A PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR HOMEOWNERS Making Your Historic House More ENERGY EFFICIENCY Energy Efficient While Maintaining Its Character FOR HISTORIC Connecticut Green Bank HOUSES Table of Contents I. Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 1 Getting Started ..................................................................................................................................................... 3 Setting Realistic Goals ....................................................................................................................................... 4 Creating a Whole House Plan ............................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. Getting to Know Your Building .......................................................................................................................... 4 Site Orientation ............................................................................................................................................. 4 Plan.. ............................................................................................................................................................. 5 Roofs ............................................................................................................................................................. 5 Windows ....................................................................................................................................................... 6 Walls ............................................................................................................................................................. 6 Identifying Historic Properties .............................................................................................................................. 6 National Register of Historic Places .................................................................................................................. 7 Local Historic Districts ........................................................................................ Error! Bookmark not defined. State Register of Historic Places ....................................................................................................................... 8 Contributing vs. Noncontributing Properties................................................................................................ 9 Section 106 Review Process for Historic Properties ....................................................................................... 10 What is an Adverse Effect? ............................................................................................................................. 11 The Secretary of the Interior’s Standards: How They Apply to Your Project .................................................. 11 Frequently Asked Questions ........................................................................................................................... 12 II. Improving Energy Efficiency ....................................................................................................................... 16 What Is an Energy Assessment? ..................................................................................................................... 16 Funding Sources .............................................................................................................................................. 22 Frequently Asked Questions ........................................................................................................................... 24 III. Air Sealing ................................................................................................................................................... 26 How to Detect Air Leaks.................................................................................................................................. 26 Materials ......................................................................................................................................................... 28 Application ...................................................................................................................................................... 29 IV. Insulation .................................................................................................................................................... 35 Developing an Insulation Plan ........................................................................................................................ 36 Insulation Types .............................................................................................................................................. 36 i | P a g e Where to Insulate ............................................................................................................................................ 43 V. Windows and Doors ....................................................................................................................................... 52 Why it is Better to Repair than Replace Historic Windows ............................................................................ 53 DIY Strategies .................................................................................................................................................. 55 Work that May Require a Professional ........................................................................................................... 57 Frequently Asked Questions ........................................................................................................................... 62 V. Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) Upgrades .................................................................. 64 Planning an HVAC System Upgrade ................................................................................................................ 65 Types of HVAC Systems .................................................................................................................................. 66 Frequently Asked Questions ........................................................................................................................... 72 VI. Renewable Energy ...................................................................................................................................... 74 Choosing the Best Renewable Energy Technology ......................................................................................... 74 Solar Energy .................................................................................................................................................... 75 Funding ........................................................................................................................................................... 78 Geothermal Heat Pumps ................................................................................................................................ 79 Wind Energy .................................................................................................................................................... 80 Hydropower .................................................................................................................................................... 82 Biomass Energy ............................................................................................................................................... 83 Frequently Asked Questions ........................................................................................................................... 84 Checklist: Energy Efficiency for a Historic House .......................................................................................... 87 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................................................... 88 ii | P a g e I. Introduction Interest in environmental sustainability has been on the rise in the last decade, but what does it really mean? For many it means combating global warming or developing renewable energy sources. For others, it means recycling and reducing their travel carbon footprints. It can also mean maintaining and investing in our historic buildings so that they will continue to serve future generations. While the concepts of sustainability and historic preservation may seem at odds, they share many values. Historic preservation is about maintaining and rehabilitating old buildings, sometimes in new and dynamic ways, without compromising their historic character. As the National Trust for Historic Preservation has said for decades, “Reusing buildings is the ultimate form of recycling.” Historic preservation reduces demolition waste and retains the “embodied energy” used to construct the building in the first place, while maintaining a community’s sense of place and history. Property owners can face real challenges when integrating sustainability measures as they try to maintain their buildings’ historic character. In Connecticut, extreme temperature fluctuations mean that almost half the year is spent producing and retaining heat, while the other half is focused on cooling. This wide range of temperatures (sometimes in the same week!) has a major impact on heating and cooling costs. Like other