One of the biggest concerns historic property owners and preservationists often have isn’t all that complex: They worry about the cost to heat and cool their properties, just like everyone else, said Jacob Pankey, chair of the Boyle Landmark Trust.

Old houses don’t come pre-installed with modern energy efficiency measures and without any changes, utility costs can be extremely high. That “kind of intimidates people” who might otherwise be interested in restoring and putting to use historic structures in central Kentucky, Pankey said. But there are solutions out there — and the Bluegrass Landmark Trust wants to connect property owners and potential property owners with those solutions.

The trust’s third annual Spirit of Preservation event — coming up this month — will be focused on alternative energy solutions and associated tax credits. The two-hour event will be held at the Chaplin Hill Bed and Breakfast, a stone house originally built in 1790 and expanded in the 1840s. The B&B’s owners have successfully implemented efficiency and alternative-energy measures that help them keep heating and cooling costs under control, Pankey said.

The guest speaker for the event is Erick Rawlings, staff architect for the Kentucky Heritage Council. Pankey said Rawlings will be able to “illuminate why, at first, it may appear” that using historic properties can result in expensive heating and cooling costs, but why it doesn’t have to be that way. Rawlings will explain how up-front investments in historic properties can pay for themselves over a five- to 10-year period.

“We are extremely proud to once again partner with the Kentucky Heritage Council on this,” Pankey said. “… This is an educational event and it’s not been something that we’ve talked about before.”

Refreshments will be offered before Rawlings speaks and attendees can tour the B&B after. The event is free and open to the public; donations will be accepted and will go toward future educational preservation events organized by the trust.

Pankey said the trust hopes spreading information about preservation energy efficiency will help keep more of the area’s historic structures viable for use as both homes and businesses.

“By committing to this direction, our community will continue to be able to have these buildings and our historic identity,” he said. “… That’s why I think it’s a very fitting discussion that the Landmark Trust is wanting to have in our community.”

Erick Rawlings

As staff architect for KHC, Rawlings “reviews federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credit projects, works with preservation easements and provides technical assistance to Kentucky Main Street Program communities and constituents,” according to information from Boyle Landmark Trust. He has a bachelor’s in architecture and is certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards.

Pankey said if someone interested in attending has a question they want to ask of Rawlings, they can ask at the event or email it to info@boylelandmarktrust.org now so that Rawlings can prepare an answer in advance.

IF YOU GO

Boyle Landmark Trust’s third annual Spirit of Preservation event will be 3-5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, at Chaplin Hill Bed and Breakfast at 4221 Perryville Road. Refreshments will be offered at the beginning, prior to guest speaker Erick Rawlings, who will talk about energy efficiency, alternative energy options and tax credits. Rawlings will take questions from the audience, and then tours will be offered of the historic bed and breakfast building.