Old historic buildings such as this one in Charlestown, South Carolina can be retrofitted to become a green building. Image Credit: Public domain. |
There is a lot of talk going on about new
green residential and industrial buildings in Canada, but what about the older
buildings that have remarkable historic and cultural value? Retrofitting
historic buildings requires special attention because unlike other buildings, they
can only be modified in certain ways. Modifying them solely for the sake of
environmental sustainability may cause damage to its immense architectural
value.
So what are the aspects that you have to pay
careful attention to when retrofitting historic
buildings?
In terms of the sustainability of the site, the local government and building owner
have to address heat island reduction and the control of storm water runoff.
Water
efficiency is another concern. Water used cannot be
drastically reduced, because it might disrupt the careful ecological balance of
the greenery. At this point, architects and engineers must carefully survey the
“cultural landscape”. Native species must be carefully protected, because they
form part of the heritage of the historic property. Take advantage of the
cisterns and irrigation system of the original property, making only changes
that will not negatively affect how the property looks.
A third concern is the energy and atmosphere. Something as simple as making sure the
shutters work can positively impact the building’s energy efficiency. Awnings,
as long as they work and fit the architectural design, can reduce the influx of
heat by as much as 65%. The high ceilings must be preserved to allow the
optimum circulation of light and air, and windows must be kept in good
condition to reduce demand heating and cooling demands. The courtyards and
fountains can also provide comfort during the warm months.
One thing you should think of is the on-site
renewable energy. Net zero buildings are making quite an impression in the
industry, and there are several options for you: solar, wind, geo-thermal, and
bio-gas are some of them.
These are, of course, only some of the
environmentally sustainable ways of making a historic building as green as
possible, without sacrificing its cultural value. This just shows that
environmental sustainability does not have to come for a culture price, while
historical artifacts can be brought up to 21st century environmental
standards.