NATCHEZ — The city plays host to the 15th annual Mississippi Historic Preservation Conference Thursday and Friday, and the color scheme is green.

The conference will address how historic preservation fits into the modern eco-friendly movement, Historic Natchez Foundation Director Mimi Miller said Tuesday.

Educational sessions at the Eola Hotel are open to the public and will focus on how historic buildings can meet new goals for sustainability and energy efficiency.

“Some of the things I’m excited about is energy conservation in historic buildings, preserving windows and preserving old wood and selecting new wood,” Miller said of the sessions.

Registration for the sessions begins at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Eola Hotel. Conference registration is $75, but registration for an individual session is $25.

This year’s speakers include Gordon Sheppard of Apollo BBC, who will discuss energy efficiency, and Mississippi State University professor emeritus of college forest resources Terry Amburgey, who will discuss wood preservation.

The conference will offer free tours from 10 a.m. to noon Friday. John and Marsha McCullough, and Bill and Bobbye Henley will open their restored properties to tourists at that time, Miller said. Tours of Brandon Hall will also be offered from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Friday. A garden tour of selected historic houses is also scheduled that day.

A Heritage Awards luncheon is set for noon Friday at the Carriage House restaurant. Cost is $25.

Miller expects approximately 125 people will attend the conference this year. HNF is the lead sponsor of the conference, which is hosted by the Mississippi Department of Archives and History and the Mississippi Heritage Trust.

For a complete conference agenda, visit the Web site www.mississippiheritage.com, or call Miller at 601-442-2500.