Q: Is buying a historic house a green thing to do?
A: Absolutely. In fact, it is one of the greenest things you can do. For one thing, a historic house doesn’t use up land for development, it is already there! Also, the house will not require the huge energy expenditure of producing new construction materials. Many older houses were built well and with very good materials that were meant to last. Preserving an older home is both a noble and green cause. What a high-impact way to recycle!

Q: Are historic houses green in themselves?
A: Absolutely not. In the past, there was less knowledge and experience with building materials like lead and chemicals. In many instances, older houses are poorly insulated, and their original wiring and plumbing can be potential hazards. On the other hand, they were built to last. Many historic houses’ wood siding and metal roofs are superior to their modern-day counterparts.

Q: How should I go about making an older house more environmentally friendly?
A: Each house is different and, more importantly, has been treated differently by owners over time. Initially, the most important thing to do is to make an assessment of the home’s current condition, from the structure to the siding. Once you’ve performed an assessment, you can make an evaluation of what can be done to make the home more sustainable.

To begin with, determine what is in need of repair or is not functioning as intended. First, consider parts of the home or systems that, if not repaired or replaced right away will lead to further deterioration or damage. These parts of the home are critical because they either keep moisture out or support the structure. Generally speaking, here are the big ones:

• Roof
• Foundation
• Structural members
• Drainage and landscaping
• Siding
• Windows

Once you’ve taken a look at these critical components, go through the house and come up with an insulation plan; considering the challenges of working on a house that is already built, you will have to make very careful choices regarding how you are going to access long, hidden spaces without causing damage to existing structural or aesthetic features. Along with this, you will have to plan the electrical and plumbing work so that it can be done in a logical order.

At this point, create a list for yourself of the following:
1) Changes or repairs that have to be made to the house anyway (so why not do them sustainably?)
2) Changes that you want to make to the home, even if they aren’t required to make your space livable
3) Changes that you’d like to make if you had extra money left over
Here’s a tip: prioritize your work carefully so that you don’t have to undo something in order to gain access to another task you should have done first. And last, but not least, consider making a list of things that are easy to do after the major work is done, when you may have some spare cash.

Frank Gomez is an ECO-Agent with Keller Williams Professionals in Asheville, North Carolina and serves as a board member with the WNC Green Building Council. He can be reached at 828 216-7693 or via www.LiveWellinAsheville.com.

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