Solar Home Tour returns to valley

Seven years ago, Southern Nevada experienced its first Solar Home Tour. At the time, I was involved with a great nonprofit group called Solar NV, the Southern Nevada chapter of the American Solar Energy Society. I had attended a few solar home tours in Arizona and they were always a great experience. Our group decided it was time for folks in our local communities to have that same opportunity. That first tour was a resounding success and everyone had a great time. Thus, a tradition was born.

This year marks the seventh anniversary of the Southern Nevada Solar Home Tour. It will take place this Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and is open to the public. Organized by the dedicated volunteers at Solar NV, this year's tour will be another great opportunity to meet face to face with neighbors around the valley who live with renewable energy on a daily basis. Sponsors include Bombard Renewable Energy, Geary Company and Southwest Gas.

This year, Solar NV is trying a new approach. Here's how it will work. First, visit its website at www.solarnv.org and register online via PayPal (credit cards accepted). The normal cost is $10 per vehicle (so carpool for the best value and lowest carbon) but Solar NV members, students and those with a low-emission hybrid vehicle pay half. The best deal is for anyone who is not yet a member of Solar NV. Join for a year and the tour is only a buck ($24 membership plus $1 equals $25 total). After registering, you'll be able to download an electronic version of the tour guide with details about each home. The actual map and directions will be emailed to registered participants the day before the tour. Since the tour is self-guided, you can visit any of the homes between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

If you are considering joining in this Saturday's event, some words of caution: Attending a solar home tour can lead to a lifetime of energy independence and a major reduction in your carbon footprint. Clean energy is addicting. You will come in close contact with others who have similar issues. Don't say I didn't warn you.

If you do become addicted, blame the American Solar Energy Society and its National Solar Tour. Many chapters hold tours every fall and collectively it is the largest solar event in the country. More than 160,000 participants in 3,200 communities will visit innovative green homes to see how they can use solar energy, energy efficiency and other sustainable technologies to reduce monthly utility bills and help tackle climate change.

The local tour will feature seven or eight homes and one innovative production builder. I can only give you a preview of the details for one home on the tour -- mine. After taking a break for the last few years, our home is back on the list.

It's a self-guided tour so you get to choose where you go and in what order. If you decide to stop by our place, we'll be showing systems for solar electric and hot water. We'll have the sun oven cranked up (since we've ordered a nice, sunny day). We'll talk about the passive solar aspects of the home and the daylighting techniques that keep things on the bright side. Also on the menu: healthy indoor air quality, carpeting made from recycled soda bottles, efficiency and a bunch of other green stuff.

Every home will offer something of value and we hope you'll see them all.

Steve Rypka is a green living consultant and president of GreenDream Enterprises, a company committed to helping people live lighter on the planet. For more information and links to additional resources relating to this column, or to reach Steve, please visit www.greendream.biz.