EASTHAMPTON — Those hoping to learn more about the future of sustainable electricity can look forward to two upcoming talks by former Wright Builders owner and founder Jonathan Wright.
The first presentation, to take place Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton, will center on the sources and uses of electricity, who’s in charge, how it’s used, and what the future holds.
The second will be held the following Thursday, Oct. 19 at the same time, when Wright will lead a discussion around preparing buildings for electrification and reducing electrical loads, along with conversation on financing, legislation and other do’s and don’ts of electrification.
“It’s such a hot issue: climate change and electrification, and the knowledge base among the public is skimpy because we’re not really talking about these issues,” said Wright.
“We are used to having an abundance of cheap resources in the privileged northern hemisphere,” he added. “Management of limited resources is not something that we’re as good at as we need to be.”
As a writer, retired builder, artisan and designer, Wright has a 50-year career behind him, with extensive work in sustainable building and sustainable practices, methods and materials.
He founded Wright Builders Inc., a Northampton-based construction company dedicated to sustainability, high performance and net-zero energy consumption. The company’s projects have ranged from residential renovations and construction of custom homes like Village Hill Northampton to commercial projects like Florence Bank in Hadley.
Wright said his career has “all been driven by head-scratcher curiosity.”
His talks at Arcadia will center on both Wright’s own unending curiosity as well as the curiosity of listeners.
“You don’t have to be a building science geek. You don’t have to be a tech head. The audience is just going to be curious,” he said, adding that he aims to make both presentations as interactive as possible.
The program will be held in the Arcadia Visitor Center auditorium at 127 Combs Road in Easthampton and costs $5 for Mass Audubon members and $7 for nonmembers. Registration is required at massaudubon.org/programs/arcadia/89134-electricity-and-our-sustainable-future-with-jonathan-wright.
Maddie Fabian can be reached at mfabian@gazettenet.com.