News Flash

The NTHP is running a six-week series that highlights the role that historic preservation must play in addressing climate change. The purpose of the "Profiles in Preservation” is to provide information to the new Presidential administration and the next Congress about sustainable solutions through historic preservation. Buol is one of just three national community leaders working on noteworthy preservation/sustainability projects to be featured on the site. The profile begins, “What happens when federal policies encourage cities to invest in their existing infrastructure and improve the efficiency of their historic building stock? Imagine 17 downtown blocks of abandoned or misused industrial warehouses transforming into a livable, walkable neighborhood that is green-friendly and mixed-use. If it sounds unfathomable, you've never met Dubuque, Iowa Mayor Roy D. Buol.”

The NTHP’s position on sustainability is that historic preservation can – and should – be an important component of any effort to promote sustainable development. The conservation and improvement of existing built resources, including re-use of historic and older buildings, greening the existing building stock, and reinvestment in older and historic communities, is crucial to combating climate change.

"The preservation and green building communities share a common goal: securing a viable, sustainable, meaningful future for our children and the generations that will follow," said NTHP President Richard Moe, who often amplifies the connections between preservation and sustainable development: reuse existing buildings, reinvest in older and historic communities, retrofit existing buildings for energy efficiency, create jobs, and respect historic fabric. Moe will be the featured speaker at the City of Dubuque’s second annual “Growing Sustainable Communities” conference on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009. Additional details about this event are forthcoming.

# # #