Fiodel Schoolhouse

The Sustainability of Historic Preservation

Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - 5:30pm to 7:00pm
  • Library Hall

An evening with Patrick Eidman of History Colorado & Paul Bonnifield

Can old buildings be "green?" The Sustainability of Historic Preservation is a discussion about the adaptive re-use of existing buildings to meet everyday uses.  We will explore the connection between environmental sustainability and the preservation of our historic built environment. The evening includes information booths, images from a dozen partners,  current research, and case studies that demonstrate that historic preservation represents the ultimate form of recycling.

Free.

About the speakers

Patrick Eidman

Patrick Eidman was raised on a sheep ranch in Eastern Kansas, He learned early the importance of caring for the land and the necessity of reuse and recycling (baling wire really does have 1001 uses!). This appreciation for working cultural landscapes informed an ethic that would eventually lead him to the Environmental Studies and City and Regional Planning degree program at Sonoma State University in California and a summer internship with Colorado Preservation, Inc. Colorado quickly became home and Patrick’s commitment to preservation of the historic built environment was fueled by experiences that demonstrated time and again that historic preservation was a critical tool for the economic, social and environmental sustainability of local communities. Now Director of Historic Preservation Technical Outreach for History Colorado, Patrick leads implementation efforts for the statewide preservation plan, regularly speaks at statewide and national conferences on historic preservation, and works daily to support grassroots efforts that protect Colorado’s unique cultural and architectural heritage.

Paul Bonnifield

Paul Bonnifield' has been a professional rodeo cowboy, college professor, underground coal miner, railroad conductor, contract cowboy, and professional historian and author. He earned his Ph.D. in twentieth century American history from Oklahoma State University. His book, Dust Bowl: Men, Dirt, and Depression, is regarded as a standard on that period of American history. His writings include other books and numerous articles as well as newspaper columns about regional history. Paul contributes to a variety of publications and frequently serves as historical advisor for projects, locally and nationally. He presents scholarly papers to the Western History Association and speaks at local gatherings. He and his wife, Ellen, co-author a fortnightly history column for The Valley Voice, and they recently completed and submitted a manuscript about the Meeker Massacre and the Ute Indians in northwestern Colorado.

This Talking Green program is presented by the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council, Historic Routt County, History Colorado, NewPowerFund.com, HomeLink, Mountain Resorts and the Bud Werner Memorial Library.