[MassHistPres] historic homes are already 'green'

[Marcia Starkey]

Hello,

 

A 3/21/2011 story in The Telegraph
www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/8395482/Historic-homes-are-already-green
-w
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/8395482/Historic-homes-are-alrea
dy-green-w0>    notes that all homes must display an "Energy Performance
Certificate" that shows its energy efficiency before it can be rented or
sold and that the "Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB)
has shown that the techniques for assessing energy efficiency of buildings
are underestimating the energy efficiency of older homes." It says that the
system for measuring heat loss from walls (U-Value) fails to calculate the
energy efficiency of traditional  materials like wattle & daub, cob, or wood
and only considers more modern materials like concrete or bricks. The SPAB
calculates that "79% of ancient buildings" are more efficient than first
thought and cautions that the use of insulation in walls could prevent their
"breathing" causing damage. 

 

This difference in how older buildings function has been identified in the
U.S. but perhaps it needs regular reminding as most homes still have wood
framing and envelopes.  I live in a mid 18th century house with 3" thick
planks in the walls that seem to insulate very effectively.    

 

Marcia Starkey, Greenfield HC    

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