News Brief
Sustainability in Preservation Gets Its Own Guidebook
The U.S. Interior Department provides illustrated guidelines on energy retrofitting in historic buildings.

The guidelines use illustrated examples of both “recommended” and “not recommended” sustainability upgrades for historic buildings. The photograph above demonstrates how the “not recommended” practice of installing skylights on primary roof elevations damages the historic character of this home.
TPSThe guidelines direct historic building owners on making sustainable improvements without violating The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. While not a manual of codified requirements, it offers specific advice for how to make efficiency improvements without compromising the “historic character” of buildings.
The manual outlines “recommended” and “not recommended” practices on topics from maintenance to the installation of solar technology. Recommended practices include installing cool or green roofs, adding skylights, and installing insulation when appropriate. Illustrations accompany the text to demonstrate real-world examples.
For more information:
Illustrated Guidelines on Sustainability for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings
Published June 27, 2013 Permalink Citation
Pearson, C. (2013, June 27). Sustainability in Preservation Gets Its Own Guidebook. Retrieved from https://www.buildinggreen.com/newsbrief/sustainability-preservation-gets-its-own-guidebook
Add new comment
To post a comment, you need to register for a BuildingGreen Basic membership (free) or login to your existing profile.