Energy

Energy efficiency is one of the most discussed topics in Preservation right now. For decades and across the country, homeowners, trades professionals, and scientists have been studying the publishing the energy performance of older home construction with respect to energy consumption.

Two observations to consider about how occupants controlled their building climate in generations past:

1. Climate control was local. Occupants sat in front of the fireplace or stove in the winter, and under the shady porch in the summer. Keeping every room in a house at a constant temperature is a relatively modern concept.
2. Older buildings were constructed “green.” Most of the building materials were sourced regionally and were organic (no petroleum or synthetic ingredients). Before technological advances, many buildings were designed for life without fossil fuels or electricity.

Using technology and energy to meet modern standards of living is necessary, but understanding how a building was designed for climate control before modern technology and fossil fuels were introduced can greatly enhance an old building’s energy efficiency.

Maine Preservation was commissioned by the Maine State Planning Office to write energy guidelines for older homes and buildings with a grant from the US Department of Energy. These guidelines have been incorporated into the Maine Uniform Building & Energy Code.

Read the complete guidelines:

Maine Preservation Guidelines for Improving Energy Efficiency

The brief summary:

Preservation is all about planning and phasing. Maine Preservation recommends the following approach to improving energy efficiency in older buildings.

1. Initiate your project by identifying and evaluating the historic features of the building.
2. Conduct a building performance evaluation.
3. Seek to retain historic features that were designed to save energy and increase comfort.  Think holistically about the building.
4. Determine the most cost-effective energy-saving strategies: insulate attics; retain and weatherize historic doors and windows; seal gaps and penetrations to minimize air infiltration.
5. Develop a long-term energy efficiency plan that prioritizes rehabilitation decisions and establishes short-, middle- and long-term phasing for desired goals.
6. Employ durable and repairable materials with a lifetime of 30 years or more.
7. Make changes that are reversible and can be monitored and inspected. Be wary of unproven materials on the market.
8. Control for moisture, particularly in walls and basements, and for unhealthy air quality.

For further reading, the National Park Service has also released Preservation Brief 3, Improving Energy Efficiency in Historic Buildings.