ADVISORY COUNCIL RELEASES SUSTAINABILITY GUIDANCE FOR HISTORIC FEDERAL BUILDINGS

The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) has released a set of guidelines designed to assist federal agencies in their efforts to fulfill the requirements of Executive Order 13514 (2009), which mandates the establishment of an "integrated strategy towards sustainability in the Federal Government." The Order also requires that the "rehabilitation of federally owned historic buildings utilizes best practices and technologies in retrofitting to promote long-term viability of the buildings."

The guidance was developed with the support of the President's Council in Environmental Quality (CEQ), and via a work group that included representatives from the ACHP, the Department of Defense, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the General Services Administration.

The primary objective of the document is to help bridge the twin goals of achieving energy efficiency while preserving our existing federal building stock. Chapters on Integrated Planning and Design, Reusing Historic Buildings, Reinvesting in Historic Districts and Property Disposition are among the highlights.