2008 Pillsbury Ave - Another Endangered House

I hope that TCF has already accelerated these mortgages.

Historic Park Avenue Walking Tour returns!

Join us on June 27th for the coolest walking tour in Minneapolis!

Window thieves strike again

Stolen from the Charles Perry house, May 2009:

One foyer window (pictured,) two oriel landing windows, ALL buffet hardware and most doorknobs.

Mrs. Wesley's House

Well... I guess you could call this making a statement.

photos courtesy of Brian Finstad

Yep.

April 6, 2009
Op-Ed Contributor
This Old Wasteful House
By
RICHARD MOE
(New York Times)

NEVER before has America had so many compelling reasons to preserve the
homes in its older residential neighborhoods. We need to reduce energy
consumption and carbon emissions. We want to create jobs, and revitalize the
neighborhoods where millions of Americans live. All of this could be
accomplished by making older homes more energy-efficient.

Let’s begin with energy consumption and emissions. Forty-three percent
of America ’s carbon emissions come from heating, cooling, lighting and
operating our buildings. Older homes are particularly wasteful: Homes built in
1939 or before use around 50 percent more energy per square foot than those
constructed in 2000. But with significant improvements and retrofits, these
structures could perform on a par with newer homes.

So how does a homeowner go green? The first step is an energy audit by
a local utility. These audits can be obtained in many communities at little or
no cost. They help identify the sources of heat loss, allowing homeowners to
make informed decisions about how to reduce energy use in the most
cost-effective way.

Homeowners are likely to discover that much of the energy loss comes
down to a lack of insulation in attics and basements. Sealing other air leaks
also helps. This can be done by installing dryer vent seals that open only when
the dryer is in use, as well as fireplace draft stoppers and attic door
covers.

Experience has shown that virtually any older or historic house can
become more energy-efficient without losing its character. Restoring the
original features of older houses — like porches, awnings and shutters — can
maximize shade and insulation. Older wooden windows perform very well when
properly weatherized — this includes caulking, insulation and weather stripping
— and assisted by the addition of a good storm window. Weatherizing leaky
windows in most cases is much cheaper than installing replacements.

The good news is that the administration is taking steps to help homes
save energy with a program that will invest almost $8 billion in state and local
weatherization and energy-efficiency efforts. The Weatherization Assistance
Program, aimed at low-income families, will allow an average investment of up to
$6,500 per home in energy efficiency upgrades.

My organization is also working with the Natural Resources Defense
Council and members of Congress on legislation to help cover the costs of making
all older homes more energy-efficient. Under this proposal, a homeowner would
receive a $3,000 incentive for improving energy efficiency by 20 percent, and
$150 for each additional percentage point of energy savings. If 3,000 homes
could be retrofitted each year, we estimate that after 10 years we could see a
reduction of 65 million metric tons of carbon emitted into the atmosphere, and
the equivalent of 200 million barrels of oil saved.

The labor-intensive process of rehabilitating older buildings would
also create jobs, and this labor can’t be shipped overseas. The wages would stay
in the community, supporting local businesses and significantly increasing
household incomes — just the kind of boost the American economy needs right now.

Before demolishing an old building to make way for a new one, consider
the amount of energy required to manufacture, transport and assemble the pieces
of that building. With the destruction of the building, all that energy is
utterly wasted. Then think about the additional energy required for the
demolition itself, not to mention for new construction. Preserving a building is
the ultimate act of recycling.

Richard Moe is the president of the National Trust for Historic
Preservation.

Crime Prevention Award

This was really, really cool. Our block club recieved a "Building Blocks" award!

Brian (holding the award) deserves all the credit for getting this effort started. I'm so pleased, and so proud... to say nothing of looking forward to the commencement of another season of porch-surveillance!

Meanwhile, over on the other side of town...

... I'll be doing this on Saturday. Come on over and say hello!