Coconino County is rolling out the welcome mat to inspire locals on sustainable living with its 21st annual Sustainable Building Tour, set to take place on September 27, according to the Coconino County recent announcement. With flagstaff and Williams-area locations offering tours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. respectively, the public will have a unique opportunity to connect with the frontiers of eco-friendly design and innovation.
For Future-oriented attendees, the tour shines a spotlight on resilient strategies to transform the way we live, as it is within the very fabric of our communities that the seed of change is sown, during the tour, visitors will be treated to a showcase including eight pioneering homes, a trio of community gardens, the Downtown Connection Center, and the environmental revelations at Willow Bend Environmental Education Center. These embodiments of practical sustainability showcase air-heated radiant floor systems and mass timber construction among other future-facing practices that conserve resources, produce energy and support a resilient community.
Free to the public and nestled in the folds of the Flagstaff Festival of Science, this year's theme 'Cultivating Resilience,' is more than just a tagline—it's a hands-on immersion into the ethos of ecological stewardship. At Willow Bend Environmental Education Center, located at 703 E. Sawmill Rd. in Flagstaff, participants can also dive into learning about current incentives for energy efficiency, water conservation, electrification, and renewable energy, marking Willow Bend as a pivotal hub within the tour's circuit.
From local food production in community gardens that weave the fabric of sustainability into daily life to sophisticated solar photovoltaic systems married with battery storage, the tour illustrates a blueprint for a sustainable future. Sites boast passive solar design, gray water recycling systems, and a multitude of other innovations including native plants and xeriscaping, interactive spaces that offer both a practical vision and tangible solutions for an eco-conscious lifestyle; for those eager to chart their own path through this green tapestry, tour packets complete with maps and details will be available on the day at Willow Bend Environmental Education Center or online beginning September 22 at the Coconino County website.
