Sagaponack - Linda Bird Francke built an energy efficient, passive solar house on a field in Sagaponack more than a quarter of a century ago. She is glad she did.

Francke extended an invitation to the Sagaponack Village Trustees to stop by and visit the house that keeps on giving back after she presented the Green Committee's report to the Board.

Francke, a well-known author and long-time Sagaponack resident, has come forward to head the Village's Green Committee empowered by her long-standing commitment and direct experience with alternative energy and solar power made popular during the days of President Jimmy Carter. The committee established by the Village Board at Francke's urging has six full-time members.

They hope to make an impact on policy in the Village and have encouraged the use of "green" energy saving measures in the renovation of the newly acquired Village Hall on Montauk Highway.

Francke built her house in the 1980s inspired by a photograph of an award winning design. "I saw a picture of it in a book," Francke recalled as she described the 2,500 square foot home where she raised three children and has written several books in her home office over the years.

"The north side of the house has very few windows," Francke said of the contemporary Cape she calls home, "the south side is all glass and the floors are brick." The house has great natural light Francke noted. "There are no lights on in here until dark."

Francke has retained the same Acorn windows she installed when the house was first constructed resisting retrofitting with more up to date state-of-the-art windows.

Passive solar rooms employing the warmth of the sun's rays particularly during chilly winter months are just one means of cutting back on your fossil fuel consumption.

"They work," Francke said, noting the house captures and retains heat by virtue of the brick floors and the large glass windows. "It's 70 degrees in here." Francke has a fossil fuel based back-up heater that is rarely used. Lighting bills are also minimal.

The south side of the house is built on a slab to accommodate the heat retention capacity of the brick floors while the north side of the house has a full basement.

Francke came to Sagaponack in 1976 when she rented John White's farmhouse. "I had to move when he wanted the house back," Francke recalled noting there was nothing for sale in Sagaponack at the time. "My babysitter's grandmother offered me this land. I bought it and I haven't budged since," Francke said.

Franke discussed the importance of establishing and maintaining a leadership position in energy efficient design that is also eco-friendly as she reported to the Board at their Monday afternoon work session on Feb. 9.

As fuel oil prices rise and fall and discussion turns to sustainability nearly every state in the country has embraced the growing green movement.

The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) recently made a multi-million dollar commitment to exploring alternative energy with a particular interest in encouraging the use of solar power in government buildings.

Southampton Town established a green committee in 2008 and moved forward with the adoption of provisions in the code that would compel residents to employ green technology in the construction of new housing.

"Guidelines are just that," Francke noted in her comments, "Guidelines. To be effective they must be given teeth and enacted into local law."