Spring is coming and with it the prime time of year to make improvements to your home both inside and out. But are you considering ways to make your upgrades and repairs that take into account not just aesthetics and functionality but also sustainability and environmental impact?
The Sustainable Home Expo, presented by Sustainable Princeton, takes place Saturday, March 8, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the gym at Princeton High School, with entry through the Performing Arts Center on Walnut Lane. There, attendees can meet local, vetted, sustainability-minded home improvement professionals who can explain their services and answer your questions.
The event is free to attend, but an RSVP is requested at www.sustainableprinceton.org. A full list of participating vendors is also available on the website.
Along with the expo floor, there will be educational sessions where residents can learn more about sustainable home topics. Homeowners and renters can also learn about sustainable upgrades they can make to their homes to save energy and resources.
A supervised kids’ activity room will have sustainable crafts, coloring, and games. Nassau Street restaurant Ficus will be selling sandwiches, salads, and bubble tea. Bring a reusable bottle for water and mug for coffee.
Attendees are also encouraged to bring unwanted, used clothing for re-wear, reuse, and recycling. Helpsy, a nonprofit that recycles used clothing by selling it to thrift and secondhand stores or repurposing it as rags, stuffing, or insulation, will have bins available for clothing drop-off. In addition to clothing Helpsy accepts footwear; accessories like hats, belts, and gloves; linens; luggage; and more. Visit www.helpsy.com for a full list.
Educational sessions at the Expo include:
11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: Planting for Pollinators — Join NJ Native Plant Society, Refugia Design, and homeowner Mercy to learn all about native plants. Find out how you can transform your lawn into a beautiful meadow for local pollinators.
Electrify Everything — Do you want to Electrify Everything in your home? Attend this session to learn the first steps in electrification from experts from the NJ Board of Public Utilities, Bryan Electric, and Abel Smith.
12:30 to 1:30 p.m.: Energy Efficient Homes — Have you heard about the new energy efficiency rebates and incentives? Attend this session to find out how you can get money back for induction cooktops, electric landscaping equipment, and more.
Keeping Stormwater at Bay — Learn from the Watershed Institute and homeowners how you manage stormwater on your property.
1:45 to 2:45 p.m.: Solar “Panel” — Attend this session to learn about rooftop solar and community solar. Consolidated billing has began and you can be the first to hear about it.
Sustainable Accessory Dwelling Units 101 — Are you interested in building an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) but don’t know where to start? Attend this session to hear from experts and homeowners.
