America’s traditional red, white, and blue celebration over President’s Day Weekend turns green this year with the opening to the public of the President Lincoln and Soldiers’ Home National Monument. A $15 million rehabilitation gives the public access to the most significant historic site directly associated with Abraham Lincoln’s presidency aside from the White House, and to an important demonstration of how sustainable design principles can guide historic preservation.
United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX) partnered with the National Trust for Historic Preservation and donated $1 million and technical expertise to incorporate sustainable design into the rehabilitation of the President Lincoln’s Cottage properties. In addition to green building practices in the cottage, state-of-the-art systems will make the 1905 Beaux Arts style Robert H. Smith Visitor Education Center the first historic building at a National Trust for Historic Preservation site to receive “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design” (LEED) standards certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
Buildings contribute 40 percent of the world’s greenhouse gases, according to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Sustainable or “green” building design increases a building’s efficiency for energy, water and material use, while minimizing its impacts on the environment. The rehabilitation incorporates such sustainable designs and practices throughout the Lincoln Cottage properties.
“There’s a general misconception that sustainable design can only apply to new construction, but these techniques are equally applicable to older or existing buildings without compromising their historic character or value,” said Andrea Doane, United Technologies Director of Community Affairs and Corporate Giving. “Modern technology has set new standards for sustainable design and high-efficiency systems. The restoration and preservation of The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Lincoln Cottage Properties is literally a landmark demonstration that older buildings can also ‘go green’ and preserve their architectural integrity.”
UTC is the lead corporate sponsor in the National Trust’s greening of the President Lincoln’s Cottage properties and this partnership is a component of UTC’s Sustainable Cities grant program. UTC established the program in 2004, combining its business talents and corporate commitment to enhance cities in the United States. It recently expanded the program to include China. Sustainable Cities emphasizes advancing green building in urban centers, developing educational programs, protecting the natural environment and contributing to the quality of urban life.
In 2005, UTC and the National Trust for Historic Preservation launched the project to use sustainable design in the rehabilitation of the Lincoln Properties. UTC sponsored a brainstorming session where an inter-disciplinary team of architects, designers, engineers and preservationists agreed it was feasible to restore the properties using sustainable building standards, and gain LEED certification for the Visitor Center.
The rehabilitated site is accessible by public transportation and includes a bicycle storage area and changing room for bicyclists. Bio-swales, similar to landscaped French drains, direct storm runoff to drain on site in groundwater. Low flow aerators, automatic flow controls, and dual flush toilets reduce water use. Most project materials contain the standard required percentage of recycled content, and paints, caulking, finishes, and carpets are low in volatile organic compound-emissions. The Cottage is handicapped-accessible with a low-rise elevator from Otis, a UTC company.
Equipment by Carrier, also a UTC company, cools the visitor center and cottage with non-ozone depleting refrigerants, free of chlorine chemicals. The system is low in noise and consumes less electricity than traditional alternatives. Other Carrier equipment on site that meets energy efficiency requirements includes fan coil units, and an energy recovery ventilation unit that increases ventilation by recapturing exhaust energy.
“Our hope is that the success of Lincoln’s Cottage will be an example for future sustainable restoration projects,” said Doane.
United Technologies (NYSE:UTX), based in Hartford, Conn., is a diversified company that provides high technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries.