Preserving the Past, Sustaining Our Future: How Historic Buildings Help Fight Climate Change

As we celebrate Earth Month, I find myself reflecting on how the work of public history intersects with sustainability. One of the clearest examples of this intersection is in the preservation and rehabilitation of historic structures. While many people are drawn to historic homes because of their charm, craftsmanship, and the stories they tell, it’s less common to hear sustainability mentioned as a reason for preserving these buildings. Yet, the environmental benefits of historic preservation are significant.

The idea that rehabilitating historic buildings conserves energy is not new. In the late 1970s, the National Trust for Historic Preservation began actively promoting the energy-saving advantages of rehabilitation. Many of those efforts were shared locally through publications like the Quapaw Chronicle, the longtime newspaper of the Quapaw Quarter Association, whose records are now preserved by the CALS Butler Center for Arkansas Studies at the CALS Roberts Library.

One of the most effective ways preservationists have communicated this to the public in the late twentieth century was by equating building materials with gasoline consumption. An article published in 1978 in the Chronicle pointed out that it takes the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline to make, deliver, and install just eight bricks. That means preserving the brick shell of a historic carriage house could save around 8,000 gallons of gasoline, which was an energy savings enough to heat and cool the building for thirty years. And this didn’t even factor in the carbon emissions or waste generated by demolishing and replacing a building.

Without explicitly referencing climate change or carbon offsets, these early efforts were already highlighting preservation as an inherently sustainable practice. Around the same time, electric companies began offering energy audits to help homeowners improve the efficiency of their historic properties. These services were regularly advertised in the Chronicle.

As environmental awareness grew, so did research into the long-term climate impacts of construction. By 2009, the National Trust for Historic Preservation launched the Seattle-based Preservation Green Lab to advance this work. The Green Lab focused on quantifying the benefits of reusing existing buildings and developing policy solutions to support sustainable preservation.

In 2011, the Green Lab published a landmark report, “The Greenest Building: Quantifying the Environmental Value of Building Reuse.” This study finally pulled together decades of scattered research into one clear, evidence-based argument: reusing buildings almost always has fewer environmental impacts than building new. The study looked at six different building types and found that, on average, reuse results in 4% to 46% less environmental impact compared to new construction.

Perhaps more importantly, the report showed that these environmental benefits increase dramatically when communities prioritize historic preservation. In areas that actively support reuse over demolition and new construction, emissions could be reduced by up to 15% over the next decade. While new buildings are certainly more energy-efficient than they used to be, the environmental costs of building them are high. Accounting for everything from raw material extraction to transportation, construction, and waste will take 10 to 80 years to offset. Rehabilitation, on the other hand, delivers immediate carbon savings.

And it’s not just about numbers. Historic buildings often include design elements that are naturally sustainable—thick walls, strategic orientation, operable windows, and ventilation techniques that predate modern HVAC systems. These homes were built with the local climate in mind, using materials that were readily available and meant to last.

So, what does this all mean for Arkansans—especially those living in Central Arkansas, where so much historic fabric remains? It means we have an opportunity to lead by example.

The CALS Roberts Library is here to help residents uncover the stories behind their homes and neighborhoods. Our resources can support homeowners and preservationists as they work to better understand the history of their properties and the changes those structures have experienced over time. This knowledge is the foundation of a thoughtful, respectful rehabilitation effort.

In addition to research support, we can also assist with research required to apply for historic tax credits, which are available to Arkansas homeowners and business owners from the state and federal government. These credits can help cover the cost of modernizing a historic structure while preserving its character. From insulation and HVAC upgrades to roofing and foundation work, these projects not only enhance energy efficiency but also extend the life of the building in a sustainable way.

Thanks to materials at the Roberts Library, alongside the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program and our local historic preservation non-profit Quapaw Quarter Association, homeowners have the tools they need to make environmentally responsible choices that also strengthen community identity and the preservation of our community’s history.

Preserving a historic home isn’t just about aesthetics, historical memory, or even economics. It’s a deeply impactful environmental strategy. And it’s one that’s accessible to everyday Arkansans who want to make a difference in their neighborhoods and for the planet.

As we think about sustainability this Earth Month, let’s not overlook the role of history in shaping our future. By honoring the homes of our past, we are investing in a more resilient, livable, and climate-conscious future. The greenest choice isn’t always building something new; it’s recognizing the value of what we already have.

The Central Arkansas Library System is committed to this principle. The Main Library, the flagship branch of the CALS system, began in a building at 700 Louisiana Street in 1910, was renovated in 1964, and then moved to its current home in the renovated Fones Building at 100 South Rock Street in 1997. The building underwent a smaller renovation in 2010 when services were expanded to include the fifth floor. Continuing in its historic preservation and re-use, the structure is currently undergoing another renovation to improve its appearance and its ability to serve the public. Find renovation details, including plans, photos, and videos, here.

 

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To learn more about researching historic properties, check out the upcoming program at CALS Fletcher Library on April 29, Sustaining Our Historic Communities: Stifft Station, Capitol View, and Hillcrest, from 6:00 – 7:00 PM. No registration required!

Can’t join us then? Check out this recorded tutorial and linked resources from CALS Roberts Library: https://robertslibrary.org/property-resources/

You can also visit the Research Room at the Roberts Library to let us help you get started.

By Danielle Afsordeh, community outreach archivist at the CALS Roberts Library

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