Greening up an old house

I like to daydream about building a house one day—perhaps a straw-bale one with passive solar design overlooking my massive organic veggie garden and my herd of free-range chickens …

But reality for me means living in a 1954 rancher with single-pane windows. (Replacing those windows is high on our priority list. I promise.)

Living in an existing home instead of building a new, even more energy-efficient one actually is the greenest thing to do, Spokane architect Kelly Lerner has told me. Although she specializes in straw-bale construction, she’s also an expert in making older homes more harmonious with nature.

Lerner is going to share some of her tips for green restoration of historic homes at the Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture Friday at 6 p.m. Lerner is the featured speaker and a panel of experts will be on hand to answer specific questions.

Tickets for MAC members are $5 or $7 for non-members. Call (509) 456-3931 for tickets or buy them at the door. You can get more information here .

Can’t make it Friday? Check out Lerner’s book on the topic, ” Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green House. ” It’s on my bookshelf and is a thorough, easy-to-read resource full of beautiful photos of houses that have been improved with Mother Nature in mind.

Book cover image courtesy of www.naturalremodeling.com