EARLY BIRD TOURS

Early Bird Tours take place through August and feature homes and buildings that include solar, green building, renewable energy, and energy-efficiency technologies.

The official National Solar Tour Day is Saturday, October 7, with tours scheduled from September through November. Access www.NationalSolarTour.org on September 1 to find a tour near you.

CALIFORNIA
Date: May 13, 2006
Taking Place In: Half Moon Bay Area
Local Tour Name: Coastside Solar Home Tour
Presented by: NeighborShare
For More Information: Dennis Paull 650-712-0498 info@neighborshare.org, See website, neighborshare.org/solar for detailed information.
Tour Description: Public information on renewable energy and energy efficiency with a tour of homes which have solar technology installed. Tour includes 10 homes. Display includes 9 vendors.
Tour Fee: Free
How to Take this Tour: We will meet at Cunha Middle School Multipurpose Room for talks and vendor displays from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. The home tours start at 2:00 pm and continue until 4:30 pm.
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Date: June 10,2006
Taking Place In: Palos Verdes/ South Bay Area
Local Tour Name: Solar Home Tour
Presented by: Environmental Priorities Network
For More Information: Lillian Light, 310-545-1384, lklight@verizon.net
Tour Description: We have not yet organized it. We have lined up about 4 people with solar installations.
Tour Fee: TBD
How to Take this Tour: Please mark your calendar to return here or contact the tour organizer for details available by June 1.

GEORGIA
Date: March 24, 2006
Taking Place In: Atlanta
Local Tour Name: Exceptional Green Homes Tour
Presented by: Greenprints Conference and Tradeshow
For More Information: erin@southface.org,  http://www.southface.org/web/greenprints_conference/g2k6/Sitesessions.htm
Tour Description:  March 24 from 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Tour the Seydel residence and the Southern Living Idea  House, two EarthCraft Houses that demonstrate photovoltaic systems.  Also, learn about the green features of Glenwood  Park, the EarthCraft Community of which the Idea House is  part. 
Tour Fee:  $25 (with full Greenprints registration)    
How to Take this Tour:  Register for Greenprints Conference and Tradeshow at www.greenprints.org.  Register for Friday a.m. site sessions.  Tour departs from and returns to Georgia Tech  Hotel and Conference Center via bus.

IOWA
Date: 4/22/06
Taking Place In: Mason City, Northern Iowa
Local Tour Name: Spatial Designs Offices
Presented by: Spatial Designs
For More Information: Contact Deb or Sandy at 641-423-6395 or e-mail spdesign@netconx.net
Tour Description: Brief presentation and tour of solar and wind powered office also identifying many sustainable features and a tornado shelter boardroom.
Tour Fee: $0
How to Take this Tour: OFFICIAL TOUR from 10 to 11AM on 4/22.  Call or drop in. 524 Village Green Drive S.W. #1.  Northwest of Menards – Look for wind turbines.

NEVADA
Date: August 21, 2006
Taking Place In: Dyer
Local Tour Name: Quad D
For More Information: David Sweetman d-dsweetman@att.net, tel. 775-572-3359
Tour Description: This rural location contains a windmill, PV on fixed and dual-axis trackers, solar heating for DHW and a therapy pool, with interaction with a geothermal heat pump.  There is a solar radiant floor heating system and a solar air heating system.  All systems were designed by the homeowner.  All were installed with local talent, i.e., not "professional" renewable energy installers.  Systems have been modified over years of operation, electrical systems have a comprehensive metering system to identify DC and AC power production and efficiencies from different components.  A 2-3 hour tour will be available on August 21, 2006, starting at 10:00 AM.
Tour Fee: Donation
How to Take this Tour: 400 yards south of Dyer Post Office on NV-264. From US-6 west take NV-264 south 26 miles, from US-6 east take NV-773, then NV-264. From US-95 south, take NV-266 to CA-266, then NV-264.

TEXAS
Date: May 21, 2006
Taking Place In: Austin, Texas
Local Tour Name: 2006 Cool House Tour
Presented by: Texas Solar Energy Society
For More Information: Stephanie Hunter 512 326 3391 info@txses.org
Tour Description: The Texas Solar Energy Society is pleased to present the 2006 Cool House Tour. Many homeowners in our community are taking advantage of clean, renewable energy and other green-building technologies and have graciously welcomed visitors into their home to see first-hand the positive attributes of clean energy and green-building practices. Homeowners, architects and builders are on-site to explain green-building features and answer questions. This self-guided tour welcomes visitors into nine new and remodeled homes and one multi-family project in the Austin Area. The tour will demystify green building, proving that it is comfortable, affordable and appealing. So, we invite you to have fun and learn in the process.
Tour Fee: $10.00
How to Take this Tour: See first-hand the positive attributes of clean energy and green-building practices on the 2006 Cool House Tour, Sunday, May 21st, from noon to 6pm. A $10 guidebook serves as your ticket for entry and provides a map. Guidebooks may be purchased at either Central Market’s Information Booth or at www.TXSES.org.

WASHINGTON STATE
Date: June 21st 2006 10am - 6pm
Taking Place In: Tacoma
Local Tour Name: Solstice Solar Tour in Tacoma
Presented by: Solar Richard Thompson
For More Information: Solar Richard 253-572-9220 solarrichard@aol.com
Tour Description: See Tacoma's First Solar Grid-Tied Home with an array of more than 1500 Watts of dual-axis solar tracking moving right before your eyes! Watch my Electric Meter running BACKWARDS! Sit in the solar powered Massage Chair, Ride on the Solar Electric Scooter, see an Evacuated Tube Solar Water Heater., Be amazed by the Solar Attic Fan. Wonder about LED (Light Emitting Doo-dads) Lighting of the future. Marvel at 2 Sun, 3 Sun and 500 Sun solar concentrating photovoltaics with the highest efficiency (37%) in the world! Free Organic Solar Tracker Plants to the first 500 visitors. Bring finger food and beverage to share.
Tour Fee: One Solar SMILE!
How to Take this Tour: Stop by 2037 South 7th Street, Tacoma, WA. I'm one block south of Sixth Avenue and 1/2 block West of Sprague on 7th Street.
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WISCONSIN
Date: June 23-25
Taking Place In: Central Wisconsin
Local Tour Name: Renewable Energy and Sustainable Living Fair Home Presented by: Midwest Renewable Energy Association
For More Information:  Call Ed Lemar, 715-592-6595 or e-mail info@the-mrea.org, website: www.the-mrea.org/energy_fair.php
Tour Description: Tours provide a unique opportunity to see renewable energy systems, energy efficient construction, and/or alternative construction in real life situations. We try to present a variety of homes on each tour, from renovated farmhouses to high efficiency construction. Each home represents its owner’s commitment to sustainable living. Tours at 10am and 2pm each day, June 23-25.
Tour Fee: $10
How to Take this Tour: Call the MREA office or register online.

Early Bird Tours by State:

CALIFORNIA
GEORGIA
IOWA
NEVADA
NORTH CAROLINA
TEXAS
WASHINGTON STATE
WISCONSIN

Have an "Early Bird" Tour to List?
Contact Mike DiGrazia for information on how to be listed as part of ASES' National Solar Tour: tour@ases.org.