Sustainability and Historic Preservation

Delaware County Planning can help you understand how to make your historic building more energy efficient and sustainable while retaining its historic character.

“The greenest building is the one that already exists.” Historic preservation is inherently sustainable and the reuse, adaptation, and upgrading of existing buildings is the most sustainable combination of reducing our carbon footprint. The following resources can help guide projects in historic buildings.

Questions about Sustainability or Historic Preservation? Contact the Planning Department at 610-891-5200 or planning_department@co.delaware.pa.us.

Maintaining Your Historic Home A Practical Guide for Homeowners

This guide functions as an instruction manual for the maintenance, repair and preservation of historic homes, and is targeted toward homeowners. The information within is applicable to all historic residential structures, not only those located in Delaware County. The guide is divided into six sections, each of which tackles specific aspects of historic home maintenance. They are: Roofs, Chimneys, and Gutter Systems; Walls and Foundations; Windows and Doors; Porches and Awnings; Landscapes; and Sustainability and Energy Efficiency. The document also outlines the material and structural differences between historic houses and modern houses, and the particular issues that are common to older homes.

National Park Service

In recognition of the role the built environment plays in energy use, Technical Preservation Services develops guidance and technical information about how historic properties can incorporate sustainable practices to reduce energy consumption, while maintaining those characteristics that make historic properties significant.

Illustrated Guidelines on Sustainability for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings

National Trust for Historic Preservation- Preservation Leadership Forum

The ‘greenest building’ argument has dominated conversations around sustainability and historic preservation for decades, recognizing that existing buildings are inherently ‘greener’ when compared to demolition and new construction. But in recent years, sustainability has come to mean more than simply being environmentally responsible. Older buildings and blocks are a key component to creating successful cities and neighborhoods – historic fabric creates economically vital, socially equitable, and strong, resilient neighborhoods.

Preservation Priorities Task Force

A partnership of the National Preservation Partners Network and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Formed in 2020, this two-year project brings together advocates from across the country to help statewide and local organizations address four significant, interrelated issues facing the preservation movement including Sustainability and Climate Action.

PlanPhilly

A newsletter by WHYY that focuses on planning issues in the Philadelphia region, with articles on Preservation, Sustainability and others.

Building Science Corporation

A building science consulting firm with a wide variety of articles, case studies, guides, training, webinars, etc. on its website. Search all documents for ‘historic’ to find information specific to historic buildings.

Green Building Advisor

Building Science articles, books, blogs, and Q&A. Primarily about general sustainability and Green rating, but search for ‘historic’ for a list regarding historic buildings.

Carbon Avoided Retrofit Estimator (CARE)

A tool for calculating and comparing the embodied, operating and avoided carbon impacts and benefits of reusing, upgrading existing buildings vs building new buildings. Currently in Beta. Sign up for updates and watch a video about it.

Sustainable Traditional Buildings Alliance

An alliance of the UK’s leading organizations associated with the conservation and improvement of traditional buildings.