Historic Preservation:The Ultimate
Recycling       
                                                    
Richard Moe, president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, will speak on the sustainability of preserving historic buildings at the next Conversations on the Environment event, 6:30 p.m., Oct. 8, at the Central Library, 14 W. 10th St. Admission is free.

     Moe supports conservation and improvement of our existing built resources, greening of the existing building stock and reinvestment in older and historic communities. “Any new building, no matter how much green technology it incorporates, represents a new impact on the environment,” he says. “An older building represents a heavy prior investment of resources and energy. If you tear that building down, that investment is wasted – but if you keep the building in use, you’re saving energy and conserving resources. That’s what people mean when they call preservation the ultimate recycling.”

     Moe is an outspoken advocate of controlling sprawl and encouraging smart growth. He has launched innovative initiatives to demonstrate preservation’s effectiveness as a tool for community revitalization and as a key element in the fight against climate change.

     The event begins at 6 p.m. with a free public reception. Make a reservation now by calling 816-701-3407.

Conversations on the Environment begin its second year of bringing thought-provoking environmental experts to Kansas City. Partners in the series include ASTRA Enterprises, BNIM Architects, the Kansas City Public Library, Kansas City Business Journal, Rainy Day Books, Kansas City Public Television, Bridging the Gap, Greenability Magazine and the City of Kansas City, MO.