The BUZZ
is everywhere.

High efficiency appliances, compact fluorescent light bulbs, low flow showerheads, solar energy
– saving energy. Doing your part to save the planet and saving money.

Think it’s all new? It’s not!

Back in 1981 Bill Drinkwater
was concerned about saving energy and living in a sustainable manner. He commissioned Toronto architect Charles Simon to build him an energy efficient
house nestled in the hills west of Schomberg. That house still stands and is a testament to sustainable
living and energy efficiency.

Now owned and loving
restored by Mary and Loris
Gregoris, this modernist
example can show you how you can live an energy efficient lifestyle in the real world.

Utilising passive solar design
and two solar hot water panels,this two bedroom, 3400 square foot house, complete with an inground
pool, only costs $70 per month for heating, cooling and hot water. How does that compare with your house?

Why bother?

Those who remember when
the Leafs were a real hockey team might also remember that the “great blackout of 2003” was not the first. In 1965, the entire
northeast coast of the US and Canada was plunged into darkness when a single faulty relay at the Sir Adam Beck Station no. 2 at Niagara Falls caused a cascading failure that blacked out 80,000 square miles of territory, and plunged over 30 million
people into darkness for up to 30 hours.

Walking home from university that chilly November evening, Loris was struck by how the city had ground to a halt. At home he had a hand cranked generator. He connected it to a small light and by cranking occasionally had the only light for miles.As the neighbours gathered, he realised how dependent we all are on the constant flow of electricity, and how vulnerable we all are it if “goes away”. This realisaton and concern has stayed with him to this day.

What does this have to do with me?

We want you to see that “living a sustainable lifestyle” does not mean living a small, cramped, cold uncomfortable existence! The Upside Down House will take any dark and dreary preconceived notions about energy efficient living and turn them on their head.

On Wednesday July 18th, from 1:00 to 4:30 pm, join Cold Creek, Dufferin Marsh, King Township Library and Arts Society King as they sponsor a guided tour of this remarkable home. In the evening, at 7:00 pm, join us at the Schomberg Library as David Nixon, Sustainable Technology Education
Co-ordinator at Kortright Centre for Education presents an Introductory Seminar on Green Energy.There will be a question and answer session after the seminar. Questions about either the seminar or the house will be welcome.

Home tour requires registration. Please call 905 859-7970. More information about the tour, the Green Energy seminar or about Arts Festival King is available from the website, artssocietyking.ca.