1. Green Preservation of
Historic Buildings
The Wauregan,
Norwich, CT
Rebecca Williams
Program Officer
Northeast Office

2. Our Mission
Helping people protect, enhance and
enjoy the places that matter to them.
www.PreservationNation.org

3. Our Sustainability Roots
EMILY WADHAMS
Vice President, Public Policy
PATRICE FREY
Deputy Director, Sustainability
Program
BARBARA A. CAMPAGNA,
FAIA LEED AP
Graham Gund Architect of the
National Trust
Image: National Trust for Historic Preservation

4. Why Buildings Matter
30% of waste
65% of electricity
(construction and demolition) consumption
55% of natural gas 39% of total
consumption energy
consumption
43% of carbon
30% of raw emissions
materials use
30% of greenhouse gas
12% of potable water consumption emissions
Source: USGBC and Pew Center on Climate Change

5. SUSTAINABLE STEWARDSHIP PRINCIPLES
1.) Reuse existing buildings
2.) Reinvest in communities
3.) Retrofit older buildings
4.) Respect historic integrity
Image: Abby Martin

6. Why Preservation Matters for Housing
• Good for neighborhoods
• Smart Growth
• Opens up financial tools
• Sustainability connection

7. Good for Neighborhoods
• Over 40% of residents in older and historic
neighborhoods are within 5 miles of work.
• 2/3 of older and historic neighborhoods have an
elementary school within 1 mile.
• 60% have shopping within 1
mile
• 60% public transit
• Rehabilitation creates 2-3
times more housing units,
more jobs, and higher wages

8. Preservation is Smart Growth
• More than 40% of the housing units created
using the federal rehabilitation tax credit are in
historic buildings originally designed for non-
residential use

9. Financial Tools
• Federal Rehab Tax Credit
• State Rehab Tax Credit
• In MA, Community Preservation Act (CPA)
• Loans, e.g. NTHP Loan Fund
• New Markets Tax Credit

10. Federal Rehab Tax Credit
• Project must be income-producing
• Building must be listed in or eligible for the National Register
• Must follow Secretary of the Interior’s Standards
• The rehabilitation must be “substantial”
• 20% credit
• Can be combined with other credits
• 5 year recapture period

11. Federal Rehab Tax Credit Impact FY09
• In FY09, 6,710 low and moderate income
housing units created
• 13,743 housing units created or renovated
• 70,992 local jobs created
• $4.69 Billion in rehab work approved
• 1,044 new projects approved

12. So What About Those Strings?
Historic District Easement
National Park
Landmark Service
Tax Credit
Secretary
National of the
Register Interior’s Historic
Standards
Section 106
Preservation Restriction
SHPO

13. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards
The Secretary’s Standards include 4 levels: of appropriate
treatment:
• Preservation
• Rehabilitation
• Restoration
• Reconstruction
• The Standards are 10 key guidelines
• They’re designed to be flexible
• A wide range of activities can be done, but it’s important to
work with your SHPO and the NPS in advance

14. Rehabilitation
• The act or process of making
possible a compatible use for a
property through repair,
alterations, and additions while
preserving those portions or
features which convey its
historical, cultural, or
architectural values.

15. Renewable Energy
The Solar Panel
Compatibility Guide
Coming soon to
PreservationNation.org
Solar panel on house in
historic district in Brookville,
MD, Photo: NTHP

16. www.PreservationNation.org/issues/weatherization/

17. Federal Policy: Incentives to Go Green
Greening older and historic buildings
Great A & P Tea
Company +
Trinity Design/
Build
Durham, NC
Photos: Trinity Design

18. For more information…
www.preservationnation.org/green
Rebecca_Williams@nthp.org
Rehabilitated
affordable housing
in New Haven, CT