By Charley Langowski, Executive Director at Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps
When you think about being sustainable, what comes to mind? Maybe recycling plastics every week, cutting back on single-use items, or reusing stuff around the house? But here’s one you might not have considered: preserving the buildings in your city. Yep, giving those old structures some TLC with regular maintenance and energy-efficient upgrades could actually be one of the biggest ways you can make a sustainability impact.
Demolishing historic buildings to make way for shiny new ones—complete with fancy energy-efficient HVAC systems, solar panels, and triple-pane windows—sounds great on paper. But hold up. According to the U.S. Energy Information Agency, buildings from before the 1920s are often more energy-efficient than those built afterward (except for super-modern ones from the 2000s and beyond). Why? Back in the day, architects designed buildings to stay warm in winter and cool in summer without high-tech gadgets (SOHO San Diego, 2009).
And here’s a kicker: A 1999 study by the General Services Administration (GSA) found that historic buildings racked up 27% less in utility costs compared to their modern counterparts (Cove.Tool, 2021). That’s before even talking about the carbon costs of tearing down old structures and building new ones. Spoiler alert: it’s massive. According to a study by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, retrofitting an existing building to improve energy efficiency typically saves 50-75% of the carbon emissions compared to demolishing and constructing a new building of similar size and function. This is because the embodied energy in the materials and construction of older buildings is preserved, reducing the need for energy-intensive new materials (National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2011).
Preserving Embodied Energy
Let’s talk about embodied energy for a second. That’s all the energy used to create a building—from mining and processing materials to construction and transportation. When you demolish a building, all that embodied energy? Poof. Gone. Plus, now you need a bunch of new resources (and energy) to build something else.
By preserving and reusing old buildings, you’re basically saving a massive stash of resources and cutting back on waste. As the saying goes, “The greenest building is the one that’s already built” (National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2011).
Take Portland, Oregon, for example. Retrofitting a historic office building there saved around 50% of the embodied carbon compared to constructing something brand-new (Preservation Green Lab, 2016). Pretty impressive, right?
Old Buildings, Smart Design
Here’s another fun fact: historic buildings were the OGs of sustainable design. Before central heating and air conditioning, builders had to get creative. Think thick walls for natural insulation, strategically placed windows for cross-ventilation, and overhanging roofs for shade. Pretty genius.
Fast forward to today, and these old-school features can be upgraded with modern tech to boost energy efficiency without losing their charm. Case in point? The Byron Rogers Federal Building in Denver, Colorado. This mid-century marvel got a sustainable makeover in 2013—with energy-efficient systems added while keeping its vintage vibe intact. The result? A LEED Platinum certification and proof that old buildings can meet modern standards (GSA, 2013).
Adaptive Reuse: Breathing New Life Into Old Spaces
Adaptive reuse is like giving historic buildings a second chance. Instead of tearing them down, we repurpose them for new uses. It’s a win-win: you preserve history while creating vibrant, functional spaces for today.
A standout example is Denver Union Station. Built in 1914, this Beaux-Arts beauty was transformed into a hub of activity in 2014. The renovation blended historic charm with sustainable features like energy-efficient lighting and water-saving systems (Union Station Alliance, 2014). Now it’s a hotspot for transit, dining, and shopping—proof that old buildings can thrive in the modern world.
History Meets Tourism (and Dollars!)
Speaking of old buildings, they’re not just for history buffs. Heritage tourism is big business. In 2023, historic tourists spent an average of $336.24 per person per night (Missouri Main Street Connection, 2023). That’s a lot of cash flowing into local economies, all thanks to preserved landmarks and districts.
Challenges and Opportunities
Sure, updating historic buildings to meet modern energy standards isn’t always easy. You’ve got to juggle preserving historical details with integrating new tech. But these challenges spark innovation—and collaboration. Preservationists, architects, and sustainability pros are teaming up to find solutions that honor the past while embracing the future.
Organizations like the Association for Preservation Technology International (APT) are leading the charge. Their Sustainable Preservation Technical Committee offers resources and education to help professionals merge sustainability with historic preservation (APT, 2022).
Organizations Making a Difference
National Trust for Historic Preservation: Their Preservation Green Lab champions building reuse to fight climate change, showing how preservation can be a powerful sustainability tool (National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2011).
Rethos: This group pushes for deconstruction and salvage, promoting the reuse of building materials to reduce waste (Rethos, 2022).
Historic England: Across the pond, this organization provides guidance on sustainable retrofitting that respects the unique character of historic buildings (Historic England, 2020).
Projects to Inspire
BlueCity, Rotterdam: A former swimming pool turned into a circular economy incubator. Talk about making waves with adaptive reuse (BlueCity, 2021).
The Empire State Building, New York City: After a deep energy retrofit, this iconic skyscraper cut its energy use by 38%, proving even the most famous landmarks can go green (Empire State Realty Trust, 2011).
Byron Rogers Federal Building, Denver: This mid-century gem’s LEED Platinum retrofit shows what’s possible when sustainability meets preservation (GSA, 2013).
Wrapping It Up
Preserving historic buildings isn’t just about nostalgia. It’s a smart, sustainable way to reduce waste, conserve resources, and keep our communities vibrant. Whether it’s through adaptive reuse, retrofitting, or simply maintaining what we’ve got, these efforts are making a real difference. And as the examples above show, old buildings don’t just tell stories of the past—they’re paving the way for a greener future.
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