Long Island Workshop - Energy Conservation in Historic Buildings

ALBANY, NY (08/01/2011)(readMedia)-- Have you ever wondered if it was possible to take advantage of new developments in energy efficiency without sacrificing historic charm? Experts heading to Long Island in August have the answers you're looking for.

Presented by the Preservation League of New York State as part of the NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority) Energy Code Initiative, a workshop titled Energy Conservation in Historic Buildings will be held at the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College, Molloy College Suffolk Center, 7180 Republic Airport in Farmingdale on Thursday, August 4 and Friday, August 5.

"The technology for enhancing the energy efficiency of historic buildings is improving all the time," said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League. "The choices contractors and property owners make today can extend the useful life of older buildings and pay dividends for owners and residents both now and in the future."

Energy Conservation in Historic Buildings workshops are designed for contractors, architects and other building professionals, and focus on energy conservation issues of interest to those who work in older buildings, but who do not specialize in historic preservation or historic structures. For example, a contractor hired to insulate a 1920s residence or an architect who wants to understand the application of air sealants for a mixed-use building rehabilitation would come away with information that would help them better serve their clients.

Expert presenters from around the state and country will discuss the pros and cons of insulation, air sealants, heating and cooling systems, and wood window restoration. Participants will receive technical information on the Energy Conservation Construction Code of New York State - 2010 (ECCCNYS-2010) and its applications for historic buildings in both classroom and field settings.

The Long Island field session will be held on the second day of the workshop at Rosary Hall, 555 Albany Avenue in Amityville. This historic building will provide a "living lab" for an overview of high-tech tools used for analyzing the energy efficiency of older buildings, as well as a whole building analysis.

Preservation architect Mark Thaler will lead a tour of Rosary Hall, a recently-renovated 1870s Ecclesiastical Gothic convent featuring a geo-thermal heat pump system, a gray water system, insulated exterior walls, radiant floor heating in the cloister, and new windows to replace an earlier vinyl window installation. Participants will then visit Rock Hall Museum in Lawrence, built in 1767, for a tour of that site and a comparison to Rosary Hall.

According to Erin Tobin, the League's Regional Director of Technical and Grant Programs in eastern New York, "By analyzing components of the historic building, the concepts and ideas presented in earlier lectures will be put into real-world practice. Participants will assess the areas of energy expenditure, and discuss approaches to increase energy efficiency in detail."

The cost for the 2-day workshop is $75, and includes lunch and materials. This event is co-sponsored by: AIANYS; Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities; Vision Long Island; and Rock Hall Museum. Continuing Education credits for Architects available: 6 LUs/HSW for each full-day of the two-day workshop, totaling 12 LUs/HSW for the two days. (AIA members will also receive SD credits).

For more information or to register, visit www.preservenys.org/energyworkshops/. Additional workshops are slated for the Southern Tier, Plattsburgh and the Hudson Valley.