National Preservation Month
The City of Redmond, in coordination with the Redmond Historical Society, is celebrating National Preservation Month this May.  "Old is the New Green" is the theme of this month-long celebration sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Since the National Trust for Historic Preservation created Preservation Week in 1971 to spotlight grassroots preservation efforts in America, it has grown into an annual celebration observed by small towns and big cities with events ranging from architectural and historic tours and award ceremonies, to fundraising events, educational programs and heritage travel opportunities.  Due to its overwhelming popularity, in 2005, the National Trust for Historic Preservation extended the celebration to the entire month of May and declared it Preservation Month to provide an even longer opportunity to celebrate the diverse and unique heritage of our country's cities and states and enable more Americans to become involved in the growing preservation movement.

Here in Redmond, Preservation Month 2010 will be observed by the following events: 

Downtown Historic Walking Tour

Sunday, May 16, 1:00 pm
Justice White House
7529 Leary Way, Redmond

Join local historian Tom Hitzroth for a narrated tour of Downtown Redmond's historic buildings.  Sponsored by the Redmond Historical Society, the cost is $8 and proceeds go to the purchase of a bench for the walking route.  Reserve your spot by calling 425-885-2919 or emailing info@redmondhistoricalsociety.org.

National Preservation Month Proclamation

Tuesday, May 18, 7:30 pm
City Council Meeting
City Council Chambers, City Hall
15670 NE 85th Street, Redmond

Old is the New Green

Historic preservation is inherently green.  The construction, operation and demolition of buildings accounts for 48% of the United States' greenhouse gas emissions.  Here are three ways that historic preservation reduces these emissions dramatically: 

• Reusing existing buildings reduces the amount of demolition and construction waste deposited in landfills, lessens unnecessary demand for energy and other natural resources and conserves embodied energy (the amount of energy originally expended to create existing structures).
  
• Reinvesting in older and historic communities preserves the energy embedded in infrastructure, such as roads, water and sewer lines.
  
• Retrofitting our existing building stock improves upon the energy efficiency of many historic and older buildings in terms of site sensitivity, quality of construction, and use of passive heating and cooling, while maintaining historic character.

In Downtown Redmond, a number of historic property and business owners have contributed to the preservation of our community's historic places by making sustainable investments in the buildings highlighted in this brochure.  Visit each of these City Landmarks today to support Redmond's heritage and local economy!

For more information on sustainability and historic preservation, visit the National Trust for Historic Preservation's site dedicated to this topic.

For more information about National Preservation Month or any of these events, please contact Jayme Jonas at 425-556-2496 or jjonas@redmond.gov.