On September 26th the Coconino County Sustainable Building Program, in partnership with the City of Flagstaff Sustainability Program, and Willow Bend Environmental Education Center hosted the Annual Sustainable Building Tour as part of the Flagstaff Festival of Science.
This year’s to
ur theme of “Exploring New Horizons with Sustainable Building,” provided a fun and unique opportunity to see homes and buildings that have implemented sustainability through design, materials, systems, and living practices.
The tour featured passive solar design, energy and water efficient systems and appliances, greywater and rainwater reuse, and construction methods such as local wood, cinder block, cordwood, insulated concrete forms and strawbale. 
The annual, self-guided tour starts at Willow Bend Environmental Education Center. The Center was hustling and bustling with curious visitors walking through and learning about our strawbale building. Jim Corning from Prometheus talked about our solar panels and energy.
Willow Bend staff and volunteers talked about the Center’s design, orientation, Xeriscaping, ventilation, and more. Kids and kids at heart had lots of fun participating in Willow Bend’s new scavenger hunt and the City of Flagstaff Sustainability Program were on site with recycling information and games.
We had over 150 tour participants! If you missed it, make sure you come next year.