Cincinnati Preservation Association to host first-ever sustainability program

Published Jan. 12, 2010 at 12:00 a.m.
Cincinnati Preservation Association(CPA) is sponsoring Cincinnati's first-ever program on energyefficiency and sustainability for old-house owners.  'Old House, GreenHouse' will take place on Saturday, January 23 from 9:30am to noon atthe Art Academy of Cincinnati (map) in historic Over-the-Rhine.

CPAofficials say that while much of the green building movement is aboutnew construction, older existing buildings also play a significant role.

"Oneof our country's most urgent tasks is to "green" the buildings wealready have - including historic buildings," according to the CPA.

Inaddition to the many inherently green features built into olderstructures like natural materials and natural ventilation, olderstructures also boast a built-in green advantage over new structureswith the energy and labor that has already been invested into thestructures.

"Preservation and sustainability go hand in hand," says CPA.  "According to economist Donovan Rypkema,when you preserve a historic building, instead of building a new one ona greenfield site, you are preserving land. When you rehabilitate ahistoric building instead of carting it to a landfill, you are reducingwaste generation. When you reuse a historic building, you extend thelife of the "embodied" energy used to build it: a wise use ofresources. And by revitalizing an in-town neighborhood, instead ofbuilding a new subdivision miles from the city, you promote a moresustainable, more transit-friendly, less-car-dependent way of life."

CPAgoes on to say that by building on an old house's good qualities,owners can improve efficiency and comfort levels, without sacrificinghistoric character or making costly upgrades, and that many features ofnew "green" homes can be duplicated in older buildings, includingefficient lighting, water-saving plumbing fixtures, and high-valueinsulation.

'Old House, Green House' will cover a variety oftopics including how to properly insulate older homes, high-efficiencyheating and air conditioning systems, geothermal energy options,appropriate storm windows, and how to green your home renovationproject.  Admission for the program is $7 for CPA members and $12 fornon-members.  Tickets can be purchased online or by calling CPA at (513) 721-4506.  Reservations are required due to space constraints.

Writer: Randy A. Simes
Photography by Scott Beseler
Stay connected by following Randy on Twitter @SoapboxRandy


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