Some buildings are timeless. Some buildings are not. Some buildings are timeless and have colossal issues that force them to shut their doors. And then there are some buildings that are receiving sustainable features and are opening their doors by going green while sustaining its historical influence in the community.
Buildings built originally in the 1870s have a few issues due to indoor air quality. With major renovations, these buildings can open their doors once more by considering energy-efficient solutions that meet LEED standards.
Sustainable renovations save historical structures like Cambridge City Hall Annex – The Harvard Grammar School. Originally built in 1871, the building closed in 2000 after finding mold spores at elevated levels. Following LEED standards and a green design, Cambridge City Hall Annex reopened in 2004 as Massachusetts’s first green municipal building and was also recognized as the world’s oldest building to receive a LEED Gold Certification.
The building received these Sustainable Features:
- New insulated walls
- Energy efficient windows
- “Energy Smart” lighting systems
- Ground source heath pump system
- Demand control ventilation strategies
- Photovoltaic solar panels
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