The Sustainability of Preservation
You're a fool or a fraud if you say you are an environmentally conscious builder and yet are throwing away historic buildings.
For some time I've been searching for links between preservation and the blossoming sustainability movement. Not much luck or skill until a correspondent sent me this article from the Journal of the American Planning Association that lays out the growing case for reuse.
Two words: embodied energy.
To strengthen the case even further, the National Trust for Historic Preservation is funding a study to create metrics for the embodied energy in existing buildings. It's also pushing the LEED rating system to give more credit to building reuse
According to Barbara Campagna of the NationalTrust, the USGBC has acknowledged that the point system is skewed against preservation and has asked the Trust to lead an effort to create preservation metrics for the next version of LEED, due out in two years.If we're not vigilant, green will be what Memphis calls the next wave of destruction and abandonment.
Labels: climate, environment, historic preservation, redevelopment
posted by gatesofmemphis at 7:00 PM
2 Comments:
Great post. What is the best way to get involved in preserving Memphis architecture?
I really appreciate it, Harvey.
A very good place to get involved is Memphis Heritage which is having its annual membership meeting this Tuesday (March 25th) at 6:00 p.m. Check out their website for details.
You'll also be able to see Howard Hall, their cool home.
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