In the city known for the Liberty Bell and cheesesteaks, Philadelphia is now getting attention for combining historical preservation with climate action. According to a recent statement provided by the Philadelphia Office of Sustainability, Director of Sustainability Liz Lankenau, who has a background in historic preservation planning, is pushing the narrative that keeping Philly's historical buildings intact is crucial for the city's climate mitigation efforts. "Preservation and energy efficiency can unite to deliver on Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s vision for Philadelphia as the safest, cleanest, greenest big city with access to economic opportunity for all," Lankenau said in a document obtained by the City of Philadelphia.
The City of Brotherly Love's challenge is significant: nearly 70% of its carbon emissions stem from its buildings, historic or otherwise. Tackling emissions means making those buildings more energy efficient, a task that is not only about operations like heating, cooling, and electricity. Construction of new buildings also adds to the carbon quandary, due to the "embodied carbon" from all the materials and processes involved from cradle to crane. Yet, as Philadelphia's Office of Sustainability points out, working with what we already have and retrofitting can lead to remarkable reductions in both embodied and operational emissions, as reported by the City of Philadelphia.
The World Economic Forum backs up this idea, suggesting that retrofitting buildings can result in 50-75% less embodied carbon compared to new constructions and can cut ongoing emissions by at least 40%. Moreover, the benefits go beyond just emission reductions. Historical preservation boosts economic development by way of creating jobs, attracting tourism, and fostering neighborhoods where cars aren't necessary due to the walkable nature of older parts of the city – with local businesses and services often just a stroll away. Philadelphia demonstrates this commitment by recently renovating the Philadelphia Inquirer building to achieve a LEED Silver certification, as mentioned in the City of Philadelphia blog post.
In the realm of residential construction, Philadelphia stands out with an average home age of 93, compared to the national average that is 30 years younger. The city is actively promoting programs to aid homeowners in updating and preserving these older structures. The Philadelphia Energy Authority, for instance, has established a "one-stop shop" whole home repair program aimed at serving low-income homeowners. The City of Philadelphia is also offering incentives, such as the Pennsylvania’s Historic Preservation Tax Credit, that helps with restoring historic properties. Access to information and assistance for those looking to retain the historical value of their buildings is provided by entities like The Philadelphia Historic Commission and the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia.
