BRING Home & Garden Tour

Date/Time
09/16/2012
10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Tour Host
BRING
Shirley Perez West
Phone: 541-746-3023 x312
www.bringrecycling.org/home/brg/smartlist_16/bring_home_and_garden_tour_the_art_of_sustainable_.html

Registration Location
BRING Recycling
4446 Franklin Boulevard
Eugene, OR 97403
United States

Tour Fee
$10 (sliding scale available)

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Tickets are on sale for the fourth annual BRING Home & Garden tour, co-hosted by the City of Eugene and Eugene Water & Electric Board (EWEB). The theme, “Thinking small to save big”, reflects the tour’s emphasis on making the most of small spaces, including a tiny house on wheels, creative remodels, quality second units and new homes incorporating the latest in energy efficiency strategies. Twelve sites will be featured on this self-guided tour, including two that were under construction on previous tours.

The “Art of Sustainable Living” is interpreted in many ways at this year’s homes. An extensive remodel in the East University neighborhood is targeting LEED and Earth Advantage certification, as well as net zero energy. The home’s innovative water management system incorporates rainwater catchment for use in irrigation, toilets and laundry to reduce potable water use.

Eugene’s first certified Passive House, featured while under construction in the 2010 Tour, is finished and ready for its close-up. The house includes photovoltaics, solar hot water, heat recovery, extensive salvage and re-use of materials, organic gardens, chickens and a guest house all on a slim city lot.

In the south university neighborhood, a small Earth Advantage house (less than 1500 square feet) features a ground-level secondary unit. Designed for aging in place, the house and rental are wheelchair accessible with energy-efficient elements that go beyond its Earth Advantage certification.

You can visit several other examples of well-designed secondary dwelling units, or backyard cottages, that demonstrate a sustainable way to accommodate family members or add rental income.

The tour will also include several sustainable gardens, showcasing strategies for combining edible and landscape plants, attracting beneficial insects, composting kitchen waste and nurturing native species.

Tour goers can also delve deeper into green living topics by attending workshops at various sites on the tour. Check BRING’s website for a list of workshops or pick up a schedule at any tour location on the day of the event.

For information on where to buy tickets, and how to volunteer, please visit www.bringrecycling.org or contact Shirley at tour@bringrecycling.org.