It wasn’t so long ago that you’d be regarded as an eccentric at best, perhaps even a public nuisance if you decided to orient the long side of your house southwards to maximize passive solar gain, rather than aligning it along the streetfront in conformity with all the rest of the neighborhood. Happily, green building practices are becoming relatively common nowadays, as architects and contractors become more knowledgeable about the sustainable options open to them and prospective homeowners demand designs that reduce their carbon footprint along with their utility bills.
At the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook this Friday evening, architect Allan Shope will present a lecture on how modern innovation can inform ecologically responsible architecture. Shope will discuss his experiences creating enduring, locally sourced, energy-neutral homes that are healthy for residents and the environment and educate attendees about the long and short-term costs of decisions that we make relating to our homes, from building materials to energy systems.
“The Environmental Impacts of Architecture” begins at 7 p.m. on Friday, August 21 in the Cary Institute’s auditorium, located at 2801 Sharon Turnpike (Route 44) in Millbrook. Admission is free, and seating is first-come, first-served. For more information, call (845) 677-7600, extension 121, or e-mail freeman@caryinsitute.org.
Join the family! 
