NPS releases new Guidelines on Sustainability and Rehabilitation for Historic Buildings

This past Earth Day (April 22, 2011) Technical Preservation Services (TPS) released, “The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation & Illustrated Guidelines on Sustainability for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings.” They are the latest in a series of guidelines on historic features such as masonry and roofs, which are available at Guidelines for Rehabilitation, offering guidance on “recommended” and “not recommended” treatments, with illustrations, intended to assist owners plan rehabilitation projects that meet the Secretary of the Interior Standards for Rehabilitation. These new Guidelines on Sustainability replace the previous sections which dealt with energy conservation. The two work together: the Standards offer philosophical guidance, while the Guidelines offer practical advice on how to conduct the work.

National Parks Service (NPS) states, “The guidelines stress the inherent sustainability of historic buildings.” The approach of the guidelines always has been to first attempt the least invasive and gentlest alterations possible, before considering drastic approaches that may have a greater impact on historic fabric. The new sustainability guidelines offer advice on sustainability planning; energy efficiency for windows; HVAC systems; weatherization and insulation; as well as new approaches such as the addition of solar panels to roofs; wind power systems; and cool roofs and green roofs. As always, the guidelines stress the importance of maintenance.

TPS, Cultural Services, Washington DC is a division of the National Parks Service (NPS) that authored the Preservation Briefs , Preservation Tech Notes, and Technical Reports; which guide much of the Rehabilitation work in this country. As sustainable building practices develop, it is important to stay current. TPS is also in the process of re-writing Preservation Brief 3: Conserving Energy in Historic Buildings.

The Sustainability Guidelines are an important addition to an ongoing conversation about green building and historic preservation --an effort that has really picked up steam in the last five years. The National Trust, as one of the agencies at the forefront of the conversation, is working with the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and has set up a Preservation Green Lab in Seattle Washington as part of its Sustainability Program. The Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG), a program of the National Institute of Building Sciences, has set up a Historic Preservation subcommittee addressing sustainable building practices.

For our part, RAP will disseminate information to better assist our members in making decisions about sustainable upgrades to their historic structures. We will bring the conversation to a local level, discussing issues and problems pertinent to our district and climate.

GET THE GUIDELINES
The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation & Illustrated Guidelines on Sustainability for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings. (PDF – 53.49 MB!)

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