Carbon Footprint of Restoration vs. Rebuilding a FLW House

[pharding]

Another compelling reason for the restoration of FLW buildings in addition to the obvious historic preservation benefits to society is the carbon footprint of restoration. While at the National AIA Convention last week I went to numerous seminars on Green Architecture. If one has a typical historic building with functioning, but antiquated building mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems and it is replaced by an identical new structure with state of the art materials and systems. it takes over 26 years for the new building to achieve equilibrium with the preservation of the existing building in terms of the carbon that is dumped into the atmosphere. Historic preservation is inherently "Green Architecture".



On the Davenport House we used extensive Green Architecture strategies, including the highest efficiency available mechanical equipment with variable speed motors, "Green" insulation, recovered exterior Cypress siding, "Green" building materials, interior insulating glass, low VOC paints, etc. If done with professional skill, restoration can be done in an inherently "Green" manner that minimizes the carbon footprint of the construction process, creates a healthy interior environment, reduces the carbon footprint of the operation of the building, and reduces the operating costs for the owners.

[RJH]

I am sure they are basing this data on

[Raymond Vincent Edwards]

Whenever an existing structure is recycled; for either a new use , or its originally intended use ; even with upgrades ; it means less wasted materials, and less expense in waste disposal. I rarely have to buy new wood for my own home wood shop, all I have to do is walk around my neighborhood on trash day!

[Mobius]

I swear, I am going to be so glad in 5 years when everyone stops talking about damn carbon. It's all a big load of crap. No pun intended.



Find something more interesting (and real) to worry about!

[allwrightythen1]

Mobius, care to elaborate?

[Raymond Vincent Edwards]

Give Mobius some time while he is paragliding ; It goes to the heart of what all my postings are about; THE CONTEXT OF THE INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCE! New Zealanders have rebuilt their economic and political CAPITAL CITY directly on one of the most violent and unpredictable Fault LINES , in the South Pacific! R.and D. into flexable structural systems , instead of those DECO -BUNKERS, might ease his lifeboat anxiety!

[karnut]

Let me see now, Al Gore has a piece of the action of the company that he buys his so called Carbon freedom of guilt stamps from.Same old game with a new name. Give me a break. A skunk leaves more of a so called carbon footprint than my classic Trans Am. Peace

[Raymond Vincent Edwards]

I quite often watch Bloomberg T.V. (I learned the hard way in the 1970's to "follow the Money trail") ; not to long ago they had three economists , discussing "Green Investment Stratagies" in international investments. Each voiced profits in various and different Companies and international Bond Issuances; but,,,,,,, at the end of the discussion they were all asked; "Doesn't all of the technology already exist to eliminate greenhouse gasses; and isn't it simply a lack of political will to do so?" IN UNISON ,they all said YES! Bukky Fuller was right lets send all the politicians to Mars!

[pharding]

I am always amazed by those that deny global warming, like our esteemed cowboy president. Why would one not want to be socially responsible to our children and grandchildren while saving money on operating costs and improving indoor environmental quality in our homes?

[Raymond Vincent Edwards]

President Lyndon B. Johnson added (was it six or eight?) new generators to the Grand Coolee Dams generating capacity. None of which have ever gone on line ; This country has not tapped so much as one tenth of one percent of its hydro-electric potential. What is the difference , if the bull or the cowboy gets gored in the rodeo; they aren't the ones charging admission!

[Ed Jarolin]

One can believe in living lightly on the land and in an energy efficient manner without buying into global warming hook, line & sinker.



Before I go out to work on my 1444 s.f. one bedroom, one bathroom, R-37/R-24 (roof/wall), solar oriented house, I'll add a couple of thoughts.



I believe in living in a nature friendly manner because it is the right & Wright thing to do, not because of a politically motivated hysteria. I can't afford, and wouldn't if I could, participate in the carbon credit (indulgence) sham to excuse a bloated lifestyle. I strongly resent the hypocrisy of my "betters" telling me to live "small" while they live "large".



These will be my last comments on this subject on this board. I will not help turn it into EnviroChat or PolitiChat. If anyone wants to discuss this subject with me via private messages, I have no problem in engaging in constructive debate.