The greenest building is the one already built, says a Heritage Vancouver director.
Elana Zysblat wants to demonstrate that point during the 8th annual Vancouver Heritage House Tour, themed “Cool Conversions”, which features buildings that have been renovated, rehabilitated, adapted and conserved for today’s living.
“People are starting to understand that, yes, they can print less e-mails or recycle pop cans in a more efficient way but the biggest recycling project that you’ll ever be involved in is a building,” she explains.
Zysblat says the tour of 10 homes, five of which are re-purposed buildings such as the remodeled red schoolhouse at East Georgia and Princess streets, offers homeowners a chance to learn where to salvage materials or contract talented craftsmen who can see a project from beginning to end.
“Old buildings are designed to be repaired and maintained,” she states, “whereas new construction can’t be repaired when it fails like energy-efficient windows. When a part on that window fails it has to be thrown in the landfill because vinyl is not recyclable.”
Ultimately, Zysbalt hopes the tour helps connect people to the neighbourhoods they’re visiting.
“We think that any built structure that teaches you something, that connects you to a different era such as a post-war bungalow or a working-class cottage, can be a valuable lesson in heritage.”
For information, visit vancouverhertiagefoundation.org.
