Get an inside look at your neighbor’s inspiring design projects, practical application of green initiatives, and innovative use of natural materials in their homes!

Learn from the experts! View some (or all!) of the incredible green building workshops from this year’s event. 

The Green Building Primer: What you need to know to get started

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Join us for a deep discussion with a green building contractor about the ins and outs of remodeling and new construction in today’s market.

The Three Pillars of Residential Decarbonization: Electrify, Optimize, and Solarize

An overview of the challenge at hand when addressing climate change and how individual homeowners can take practical steps to electrify, optimize, and solarize their homes.

Six Simple Ways to Prioritize Green Building in Your Construction Project

Your home already does a lot for you – it provides shelter, one of the basic human needs, as well as countless other benefits. A home is a place to live, study, work or connect with family and friends. We cook and eat meals, pursue hobbies, find respite in our homes, and so much more. Even though it may seem like your home already does a lot, most of these features have been components of human homes for centuries. In the 21st century, it’s time to ask yourself, what else is my home capable of?  

In the green building world people often talk about the big four: comfort, durability, health and efficiency. You might wonder, what do those mean for my home? In this workshop, Ian Rae will discuss six basic green building measures homeowners should consider that will increase their durability, comfort, health and efficiency of their homes. These measures are the ‘low hanging fruit’ of green building! Implementing them will have a dramatic impact, while not breaking the bank.  

There are significant disparities between a code-built home and a green home. Green homes are more comfortable, last longer, and use less energy. They also require fewer repairs, have healthier indoor air quality and are quieter than standard code-built homes. Learn how to do better for you, for your family and for the planet by asking more of your home. 

High Performance Remodeling: Two Case Studies

Let’s dive into two early 20th century homes, revamped & retrofitted by Bellingham Bay Builders. Focusing on electrification, air sealing, exterior insulation, indoor air quality, & more! Join us to learn how we arrived at the choices we made to bring these homes into the 21st century.

From Energy Audit to Retrofit: A Virtual Walk Through Energy Efficiency Upgrades (Pants not required)

Just because you own an older home doesn’t mean you can’t be an energy efficiency super star. If you’re thinking about making upgrades, an energy audit is the first step to help you make the most impactful decisions for your home. Join us on an energy audit from the comfort of your computer to learn how and why this process is the key to turning an older home into a high performing home. Attendees will have the opportunity to submit pictures of their own attics or crawlspaces for discussion, and we will close out the session by looking at some finished energy efficiency retrofits.

Tips for Success with Green Materials

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From initial conceptualization to selecting the right team of trusted professionals, and finding products to meet your individual wants and needs for all your project goals.

Accessory Dwelling Unit Workshop

In [bundle] Design Studio’s Accessory Dwelling Unit Workshop, we’ll be covering the basics of building an Accessory Dwelling Unit in Bellingham. From initial design concept to construction– we’ll break down what will need to be considered at each stage of the process. We’ll also be covering bonus material on how to best make your Accessory Dwelling Unit sustainable.

Solar Today, To Prepare For Tomorrow

Been dreaming of going solar? Learn what you need to know about the latest solar technology and incentives, reaching Net Zero, meeting the new Energy Code requirements with the least expense, and being ready for the next power outage with battery back-up.

What is a Passive House? Creating affordable, efficient homes

Passive house is a voluntary standard for energy efficiency in a building, which reduces the building’s ecological footprint. It results in ultra-low energy buildings that require little energy for space heating or cooling. 

Designing and Building Affordable Net Zero Energy Homes

We will present our award winning process and techniques for designing and building net zero energy homes.