Preserving Our Past, Protecting Our Future

When I share that I am the Director of Sustainability for Historic New England, people often respond with surprise. Not about the work I do, I’ve worked in the field of sustainability and climate action for a number of years, but that I am doing this work at a historic preservation organization.

Climate action may not be the first thing that springs to mind when thinking of historic preservation, but there are some very pragmatic reasons why Historic New England decided to create a role that focuses on sustainability and climate action. With 42 properties spread across five New England states, our sites are being directly impacted by events like stronger storms, rising seas, prolonged drought, and flooding. If we want our sites to be here and available in the future, we need to find ways to make them more resilient to these impacts.

Climate action isn’t just about resilience; it is also about reducing our contribution to the problem. Historic New England creates carbon emissions at our sites through the burning of fossil fuels for heat and hot water, our landscaping equipment, and fleet vehicles. Much of the electricity we use is also generated with fossil fuels. We have been tracking our energy use and emissions across the organization since 2023 and have made a commitment to reducing our emissions 25% by 2030 with a long-term goal of reaching net zero by 2050. Reducing or eliminating the burning of fossil fuels at our sites also has the immediate benefit of improving the air quality of the local community.

Our sites can also serve as opportunities for education. We care for a variety of landscapes including fields, forests, gardens, lawns, and shorelines that have all changed over time. Sharing the story of the landscape and how we are managing the impacts we are experiencing helps people to better understand that climate change is not something abstract and far away, it is happening right now in our own backyards.

Learning that local organizations are taking action can also inspire people to consider what actions they might be able to take in their own communities. Climate change is a global problem that will have an impact on everyone, including historic preservation organizations. It can often feel like an issue that is too big to take on but it can be a little easier to take action when we understand that we are not taking on this work alone. Every person and every organization has a role to play and something they can do to create more resilient and sustainable communities and build a better future.

Joie Grandbois is the Director of Sustainability for Historic New England where she helps people in their communities learn to talk to each other and take collaborative actions on climate change. Learn more here.

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This educational column was originally published by The Daily News of Newburport on August 7 , 2026