HPC of South Bend and St. Joseph County - Standards Update Draft

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City of South Bend and St. Joseph County Historic Preservation Guidelines 115 For More Information: Energy Efficiency and Historic Buildings • Make best use of the original windows; keep them in good repair and seal all leaks. • Safeguard, retain and reuse early glass, taking special care in putty replacement . Maintain the glazing compound regularly . Remove old putty with care . • Use operable systems to enhance the performance of original windows . This includes wood storm windows, insulated coverings, curtains, and awnings . • Place wood storm windows internally when feasible to avoid the impact upon external appearance . • Use wood storm window inserts designed to match the original frame if placed externally . • Double pane glazing may be acceptable where original glazing has been lost and the frame can support the weight and profile. Historic Residential Building Energy Efficiency Strategy Quick simple fixes that will increase the energy efficiency of a historic building. • Insulate attic and exterior walls from the interior with an appropriately installed vapor barrier . • Retain and restore awnings and porches . • Maintain original doors, add weather-stripping, and add a storm door. • At exterior doors, consider adding an interior vestibule or airlock . • Retain and repair roof material . • Install draft stopper in chimneys . • Repair and retain original or early windows with the original glass. Add storm windows to enhance thermal and acoustic efficiency and add weather stripping . • Retain original storefront windows and framing. Add weather-stripping. • Retain operable transoms to allow for air circulation . • Set solar panels back from primary facades to minimize visibility from the street . • Set wind turbines back from the primary façade to minimize visibility from the street . Developing an Efficiency Strategy for a Historic Property Step 1: Establish Project Goals Develop an overall strategy and set of project goals to maximize the effectiveness of a project. This will establish a broad view that places individual actions into context . Project goals should focus on minimizing use of resources and energy, avoiding negative environmental impacts and retaining the historic integrity of a property . Strategies should maximize the inherent value of the historic resource prior to considering alterations or retrofitting with energy generation technology. To inform a project strategy, also consider conducting an energy audit . An energy audit can give a comprehensive view of how energy is currently used in the daily and seasonal cycles of use and can also provide perspective on the payback of investment for potential work on the building . For example, an energy audit, when examined based on an overall strategy, may demonstrate that priorities should be on increasing insulation in walls, ceilings and foundations, rather than replacing windows .DRAFT