[MassHistPres] USA Today blog on windows and survey

Fri May 28 17:08:32 EDT 2010

though i think the survey is narrow and positioned to 'trick' people who read it quickly, i appreciate the information being forwarded to the listserv...i have read the articles and responded to the survey...i  plan to share my comments...i am also forwarding the information to historic home forums and preservation alliances so that others who support window preservation can voice their opinions...rarely does the opportunity present itself where we can offer our opinion to such a wide audience...

silence/inaction can often be interpreted as indifference or support.....

jade mortimer
heartwood window restoration
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Nancy Dole 
  To: masshistpres at cs.umb.edu 
  Sent: Friday, May 28, 2010 2:26 PM
  Subject: Re: [MassHistPres] USA Today blog on windows and survey

  What an annoying "survey". The only good response is to ignore it.  

  Nancy Dole
  WTHDC

  On 5/28/2010 1:01 PM, Tucker, Jonathan wrote: 
    <!--[if mso 9]--> <!--[endif]--> 
    As a hunter and gun owner, I get hyper-simplified, leading ‘surveys’ like the one mentioned below every other week from organizations like the NRA and various regional gun rights groups.  Such ‘surveys’ are deliberately designed to narrow the range of potential responses to the universe of possibility most closely reflecting the world view and interests of those doing the surveying.  They are a profoundly cynical and dishonest approach to public opinion sampling and they contort the public dialogue on any issue of importance.  They should be exposed to the air and waved about as an example of deliberate dishonesty.

    Jonathan Tucker

    Planning Director

    Amherst Planning Department

    4 Boltwood Avenue, Town Hall

    Amherst, MA  01002

    (413) 259-3040

    tuckerj at amherstma.gov    

    From: masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu [mailto:masshistpres-bounces at cs.umb.edu] On Behalf Of Weiss, Lorraine (PEB)
    Sent: Friday, May 28, 2010 10:01 AM
    To: 'masshistpres at cs.umb.edu'
    Subject: [MassHistPres] USA Today blog on windows and survey

    Hello all-

    Yesterday’s National Trust newsfeed highlighted a short but horrifying little article about replacement windows followed by a one-question survey about whether the replacement windows are really better.  The vote yesterday was 80% against old windows.  Please take the time to go to the article and cast your vote:  http://www.windowanddoor.com/article/talk/pushback-historic-replacement-market

    The author believes that the argument is only about “appearance” and not another approach to being “green,” but she is asking for feedback.

    -----------------------------
    “So after reading the USA Today blog, I'm left wondering if appearance is really that important to historic enthusiasts that comfort and energy efficiency carry no weight.  With all the options manufacturers now offer to produce historically-accurate windows, can we not have both?  Please share with me what you're seeing in the historic and older building market. Are the views expressed in the National Trust for Historic Preservation for the "National Window Campaign" common?  Should old windows be saved? Are we too quick to replace? Or do old buildings need today's windows to keep functioning? Let's talk....”

    --------------------------------
    The article was in response to a USA Today blog that mentioned the Trust’s campaign for windows.  A brief quote indicates that the editor of BuildingGreen remains unconvinced:

    "Hold on. Not so fast!," the letter says, arguing that older windows can be "nearly as energy efficient and their retrofit not nearly as costly as buying new ones." It recommends window repair and storm windows instead.
    Do you agree or is the group fear-mongering?
    "The historic preservation community is... often too unwilling to consider energy improvements to historic buildings when those changes will affect the building's appearance," says Alex Wilson, executive editor of BuildingGreen, which publishes online and print guides.
    "If we don't make our buildings affordable to operate," he says in an e-mail, "they are more likely to become obsolete and get replaced--which defeats the goal of preservation."----------------------------

    How about that?  Those fear-mongering preservationists!  There blog post is at http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/05/preservation-group-launches-campaign-against-new-windows-for-old-homes/1#uslPageReturn

    Regards,
    Lorraine

    Lorraine E. Weiss

    Historic Preservation Planner

    __________________________________________________________

    Division for Historic Preservation  ◙  www.nysparks.state.ny.us

    NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation

    lorraine.weiss at oprhp.state.ny.us - 518-237-8643, x 3122

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