Sustainability Guide for Older and Historic Buildings

From the Introduction: "The District of Columbia contains a rich collection of older buildings that help define the character of our neighborhoods and establish a valued sense of place. Conserving that character is a cornerstone of the District's planning policies, enacted primarily through the District's historic preservation law. The law establishes a preservation review process to ensure that historic properties are retained and enhanced, to ensure the changes are compatible with the character of designated buildings, and to encourage the adaption of historic property for current use. The District is also committed to being a national leader in green building and sustainability practices. The city's ambitious environmental policies aim to make Washington the healthiest, greenest, and most livable city in the country by enhancing our sustainability in a manner that is environmentally, economically, and socially just. In order to achieve this goal, the Sustainable DC 2.0 Plan (2019) and Clean Energy DC Plan (2018), outline high-performance targets and actions including a major reduction in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, an increase in renewable energy sources, net-zero energy standards for new construction and existing multifamily and commercial buildings, and a decrease in total water usage. The Clean Energy DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2018 codified some of the most important actions, including a 100 percent Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) and energy efficiency mandates. The District's historic resources number over 700 landmarks and almost 70 historic districts listed in the DC Inventory of Historic Sites and the National Register of Historic Places. Beyond these recognized landmarks and districts, a majority of the city's existing building stock - approximately 72% - was constructed before 1945. Improving the performance of the District's older building stock through green retrofits is a fundamental component of the Sustainable DC Plan. This guideline is intended to promote and facilitate green retrofits of existing older buildings in a manner that will improve their performance and energy-efficiency while also being respectful of their character. Performance improvements of these buildings provides the opportunity to continue the financial and environmental amortization of the investments made in the initial construction of these structures." Project funding was provided in part by a Historic Preservation Fund grant to the District of Columbia Historic Preservation Office, DC Office of Planning, administered by the State, Tribal, Local Plans & Grants division, National Park Service, Department of the Interior (grant number P20AF00011).