Steven McClain, President, Trust for Architectural Easements

Earlier this year, work began on retrofitting the Empire State Building to make it more energy efficient. When the project is complete, this National Historic Landmark, the tallest building in the world at the time of its completion in 1931, will stand as one of the most easily recognizable examples of how historic buildings can be retrofitted to save millions of dollars on energy costs, and thousands of pounds of greenhouse gas emissions every year.

The building’s owners estimate the retrofit will reduce energy use in the building by 38 percent a year by 2013, with annual savings of $4.4 million, according to an article published by the New York Times on April 6, 2009 (“Empire State Building Plans Environmental Retrofit,” by Mireya Navarro). The retrofit includes insulating approximately 6,500 windows onsite, updating old HVAC equipment, and adding insulation behind radiators – all small changes that will add up to
make a big difference.

On June 26, 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES), also known as the Waxman-Markey bill (H.R. 2454). It calls for “cap-and-trade” and “cash for clunkers” programs, as well as for the establishment of a Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance Program (REEP) to offer financial incentives for retrofitting older buildings for greater energy efficiency.

The first draft of the Senate’s version of the climate bill debuted last week, calling for – among other things – the establishment of national building codes for energy efficiency. As preservationists, we must show our support for these bills and make sure our senators are aware of examples, like the Empire State Building, that prove there is everything to gain, and nothing to lose, by retrofitting an older building rather than tearing it down and building a new one it its place, at great cost to the economy and to the environment.

Of course, when a historic building is protected by a preservation easement, the question of whether to recycle and reuse a building or demolish it and build anew can never arise. Easements protect buildings by ensuring that the latter can never take place. And when we recycle and retrofit a building, we are not only saving on energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions; we are also saving our heritage.

Sincerely,

Steven L. McClain

President, Trust for Architectural Easements