Developing a plan tailored specifically to your building, site, climate, and occupancy will be an effective tool in reducing energy consumption. By broadening your scope to include not just the building envelope but also systems, appliances, and lighting, you can also develop a more comprehensive energy-efficiency plan. Any work should be evaluated based on its effect on the historic building and its potential to increase energy efficiency. After first conducting an energy audit, the following are common energy conservation measures that should be considered for most historic buildings:

• Eliminate air infiltration.
• Select efficient heating, cooling, and electrical systems with programmable controls.
• Select efficient appliances.
• Repair and upgrade windows and doors.
• Install insulation in the attic, basement or crawlspace and around pipes and ducts.
• Add shading devices (awnings and trees).

User behavior and climate have a great effect on energy use and should be considered before developing a weatherization and energy efficiency plan. For example, reducing air infiltration around a door will not be effective if a tenant has a habit of propping the door open. Similarly, in a hot and humid climate, reducing heat loss is less important than adequate ventilation and air circulation. Some easy ways to modify user behavior are to:

• Install a timer or motion detector to ensure that lights are off when rooms are not in use.
• Attach a self-closing mechanism to doors likely to be left open.
• Install fans to increase comfort instead of lowering the thermostat during warm months.
• Lower the thermostat during cold months and raise it during hot months.
• Program the thermostat to modify temperatures based on occupancy patterns.
• Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs.
• Use operable window shades or shutters to reduce heat gain during the summer.
• Use drapes and curtains to reduce drafts around windows in the winter.
• Turn off or remove ‘vampire’ devices such as phone chargers and DVD players that use electricity in standby mode or whenever they are plugged into an outlet.

An energy audit should be undertaken before energy-improvement measures are implemented. The audit evaluates the building’s current thermal performance and identifies any deficiencies in the building envelope or mechanical systems.   Learn more »

Air infiltration is the exchange of air through cracks and gaps in the outside shell of a building. There are many simple, low-cost improvements that can reduce air infiltration in your historic building, such as caulking and weather-stripping.   Learn more »

Historic windows and doors can often be repaired or upgraded to improve energy efficiency and occupant satisfaction. To further enhance energy saving qualities, a good storm window can be installed. However, even if historic windows are beyond repair and replacements are the only viable option, there are many factors to consider.   Learn more »

The efficiency of mechanical and electrical systems plays a large role in energy use. Ensuring that existing systems are functioning as efficiently as possible or upgrading to new, more-efficient systems can substantially reduce energy consumption with minimal impact on the historic building. Doing so in combination with the use of programmable thermostats and ventilation systems can further improve efficiency while maintaining occupant comfort.   Learn more »

Installing insulation in certain spaces can be a cost-effective solution to heat loss. However, determining where to install insulation can be a more complex decision than many people realize. In general, it is best to limit insulation in historic buildings to the attic and crawl-spaces and around pipes and ducts.
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Installing appropriate awnings on your building or planting deciduous trees can provide shade in the summer and reduce energy needs. Shade trees can reduce surrounding air temperatures as much as 9°F. Because cool air settles near the ground, air temperatures directly under trees can be as much as 25°F cooler than air temperatures above nearby blacktop.
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You can save around 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10°–15° for eight hours. You can do this automatically without sacrificing comfort by installing an automatic setback or programmable thermostat.   Learn more »

Water heating can account for 14%–25% of the energy consumed in your home. You can reduce your monthly water heating bills by selecting the appropriate water heater for your home and by using some energy-efficient water heating strategies, such as lowering the thermostat setting of your water heater. For each 10ºF reduction in water temperature, you can save between 3%–5% in energy costs.   Learn more »

There are tax incentives available for improving the energy efficiency of your historic building. For homes, up to $1500 in tax credit is available if you make certain improvements such as the installation of storm windows or insulation, or upgrading HVAC or water heaters. Additional credit beyond $1500 may be available for the installation of alternative energy systems such as solar water heaters or geothermal heat pumps. For commercial buildings, a tax deduction up to $1.80 per square foot is available for meeting certain criteria.   Learn more »