BETHEL — The Town of Bethel will host its 2026 Sustainability Forum on Saturday, Aug. 8, offering homeowners free, practical strategies to lower utility bills and safeguard the local environment. The public event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Dr. Duggan School, located at 3460 State Route 55 in White Lake.

Three regional environmental and energy experts will headline the forum:

Sullivan County Commissioner Heather Brown will present findings from recent local water quality studies.

Architect Buck Moorhead will explain the mechanics of passive house design, carbon tracking, and renewable energy integration.

Steve Bonds-Liptay, an energy advisor with the Cornell Cooperative Extension, will share steps for identifying and fixing residential energy leaks.

“Our goal is to give Bethel families the tools and knowledge they need to actively protect our shared local environment,” said Jeff Alison, Chair of Sustainable Bethel. “Sustainability starts at home, and this forum makes those next steps easy and accessible for everyone.”

Attendees can move between three dedicated workshop tracks throughout the day:

Home and Waste: Covering private septic maintenance, backyard composting, and modern waste management.

Energy and Transit: Highlighting electric and hybrid vehicles alongside community solar initiatives.

Environment and Water: Focusing on eco-friendly landscaping, local food systems, and active water protection plans.

In addition to the presentations, the event will feature educational information tables covering a wide range of sustainable environmental topics, allowing residents to browse resources and ask questions at their own pace.

Bethel is a twice-certified Bronze Level community in the New York State Climate Smart Community program, which is sponsored by the Department of Environmental Conservation.

Residents can find more details by visiting Sustainable Bethel’s page on the town’s website at townofbethelny.us.