Poll: How Green Could You Be?
Green Tip: Insulate From Top to Bottom
Don't just focus on walls. Insulate your attic, basement and crawl space, which is where 20% of heat loss comes from. Also, consider bio-based insulation for additional green points.
Green Tip: Keep the Shutters
Known as passive heating and cooling elements, restored shutters, porches and awnings not only increase curb appeal, but also provide added shade and insulation.
Green Tip: Caulking Reduces Drafts & Heat Loss
Want a quick fix? Proper and liberal caulking of joints and seams can have an immediate impact on your energy bill, as can sealing heating and cooling vents.
Green Tip: Going Solar Isn't Impossible
If you think solar energy is out of reach, think again. More and more cost-effective DIY strategies are making on-site renewable energy an increasingly realistic alternative.
The Goal & Our Role
America needs to cut its burgeoning carbon emissions by 80% by 2050. That has been President Barack Obama's booming rally cry against climate change since the early days of the presidential primaries.
With the election long gone and Number 44 finally settling into the Oval Office, we as a nation need to determine how to mitigate the destructive changes we've forced on our environment. And if you've paid any attention to the growing green movement, you know this means much more than just recycling newspapers, using reusable shopping bags and driving less.
According to a cautionary article that appeared in last year's Green Issue of Preservation magazine, existing buildings account for 30% of our country's greenhouse gas emissions and more than 40% of its carbon dioxide emissions. Believe it or not, older residences are among the top polluters in these categories. For this reason, any change in Washington needs to be met by changes in our own homes.
A Proposal for Change
Like our warming planet, the economy has seen better days. Because Mother Nature waits for no stimulus package, a plan must be enacted to empower homeowners to be eco-friendly in a way that won't be a shock to their pocketbooks.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is currently working with the new administration and Congress on a legislative idea that would save you more green in going green. We have proposed that the federal Nonbusiness Energy Property Credit – which currently allows taxpayers a 10% credit capped at $500 for energy-saving products – be significantly expanded for owners of historic and older homes to 20% with an annual maximum limit of $5,000. Under our plan, all costs associated with energy upgrades would qualify (including materials and labor). Homeowners would simply have to be mindful of local preservation ordinances in planning their projects.
Inform the Process
As we move our proposal through Washington, we want to hear from you. Take our survey below to indicate which green projects – from buying new appliances to repainting – you would most likely complete if stronger tax incentives were in place. When you're done, see how your answers compare with our early poll results.
Don't stop with the survey! We want to hear your carbon footprint-reducing ideas and solutions. What challenges do you face in going green? Other than tax credits, what resources do you need? This is your forum and we want your feedback.
Submitted by Curtis at: February 22, 2009
I think your 11 choices are good ones. The problem we have here in central new york (Geneva) is finding skilled labor that knows something about historic structures and is willing to spend the extra effort to repair appropriately. What most want to do is simply gut historic fabric and replace since it gets them into familiar territory and is therefore faster. The other problem we have is damp basements that need ventilation to prevent mold and deterioration of antique framing. This is the opposite of what is recommended by energy freaks.
Submitted by Amana at: February 10, 2009
I've already been doing this for the 16+ years we've been the "next caretaker" of our 1855, Colony, Post & Beam, Duplex. (that's a story in it self) I find another "crack/crevice" every year to pump more expanding foam into. I must be almost to ~100. We have CF Bulbs in every socket but 2, & those are on a dimmer. My 1940's boiler is actually pretty efficient, once you consider the center chimney, that the head soaks into our sock drawers! You can hold your hand on the chimney cover on a -20 day (IDK why I was up there then?) Last summer we decided to go AC free. It worked, we used fans, opened the windows, and the kids and us actually survived pretty well. We have a "zero carbon" heat supplement, in the form of a wood pellet stove. It lowers our boiler Natural Gas Bill by 2/3, and heats the house for ~10 a day @ -20 in our "low insulation" house. We continue to gut rooms and add insulation. It's a work in progress, or 156 years of "un-muddeling" I sometimes say. We're keeping it stable for the next caretaker too. Good luck to all!
Submitted by Sally at: February 9, 2009
It is admirable that the National Trust is pursuing a green agenda. I found the poll interesting - it seems to be a good laundry list of the best practices for all buildings, however, these lists are available almost everywhere now. What about the National Trust's movement or proposed tax credit makes it stand apart from the rest of the green movement? I think that the National Trust needs to be careful to not waterdown the impact of preservation, just so we can be seen to be on board with the green movement. We all need to be conserving - so how is this program and agenda different from what needs to be done to existing buildings? With the new administration there is an opportunity to move preservation into a firm position of strength in the building industry. Other than this poll and creating a program what is the National Trust doing to move preservation into a significant and relevant position?
Submitted by Land of Lincoln Green at: February 5, 2009
Before I got started on my home, I made an effort to benchmark my current energy consumption as a true way to measure future improvements. I added up my gas and electric bill consumption, converted to btu's, and can report I'm at 63,000 btu/sq ft/yr. This is about 10% below the statistical average for my kind of home and area. I'm now on a five year plan to keep getting more efficient.
Submitted by Anonymous at: January 31, 2009
reduce overall consumption
Submitted by brickhouse at: January 30, 2009
While we've done a number of updates to our property including new HVAC and energy efficient appliances, one challenge in our area is the local preservation league and their efforts to place restrictions on updates to older (though not necessarily historic) homes. While we would love to maintain the look of the house windows--for example--that have a high green factor and meet their rules are simply well out of budget. It would be great for local preservation and historic leagues to begin taking green issues into consideration alongside their preservation concerns...particularly when the properties in question simply fall in a historic zone and aren't necessarily historic themselves.
Submitted by oldhaus at: January 30, 2009
Hi, We're in an 1855 Post & Beam (colonial kind of) ... actually Communal Duplex, with original windows, new appliances. We've been "working on it" for 16yrs It's always a blast!
Submitted by GreenDC at: January 29, 2009
I'm excited to see that the National Trust is pushing for labor costs to be included in the credit. This could be the start of all of those "green collar jobs" we heard so much about during the election. Good work.