A hands-on workshop for local homeowners interested in lowering their energy costs will be offered by a young Andover resident who is rehabbing her house from basement to attic in order to improve its energy efficiency.

Demonstrating techniques she learned at Yestermorrow Design and Build School in Waitsfield, Vermont, Sophie Viandier will open her small Cape Cod cottage at 1129 Franklin Highway (State Route 11) in East Andover to workshop participants between 10 AM and noon on Saturday, November 9.

The workshop, free and open to the public, will be limited to 20 participants because of space constraints. Advance registration is encouraged. Contact Larry Chase at 735-5135 or LBChase@nullaol.com to sign up.

The workshop will cover such topics as how to conduct a home energy assessment, determine cost-effectiveness with a focus on ecological responsibility, and implement creative ways to keep a home comfortable. It will also allow participants to learn about Sophie’s recently installed solar-electric (photovoltaic) system and a system of earthen mounds, troughs, and ponds she’s creating to capture and make use of rainwater.

The Andover Energy Group, a local organization interested in sharing information about alternative energy sources and ways to improve energy efficiency, is the workshop sponsor. Local residents who would like to receive alerts about future workshops, presentations, and other events may indicate their interest by sending an e-mail to the address above.