I learned something new last Friday regarding the debate between conserving an old house by restoring it, versus tearing it down completely and starting new.
This took place at a property I have listed for sale, and with me were the Buyer, a builder, and an engineer. We were there to discuss the feasibility of what could or could not be done with the structure, as affected by the topography, height restrictions, existing layout of the home, and of course, how much it might cost.
The builder, Rick Dubrow of A1 Builders and Adaptations Design here in Bellingham, is one of the best and most experienced building consultants I’ve ever worked with. A1′s work is top notch, but long before they ever place the first ounce of concrete or pound the first nail, Rick’s style of talking — and listening — to a client and educating them about possibilities and processes of building… that’s why I refer him again and again. He’s a professional communicator, hands down.
Anyway, there we were, a half hour into the consult, standing below an un-maintained, 50-year-old house, when Rick spoke the words that were completely new and profound to me:
“I’m all about conservation, and I’d love nothing more than to see this house preserved and re-used in every way possible,” he started.
“But in the energy life-cycle of a house,” he said, “including all associated energy consumption of materials production, transport, construction, and then what is consumed during actual use of the house over its life-cycle, six sevenths of the energy is consumed after construction is complete.”
I stood there, trying to wrap my head around exactly what he had just said, when he continued…
“So it’s almost certain,” he said, “that the most efficient thing to do with this near 2900-square-foot house, in the context of what you [the buyer] intend to create here, is to tear it down.”
This was, to me, some serious outside-the-box thinking. In this day in age, as we’re peppered with constant messages of “Reduce, Re-use, Recycle!” the default philosophy is to conserve and build to what’s there. That’s the most “responsible” thing, or so I unquestioningly had thought.
But what I picked up during this meeting from Rick, is that the most responible thing is to continually keep learning, keep asking questions, keep studying, and adapt when new understandings come to light.
There are many hours of design and contemplation ahead before the final call is made to remodel or tear down, but Rick’s insight added a valuable twist to the decision making process on this project.
