| Recommended |
Not Recommended |
Identifying the historic place's heritage value and character–defining elements — materials, forms, location, spatial configurations, uses and cultural associations or meanings — so that energy efficiency modifications will not damage or eliminate them. |
Undertaking energy efficiency modifications before identifying
those elements that are important in defining the overall heritage
value of the historic place. |
| Complying with energy efficiency objectives in such a manner that character–defining elements are conserved and the heritage value maintained. |
Damaging or destroying character-defining elements or undermining
the heritage value while making modifications to a historic
place to comply with energy efficiency objectives. |
| Working with energy efficiency and conservation specialists to determine the most appropriate solution to energy conservation problems that will have the least impact on character–defining elements and the overall heritage value. |
Making changes to historic places without first exploring equivalent
energy efficiency systems, methods or devices that may be less
damaging to character-defining elements and heritage value. |
| Weighing the total environmental cost of energy saving measures against the overall environmental costs of retaining the existing features or fabric, when deciding whether to proceed with energy saving measures. |
|
Landscapes |
|
| Retaining and maintaining character–defining landscape elements such as deciduous trees, windbreaks and lakes or ponds that perform passive energy conserving functions and moderate the effects of climate on the historic place. |
Removing or altering those character–defining landscape elements or parts of elements that serve an energy conservation purpose, creating a situation where the effects of wind, rain and sun result in accelerated deterioration of the historic place. |
| Improving the energy efficiency of existing character–defining landscape elements through non–destructive means, such as utilizing a recirculating system in a fountain rather than uncontrolled discharge to a storm system. |
Replacing energy inefficient character–defining landscape elements rather than improving their energy conservation potential, such as replacing an entire historic light standard rather than retrofitting the fixture to be more efficient. |
Buildings: Insulation |
|
| Exercising caution and foreseeing the potential effects of insulating the building on the envelope system so as to avoid damaging changes such as displacing the dew point and creating thermal bridges. |
Installing insulation without anticipating its potential impact on the building envelope. |
| Installing thermal insulation in attics and in unheated cellars and crawl spaces to increase the efficiency of the existing mechanical systems unless this could adversely affect the building envelope. |
Inserting thermal insulation with a high moisture content in wall cavities that might damage character–defining elements. |
| Installing insulating material on the inside of masonry walls to increase energy efficiency where there is no character–defining interior moulding around the windows or other character–defining interior architectural detailing. |
Installing wall insulation without considering its effect on character–defining interior moulding or other character-defining architectural
detailing. |
Buildings: Windows |
|
| Utilizing the inherent energy conserving features of a building by maintaining character–defining windows and/or louvered blinds in good operating condition for natural ventilation. |
Removing character–defining shading devices rather than keeping them in an operable condition. |
| Improving thermal efficiency with weatherstripping, storm windows, interior shades and, if historically appropriate, blinds and awnings. |
Replacing character–defining multi–paned sashes with new thermal sashes utilizing false muntins. |
| Installing interior storm windows with air–tight gaskets, ventilating holes and/or removable clips to ensure proper maintenance and to avoid condensation damage to character–defining windows. |
Installing interior storm windows that allow moisture to accumulate and damage character–defining windows. |
| Installing exterior storm windows that do not damage or obscure character–defining windows and frames. |
Installing new exterior storm windows that are inappropriate in size, design or colour and therefore damage or obscure character–defining windows and frames.
Replacing character–defining operable windows or transoms with fixed thermal glazing, or allowing operable windows and transoms to remain inoperable rather than utilizing them for their energy conserving potential. |
Buildings: Entrances and Porches |
|
| Maintaining character–defining porches and double vestibule entrances so that they can retain heat or block the sun and provide natural ventilation. |
Altering character–defining porches or double vestibule entrances that serve an energy–conserving function so that they no longer retain heat or block the sun and provide natural ventilation. |
Buildings: Interior Features |
|
| Retaining character–defining interior shutters and transoms for their inherent energy conserving features. |
Removing character–defining interior elements that play an energy conserving role. |
Buildings: Mechanical Systems |
|
| Improving the energy efficiency of existing mechanical systems by installing insulation in attics and basements, unless this could adversely affect the building envelope. |
Replacing existing mechanical systems that could be repaired for continued energy efficient use. |
New Additions to Historic Places |
|
| Putting on a new addition that may be necessary to increase energy efficiency on non–character–defining elevations. |
Designing a new addition which obscures, damages or destroys character–defining elements. |
