see how preservation and energy efficient initiatives go together. They are complimentary – not mutually exclusive objectives. Within five years, we should all be at the climate change discussion table at the local, state and national levels.
What lessons do you hope elected officials and local decision-makers will learn from the Preservation Green Lab and its initiatives? What about the general public?
As I stated before, I hope they will learn that we are one of the solutions to climate change. New buildings with all new materials are not the answer. Use existing building stock, add to them with recycled materials, and make them energy efficient. They should also be aware that deconstruction is a far more ethical and environmentally-friendly practice than demolition. The recycling of architectural materials should be mandatory.
