National Trust for Historic Preservation Climate Graduate Research Fellowship Summary

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is seeking candidates for the 2024 Climate Graduate Research Fellowship. This Fellowship will focus on researching and developing guidance to help owners of historic properties plan and implement low carbon building retrofit projects. Working under the supervision of senior National Trust staff during the Fall 2024 semester, two Graduate Research Fellows will conduct research on existing decarbonization guidance for building owners, identify successful program examples, and develop draft guidance materials tailored for owners of historic homes and smaller commercial structures.

We will be accepting applications through August 29.

Background: A National Reuse and Retrofit Campaign

This Fellowship will support planning for a new Reuse and Retrofit Campaign to reduce carbon emissions through the reuse and retrofitting of older and historic buildings nationwide. The campaign will include tailored retrofit guidance for historic property owners, paired with advocacy to align climate and preservation policies at the local, state, and national levels. This campaign will complement the National Trust’s simultaneous work to create a new revolving fund for adaptive reuse and retrofit projects. Taken together, these new communication, policy, and funding initiatives represent a major expansion of the National Trust’s work to demonstrate that “historic preservation is climate action.”

Of the 125 million existing buildings across the United States, about 40 percent (50 million buildings) are at least 50 years old. Most of these older structures are single-family homes and small commercial and apartment buildings. Increasingly, climate advocates and policy makers recognize that saving, reusing, and retrofitting older buildings like these is a critical strategy if we expect to reach national and global carbon emissions reduction targets by 2050.

Research Fellowship Focus: Guidance for Historic Building Owners

Currently, there is limited guidance available for owners of older and historic buildings who are considering low carbon retrofit projects. Established national and international green building certification programs are not well-suited to guide decarbonization of older and historic buildings. There is a clear need for new resources to support and accelerate the reuse and retrofitting of older and historic buildings. As part of planning for the Reuse and Retrofit Campaign, the Climate Research Fellows will work to address the following question:

What is the most effective, practical, and scalable way that we can motivate and assist owners of older and historic buildings to reduce the carbon footprint of their properties?

With guidance from senior National Trust staff, the Research Fellows will analyze the current retrofit assistance marketplace. They will assess existing programs that offer retrofit information and guidance, technical assistance, data measurement tools, and certification protocols. Research methods will include online research as well as interviews with historic building owners, retrofit and preservation experts, and managers of retrofit and certification programs in the US and internationally. Examples of organizations, programs, and tools that we will investigate include:

• EPA Energy Star (including Energy Star Home Rehab Upgrade program)

• Rocky Mountain Institute (Carbon Free Buildings programs)

• EarthCraft/Georgia Green (Georgia and southeast)

• Passive House (including Phius certification for retrofits)

• Elevate Energy (serving small multi-family market in Chicago)

• BlocPower (energy retrofit program in NYC)

• Architecture 2030 (CARE tool and other programs)

• AECB, the Association for Environment Conscious Building (UK)

• Other US and international examples

Based on interviews and online research, the Research Fellows will summarize relevant program examples, assess the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches, and identify opportunities for new programs and services aimed at the historic home and small commercial building market. Based on this summary, the Research Fellows will prepare draft retrofit guidance materials for historic property owners.

The Research Fellows will work closely with the Senior Policy Director as well as other National Trust staff and a consultant who will be focusing on public policy change as part of the Reuse and Retrofit Campaign. In addition, the Research Fellows will interact with graduate students who are taking a building reuse class with the Senior Policy Director at the University of Colorado Denver.

For this fellowship, the National Trust is offering a $8,350 stipend. Candidates are expected to be available to commit up to 20 hours per week to the Fellowship, for a 15-week period between late August and mid-December 2024. The fellowship is also fully virtual.

National Trust Climate Research Fellowships are temporary, experiential learning opportunities with no expectation of employment at the conclusion of the Fellowship.

DUTIES

The selected Fellows will work directly with the National Trust’s Senior Policy Director, Preservation Services & Outreach of Outreach. Specific tasks requested of the Fellows may include the following:

• Participating in weekly meetings with the Senior Policy Director and other members of the Reuse and Retrofit Campaign team.
• Researching current retrofit guidance, measurement, and certification programs.
• Interviewing historic property owners to learn more about their challenges and needs.
• Interviewing staff involved with current retrofit guidance programs.
• Preparing a summary of research findings and recommendations.
• Preparing initial draft guidance materials to support owners of historic properties who are considering low carbon retrofit projects.
• Making presentations to National Trust staff and partners.

We will seek to tailor the specific scope of the Fellowship to best align work with the skills and professional interests of the Fellow.

EDUCATIONAL VALUE TO THE FELLOW

Gain experience working with senior preservation professionals at one of the nation’s leading non-profit advocacy organizations. The Fellow will also engage and work with leading preservation practitioners cross the country, including staff from the National Trust, Main Street America, the National Trust Community Investment Corporation, and various preservation and climate organizations at the local, state, and federal levels. In addition, the Fellow will:

• Learn about the work of organizations across the country that are seeking to reduce carbon emissions from the building sector.
• Gain an understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities for low carbon retrofits of older and historic buildings.
• Help plan a high-profile, high-impact national campaign to lower carbon emissions in historic homes and small commercial buildings.
• Participate in National Trust staff exchanges and educational programming.

At the end of the project the Fellow will have produced documents and work products which can be added to their professional portfolio in support of their future career pursuits.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Currently enrolled or recent graduate from a master’s program in historic preservation, architecture, planning, environmental studies, engineering, public policy, or related field.
• Demonstrated interest in historic preservation and climate action.
• Strong interest in historic preservation, sustainable design, building systems, energy efficiency, and public policy is desirable.
• Strong research and writing skills required.
• Ability to collaborate and achieve results with limited supervision, including ability to interact professionally with senior National Trust staff and external stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills required, with ability to prioritize, multi-task efficiently, and meet deadlines in a timely fashion.
• Ability to adapt and be flexible in a dynamic work environment, including online platforms
• Friendly and professional demeanor on the phone and in writing, with ability to speak and write clearly in English.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office products required, including Outlook, Word and Excel.