Going a Different Kind of Green

Plenty of green will be seen all around town today, but green of a different shade is on the agenda for a conference tonight.

A workshop aimed at both homeowners and commercial builders and architects will focus on saving the environment and saving money at the same time.

Seats are still available for Building Green on a Budget: Successful, Sustainable Projects for Home and Business. The seminar is free; register ahead on the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce website.

The seminar topics are quintessential Bucks County, and include "Green Retrofitting a 200-year-old Home" and "My Green Home II, Building an Energy Efficient Home."

Conference organizers say interest in the green building seminars has increased greatly in recent years.

"More and more people are jumping on the wagon of the green initiative," said Jake Taylor, who works at one of the sponsoring companies. "It’s even more important now because people see how green building can help them save energy and save money."

Taylor, of E&E Building Group, is particularly excited about one of the panels, which will focus on environmental upgrades to older homes.

"A lot of people in Bucks County live in historic properties, and if it’s not truly historic, it’s at least old," he said. "We wanted to talk about ways someone who lives in something that’s 200 years old can make some changes but stay true to the house's character."

The keynote presentation, titled "LEED for Less," will discuss how building trade professionals can become accredited in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

Another presentation by First Savings will focus on how contaminated and dilapidated properties can be adaptied for reuse.

The program runs from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Aldie Mansion. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. It provides two continuing education units for architects.

"Building Green" is sponsored by E&E Building Group and First Savings and is presented by the Central Bucks Chamber of Commerce.