Photo: The historic Redmond-Hickman-Haltermann House in Augusta, the first Georgia Trust GREEN-certified home. Image by James R. Lockhart
A historic Georgia home receives the first Georgia Trust GREEN certification to assess in guidance on energy efficient improvements.
Release:
The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation is pleased to announce its first Georgia Trust GREEN-certified home, the historic Redmond-Hickman-Haltermann House in Augusta. The Georgia Trust GREEN program, developed in 2021, is a green building certification program created for historic residences in Georgia, specifically those 40 years or older. The program is designed to evaluate and assess a historic house’s energy efficiency while providing guidance on appropriate improvements to make them more energy and water-efficient.
The historic Redmond-Hickman-Haltermann House, located on the eastern edge of Augusta’s Summerville historic district, was constructed in 1861 and retains much of its original materials and character. Bryan Haltermann, owner of the house for the last 45 years, was motivated to ensure its continued use by future residents of the house.
To achieve certification through the Georgia Trust GREEN program, Haltermann participated in a training offered by the Georgia Trust and had a detailed energy assessment of his property performed by sustainability expert Bourke Reeve. Reeve made specific recommendations for improvements, which Haltermann accomplished to receive this certification.
The Georgia Trust GREEN program is designed to balance the unique requirements of historic buildings with appropriate improvements that reduce the building’s impacts on the environment. The Redmond-Hickman-Haltermann House now boasts WaterSense® fixtures, Energy Star® appliances, LED lightbulbs, as well as more significant upgrades including a new well for irrigation, new heat pump, interior storm windows, insulation, and solar panels installed on the rear roof of the house.
Bryan Haltermann said, “After living in this large, wooden house with high ceilings and leaky windows, I have realized that making the house more energy-efficient is key to future generations living in this house.”
“The Georgia Trust has worked for over a decade to align sustainability best practices with preservation best practices. We believe strongly that improving the sustainability of historic buildings is necessary in the face of a changing climate,” said Mark C. McDonald, president and CEO of the Georgia Trust. “Georgia Trust GREEN provides a pathway for owners of historic buildings to be educated about the best ways to go about making those improvements,” he added.
Learn more about Georgia Trust GREEN certification:
A virtual workshop will be held by the Georgia Trust on Thursday, March 16 at 6 p.m. For more information, visit GeorgiaTrust.org/GREEN.
About the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation
Founded in 1973, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation works for the preservation and revitalization of Georgia’s diverse historic resources and advocates their appreciation, protection and use.
As one of the country’s leading statewide, nonprofit preservation organizations, the Trust generates community revitalization by finding buyers for endangered properties acquired by its Revolving Fund and raises awareness of other endangered historic resources through an annual listing of Georgia’s Places in Peril. The Trust recognizes preservation projects and individuals with its annual Preservation Awards and awards students and young professionals with the Neel Reid Prize and Liz Lyon Fellowship. The Trust offers a variety of educational programs, provides technical assistance to property owners and historic communities, advocates for funding, tax incentives and other laws aiding preservation efforts, and manages two house museums in Atlanta (Rhodes Hall) and Macon (Hay House). To learn more, visit GeorgiaTrust.org.
