Historic Spanish Point
Conservation for Florida’s Past and Future
Historic Spanish Point
Historic Spanish Point is a 30-acre museum and historic environment located in Osprey, Florida. The site is a hub of education about Florida history and historical preservation for its visitors, but more importantly, it connects the Florida community to its environment and heritage.
With its collection of historic buildings and the knowledge that a large section of local housing consists of historic structures, the team at Historic Spanish Point saw an opportunity to educate its audience about sustainability and green initiatives while implementing sustainable measures to its structures. Through the programs, audits, and resources that are available through the Partners for Green Places (PGP) initiative, Historic Spanish Point started its journey to become a pilot Partner.
If we don’t protect what Florida is, then we have not left a legacy for the future.
— John McCarthy Executive Director, Gulf Coast Heritage Association
A Sustainable Action Plan
The Audit
The team at Historic Spanish Point first worked with Florida Power and Light (FPL) to conduct a Business Energy Evaluation (BEE), which focused on analyzing the current energy needs and consumption. A list of general recommendations to save power and energy came out of the audit. This curated list identified and quantified the effective possibilities of energy savings tailored to each implemented measure. Following the FPL BEE, a Partners for Green Places partner auditor facilitated a more in-depth energy and water assessment in key buildings on the site.
This audit resulted in a custom Energy Roadmap - a document which outlines onsite energy and water usage and recommended strategies to reduce consumption while still respecting the historic fabric of the site and its structures. The Roadmap also provides a tailored list of quantified, long-term financial savings that would result from the implementation of each suggestion, which makes this document not only a tool for selecting which projects to implement, but also a guide for strategic planning and fundraising.
A Tailored List
The Recommendations
As part of the PGP alliance, Historic Spanish Point’s action list included a multi-faceted approach to implementing sustainable measures that would provide the most return on investment and greatest environmental impact. The recommendations centered around the water and energy conservation of three highly-utilized structures, the White Cottage, Guptill House, and the Windows to the Past exhibit. The Roadmap detailed the greatest energy and water losses in the facilities, including which appliances and fixtures used the most energy and water.
Key water conservation recommendations were to replace and upgrade the toilets in each facility, and priority energy conservation measures recommended were weather stripping the windows, improving and repairing duct work, and implementing a modern and programmable thermostat in high-traffic buildings.
This customized recommendation plan for Historic Spanish Point resulted in a more direct impact on the site and its overall sustainability, creating a platform for leaders of the destination to promote managing environmental resources responsibly through retrofitting historic buildings for energy and water conservation.
Planning a Better Future for Florida
The Outcome
As Historic Spanish Point implements its Roadmap recommendations, the organization plans to capitalize on the transformative and educational value that PGP instills while also utilizing the list of recommendations as a tool of demonstration to inspire the public to follow in its footsteps.
“It’s our hope that we can inspire people to get on board the sustainability train and do some of the things that we’re going to do.”
By becoming part of the PGP collective, Historic Spanish Point has not only preserved Florida’s historical artifacts, but also improved the experience for its visitors, while still saving energy, water, and money.
Most importantly, however, with more than 25,000 visitors each year, becoming a Partner is arming Historic Spanish Point with the power to inspire, motivate, and catalyze replicable sustainable practices for each individual touched by the organization’s reach.
Stay Informed
Stay informed as Historic Spanish Point continues to implement each recommendation and updates us with statistics on its lower energy consumption, decreased water usage, and overall cost savings.