Go "Green" and Stay Historic!

I'm not proud, folks.  And I'm evidently not afraid to go to jail for Historic Preservation.  That's why I'm plagiarizing an article from the January/February '08 edition of Preservation magazine that lists ten ways to "greenify" your historic home.  (My eight-year-old niece would point out that this is not technically plagiarism, since I'm not claiming the 10 tips as my own.  Whew!  Thank god for kids!)  Here goes:

1. Keep original window intact.  Studies show that older windows can perform as well as vinyl replacements.  Weatherstrip them so that they seal tightly, caulk the exterior trim, and repair cracked glazing or putty around glass panels.  You'll reduce landfill waste and the demand for vinyl, a nonbiodegradable material that gives off toxic byproducts when it's made.
2. Use light paint colors for your house's exterior.  Lighter colors reflect heat better than darker ones.
3. Insulate the attic, basement, and crawl space.  About 20 percent of energy costs come from heat loss in those areas.
4. Reuse old materials such as brick, stone, glass, and slate when making home improvements.  If you're rebuilding a staircase, for example, use wood from the summer kitchen or shed that couldn't be saved.
5. Install fireplace draft stoppers, attic door covers, and dryer vent seals that open only when your dryer is in use.  An open dampener in a fireplace can increase energy costs by 30 percent, and attic doors and dryer vent ducts are notorious energy sieves.
6. Plant trees.  Evergreen trees on the north and west sides of your house can block winter winds, and leafy trees on the south and west provide shade from the summer sun.  Using old photos of your house, try to match the historic landscaping.
7. Have an energy audit done by your local utility company, or visit Home Energy Saver (http://hes.lbl.gov).  Audits can help pinpoint problem areas and measure energy savings after you improve your home's efficiency.
8. In summer, open the windows and use fans and dehumidifiers, which consume less energy than air-conditioning.  Many old houses were designed with good cross-ventilation; take advantage of your home's layout.
9. Keep doors airtight by weatherstripping, caulking, and painting them regularly.  Recent studies suggest that installing a storm door is not necessarily cost-effective.
10. Restore porches and awnings.  Porches, awnings, and shutters were intended for shade and insulation.  To save energy, draw shades on winter nights and summer days.

See?  These are way better than I could've come up with.  Plagiarism is great!  If you want to check out more great articles about going green, check out Preservation magazine "The Green Issue" for January/February 2008.  This is the magazine of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, so maybe they'll forgive my transgressions if I plug their magazine enough. 

Be sure to contact me with your questions regarding Historic Preservation in Mesta Park.  I'm always happy to answer your questions or put you in contact with people who can.