Before & After ~ Recovering from Superstorm Sandy.
Sandy made landfall as an enormous post-tropical cyclone near Brigantine, NJ, in 2012, bringing a massive storm surge along the coast, damaging some 346,000 homes in the state. This historic beach house was swept from its foundation by the surge, sustaining significant damage but remaining largely intact.
It was elevated onto a higher foundation that will allow future flood waters to flow under the house, adapting to the reality of climate change and increasing likelihood of future coastal flooding.
Coastal communities worldwide are studying how to accommodate rising sea levels. Many of these communities are grappling with the challenges of preserving historic buildings under these conditions. Elevating buildings is one approach; restoring dunes and building sea walls are among the other approaches to slowing the impact. The least desirable option is to abandon our heritage and allow the sea to claim it.
Preservation fights climate change. The embodied energy contained within historic buildings saves carbon compared to building new buildings to replace them. According to the EPA, it takes about 65 years for an energy-efficient new building to save the amount of energy lost in demolishing an existing building.
The inherent sustainability of historic houses and improving energy efficiency are addressed in “Restoring Your Historic House, The Comprehensive Guide for Homeowners.”
Signed and personalized copies of the award-winning and bestselling 720-page hardcover book are available from the author in our online shop, YourHistoricHouse.com/shop/.
© Scott T. Hanson 2023
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