Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation andrecipient of the 2007 Vincent Scully Prize, is calling attention to historic preservation’s essential role in fighting climate change.

In his Scully Prize acceptance speech, delivered on 13 December 2007, Moe noted that construction and operation of buildings contributes 48% of America’s greenhouse gases—nearly double that of cars, trucks, trains and airplanes—and even construction of the greenest new building contributes to global warming. Despite that, Moe said, the most talked about solution to global warming is building new, greener buildings, often destroying an old one in the process.

“It takes approximately 65 years for a green, energy-efficient new office building to recover the energy lost in demolishing an existing building,” said Moe. “And let’s face it: Most new buildings aren’t designed to last anywhere near 65 years. [...] It all comes down to this simple fact: We can’t build our way out of the global warming crisis. We have to conserve our way out. That means we have to make better, wiser use of what we’ve already built.”

“No matter how much green technology is employed in its design and construction, any new building represents a new impact on the environment. The bottom line is that the greenest building is one that already exists.”

On Thursday, March 27, 2008, BAHA will co-sponsor a lecture by Mr. Moe on the topic “Sustainable Stewardship: Historic Preservation’s Essential Role in Fighting Climate Change.”

The lecture will be held in the sanctuary of the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Berkeley. A reception will follow.

To order tickets, send a check made out to BAHA and a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: BAHA, Richard Moe Lecture, P.O. Box 1137, Berkeley, CA 94701.  You can also pay for tickets by credit card via PayPal (please specify Richard Moe Lecture).

BAHA is co-sponsoring this event with Friends of First Church, Berkeley, the American Institute of Architects, the California Preservation Foundation, San Francisco Architectural Heritage, Oakland Heritage Alliance, and the Landmarks Heritage Foundation.