Ford's Theater, Washington DC, USA. Image © Maxwell MacKenzie
美国历史建筑应如何应对能效要求?
How Should Historic Buildings in the United States Address Energy Efficiency Mandates?
由专筑网Zia,小R编译
美国历史建筑承载着后世遗产,因其文化意义而备受赞誉和保护,但同时也得以豁免于某些能效规范。随着城市为实现气候目标而努力,这些规范将被严格审查。保护主义者认为,历史建筑应该受到保护,以免受到潜在破坏性改造的影响。另一方面,可持续发展的倡导者则提出有必要在建筑环境的各个领域提高能效。挑战在于如何在相互竞争的优先事项之间取得平衡,以维护遗产,并承担环境责任。
在美国,许多因素的存在,使得历史建筑无需遵守能效法规,其中一个主要原因是保护建筑的原始特征。许多历史建筑都采用了独特的材料,如手工木制品、砖石结构和装饰性铁制品,这些都有可能因现代能源改造而受到损害。国家公园管理局的修复标准以及监管机构都强调要保持原有材料,避免可能降低建筑真实性的改建。
The United States is a country with an extensive history, its buildings holding onto legacies from later times. For their cultural significance, these structures are greatly celebrated and protected, however, they are also exempt from certain energy efficiency mandates. As cities push toward reaching climate goals, these mandates are under scrutiny. Preservationists argue that historic buildings deserve protection from potentially damaging retrofits. On the other hand, sustainability advocates bring up the need for energy efficiency improvements across all sectors of the built environment. The challenge lies in achieving a balance between the competing priorities - ensuring the maintenance of heritage and environmental responsibility.
Many interrelated factors lend to the exemption of historic buildings in the U.S. from energy performance codes. A major reason is the commitment to preserving the building's original character. Many historic structures feature unique materials, such as hand-crafted woodwork, masonry, and decorative ironwork, that are at the risk of being compromised by modern energy retrofits. Regulatory bodies such as the National Park Service's Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation emphasize maintaining original materials and avoiding alterations that could diminish the building's authenticity.

Pioneer House, Portland, USA. Image © M.O. Stevens
为达到现代能源标准而对老建筑进行改造的成本和复杂性带来了另一个不可避免的挑战。历史建筑通常在结构上存在细微差别,因此很难在不进行极端改造的情况下集成高性能隔热材料、双层玻璃窗或现代暖通空调系统。现代能源法规往往侧重于新建建筑和大型翻新工程,这意味着许多历史建筑,除非正在进行大规模重建,否则仍然不受能源法规的约束。
历史建筑是城市结构的重要组成部分,也会消耗大量的城市能源。一些建筑在设计时采用了被动式气候控制策略,而另一些建筑则依赖于过时的机械系统,导致能源消耗过高。在纽约、波士顿和华盛顿特区等历史建筑高度集中的城市,这种低效率问题尤为突出。
美国的地方政府已经开始在历史建筑的能源性能方面推行更严格的问责制。例如,纽约市的第 97号地方法规对包括许多历史建筑在内的大型建筑设定了排放上限,标志着从豁免政策的转变。一些城市还要求对历史建筑进行能源基准测试和性能报告,即使这些建筑还未被纳入具体的改造要求。这些政策标志着广泛趋势的开始,即提高现有建筑的可持续性,包括那些具有历史地位的建筑。
The cost and complexity of upgrading older buildings to meet contemporary energy standards bring another inevitable challenge. Historic buildings often have structural nuances that make it difficult to integrate high-performance insulation, double-glazed windows, or modern HVAC systems without extreme modifications. Modern energy codes tend to focus on new construction and major renovations, which implies that many historic buildings, unless undergoing substantial redevelopment, remain untouched by energy regulations.
Historic buildings constitute a significant part of the urban fabric and can consume substantial amounts of the city's energy. While some structures were designed with passive climate control strategies, others rely on outdated mechanical systems that contribute to excessive energy use. This inefficiency is especially an issue in cities with high concentrations of historic properties, such as New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C. Without a concerted effort to address their energy performance, these buildings could undermine broader urban sustainability efforts.
Local governments in the U.S. are beginning to push for greater accountability when it comes to the energy performance of historic buildings. New York City's Local Law 97, for example, places emissions caps on large buildings, including many historic structures, signaling a shift away from blanket exemptions. Some cities are also requiring energy benchmarking and performance reporting for historic structures, even if they are not yet subject to specific retrofit mandates. These policies mark the beginning of a broader trend toward increasing the sustainability of existing buildings, including those with historic status.

Austrian Cultural Forum, New York, USA. Image © David Plakke

Trinity Church, New York, USA. Image © Giorgio Galeotti
随着即将到来的政策更新,技术进步也使改造历史建筑而不损害其建筑特色变得更加可行。在某些情况下,改造再利用项目提供了在不过度改变历史结构的前提下整合可持续发展措施的机会。然而,由于担心成本、监管障碍以及对建筑完整性的潜在不利影响,许多业主在进行能源升级时仍然犹豫不决。
推动变革的一个因素是,旨在鼓励对历史建筑进行可持续改造的财政激励措施越来越多。联邦历史税收抵免计划为修复项目提供资金支持,有助于激励对历史建筑的保护。现在,一些州和城市正在将能效补助和税收激励纳入这些项目,使业主更易于投资节能改造。这些激励措施对于解决通常阻碍历史建筑升级的经济障碍至关重要。从纽约福特基金会总部到中西部地区的历史性法院,都支持对一些最具标志性的建筑进行现代能源改造,在保护其历史遗产的同时,也达到了当代可持续发展的标准。
Along with upcoming policy updates, technological advancements are also making it more feasible to retrofit historic buildings without compromising their architectural character. In some cases, adaptive reuse projects present opportunities to integrate sustainability measures without excessive alterations to the historic fabric. However, many property owners remain hesitant to pursue energy upgrades due to concerns over cost, regulatory hurdles, and the potential for adverse effects on historic integrity.
A driver of change is the increased availability of financial incentives aimed at encouraging sustainable retrofits of historic buildings. The federal Historic Tax Credit program, which provides financial support for rehabilitation projects, has helped incentivize preservation. Some states and municipalities are now incorporating energy efficiency grants and tax incentives into these programs, making it easier for property owners to invest in energy-saving improvements. These incentives are crucial in addressing the economic barriers that often prevent historic buildings from being upgraded. Some of America's most iconic buildings, from the Ford Foundation Headquarters in New York to historic courthouses across the Midwest, have already undergone modern energy retrofits that preserve their legacy while meeting contemporary sustainability standards.

Wainwright Building, St. Louis, USA. Image © University of Missouri
这些项目证明了遗产与进步是可以共存的。历史建筑改造对建筑师和工程师提出了挑战,要求他们打破常规思维。与设计时考虑到适应性的现代建筑不同,历史建筑面临着独特的限制,需要创造性的解决方案。这往往会带来材料科学和工程学方面的突破,不仅有利于保护工作,还能为更广泛的可持续建筑领域做出贡献。
平衡历史保护与能源效率是一项艰巨的任务,但越来越清楚的是,这两个目标并不相互排斥。许多专家认为,为历史建筑制定更加灵活、基于性能的能源法规,可能是实现这两个目标的关键。以性能为基础的法规将允许业主实施量身定制的解决方案,在提高能源效率的同时保护其建筑的独特品质,而不是对历史性建筑强加并不可行的标准。加强保护主义者、可持续发展专业人士和政策制定者之间的合作,可以使解决方案既尊重遗产,又实现气候目标。
These projects serve as proof that heritage and progress can coexist. Historic building retrofits challenge architects and engineers to think outside the box. Unlike modern buildings designed with adaptability in mind, historic structures present unique constraints that require creative solutions. This often leads to breakthroughs in material science and engineering that benefit preservation efforts but also contribute to the broader field of sustainable architecture.
Balancing historic preservation with energy efficiency is an arduous task, but it is increasingly clear that these two goals are not mutually exclusive. Many experts argue that a more flexible, performance-based approach to energy codes for historic buildings could be the key to achieving both objectives. Instead of imposing rigid standards that may not be feasible for historic properties, performance-based codes would allow owners to implement tailored solutions that improve energy efficiency while preserving the unique qualities of their buildings. Increased collaboration between preservationists, sustainability professionals, and policymakers could enable solutions that respect both heritage and climate goals.

Manhattan Building, Chicago, USA. Image © J. Crocker
展望未来,历史建筑很可能会面临越来越大的压力,因为需要符合地方能效标准。面临的挑战将是法规的制定,因为既要承认这些建筑的重要性,又要确保它们有助于国家和地方的可持续发展。新出现的政策、技术和经济激励措施表明,保护和性能之间的共赢是存在的。长期以来,历史建筑一直享有能源法规的豁免权,但未来可能需要一种更加综合的方法,确保这些珍贵的建筑既具有文化意义,又对子孙后代的环境负责。
Looking ahead, it is likely that historic buildings will face increased pressure to comply with energy efficiency standards. The challenge will be crafting regulations that recognize the importance of these structures while also ensuring they contribute to national and local sustainability efforts. Emerging policies, technologies, and financial incentives suggest that a path forward exists that bridges the gap between preservation and performance. While historic buildings have long enjoyed exemptions from energy codes, the future will likely require a more integrated approach, ensuring that these treasured structures remain both culturally significant and environmentally responsible for generations to come.
转载请注明来源本文地址:https://www.tuituisoft/blog/71017.html