Building Preservation

This area of my website looks at building preservation and the organisations that promote this worthwile eco cause. I read an interesting article recently entitled “Preservation is Sustainability” through www.treehugger.com and saw some interesting statistics that I wanted to share with you all.

So which one is better for the environment? Demolition and new eco build or renovation and restoration of an exisiting build.

Lots of points to consider, but let’s focus on demolitioan. The energy used in demolitian will take around 65 years to recoup on a new eco build that has around 40% of recycled materials. One point the article makes is that new builds are not designed with longevity in mind. Read the full article for an alternative view of eco design.

This is something I try and get across to anyone interested in eco interior design. Being truly eco conscious it is not just about buying eco products, especially in Ireland. Importing& shipping use a huge amount of non renewable resources in transportation alone, that really is just the tip of the iceberg. Knowing where a product comes from helps you begin to evaluate its green potential. It’s difficult as some things just aren’t manufactured in Ireland or your area yet.

You can help reduce your ecological footprint by buying locally produced products and materials as much as possible. Even better is to reduce waste by limiting the amount you create and reusing old to refurbish as new for your home. Three words that I am wearing out; reduce, reuse and recycle! Spruce up and renovate an old run down home to bring its unique quality back to life.

Building Preservation Organisations

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to saving historic places and revitalizing America's communities. Recipient of the National Humanities Medal, the Trust was founded in 1949 and provides leadership, education, advocacy, and resources to protect the irreplaceable places that tell America’s story. Staff at the Washington, DC, headquarters, six regional offices and 29 historic sites work with the Trust’s 270,000 members and thousands of preservation groups in all 50 states.

The need for the National Trust for Historic Preservation has increased since its founding in 1949. When historic buildings and neighborhoods are torn down or allowed to deteriorate, a part of our past disappears forever. When that happens, we lose history that helps us know who we are, and we lose opportunities to live and work in the kinds of interesting and attractive surroundings that older buildings can provide.

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