Scheduled annually for the first Saturday in October, in conjunction with National Energy Awareness Month, the ASES National Solar Tour is the world's largest grassroots solar event.
The event offers participants the opportunity to tour homes and buildings to see how their neighbors are using solar energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable technologies, to reduce their monthly utility bills and help tackle climate change.
In 2008, nationwide, close to 140,000 attendees visited some 5,000 buildings in 3,000 participating communities.
Now in its 14th year, this event is coordinated nationally by the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (http://www.ases.org/).
In 2009, InREA (Indiana Renewable Energy Association) will be hosting the first annual Indianapolis tour.
2009 Indy Solar Tour
Saturday, October 3rd, 2009
Saturday, October 3rd, 2009
2 pm to 6 pm
Please join us for the kickoff of our local, self-guided Indy Area Tour at Keep Indianapolis Beautiful at 2 PM.
The Indy Solar Tour will include homes and businesses utilizing renewable energy technologies (PV (Photovoltaic), wind, solar thermal, and passive solar). The sites will be available for public tours from 2 PM to 6 PM unless otherwise noted. For more information, contact Mark Oehler at 317.844.6712 or maoehler@aol.com
This local tour is coordinated by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association (InREA), the state chapter of the American Solar Energy Society. For more info about InREA, visit http://www.indianarenew.org/ or contact Laura Arnold at 317.635.1701 or LauraArnold@IndianaRenew.org .
2009 Indianapolis Solar Tour Sites
KIBI (Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Inc.), 1029 Fletcher Ave, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46203. 317.264.7565.
KIBI's new award-winning office building includes the following green features: white "cool" roof, 10,000 gallon cistern to recycle rain water, daylighting, rain garden, wind energy, and pervious pavement (allows rainwater to soak through). The building is expected to use 21% less energy than a standard design. KIB was the first civic Indiana nonprofit to receive LEED Gold green building certification.
www.kibi.org/building/index.htm
Schmidt Associates, 320 E Vermont St, Indianapolis, IN 46204. 317.263.6226.
The solar canopy is comprised of 20 @ 150 kW PV (Photovoltaic) panels. The system is grid tied and was completed in August 2006. The solar canopy replaced a deteriorating fabric canopy and so additionally provides a passive cooling benefit to the south façade of the building. It was designed to be educational by making the technology visible (versus putting the array on the roof).
http://www.schmidt-arch.com/
Hilton Garden Inn Indianapolis Downtown, 10 East Market St, Indianapolis, IN 46204. 317.955.9700.
Located just 1 block from Monument Circle, the Hilton features a 4.05 kWh PV array on the top of the 16-story hotel. The actual electricity produced represents only a small portion of total energy consumption, but does help shave peak demand on highest consumption days. The Hilton is on the national register for historic preservation.
Note: Hourly escorted tours will be offered of this installation. Because of the need to climb a 1-floor spiral staircase, flat shoes are required and casual clothes are recommended. Attendees must be over 12 years of age.
http://www.hiltongardenindianapolis.com/
Henning Residence 10304 Starhaven Court, Indianapolis, 46229. Contact phone: 812.342.7226.
The Henning residence has a recently installed 4 kW PV system using 20 Sanyo Hit 210 panels mounted on a Unirac Rail System. Materials sourced and system installed by EcoSource, Inc. (http://www.ecosource-inc.com/).
Mirise Residence, 3325 W CR 100N, Bargersville, IN 46106. Contact phone: 765.702.0231.
This rural home features a 20 kW grid tied PV system and a 10 kW wind system. Within ½ hour of downtown Indianapolis, this is one of the largest residential systems in Indiana. The system was installed by ECI Wind and Solar LCC (http://www.eciwindandsolar.com/) .
Gange Residence, 7920 Farrell Lane, Indianapolis, IN 46280 (near 79th and Spring Mill Rd).
This urban home features a 1.3 kW PV system with tracking system and solar domestic hot water system. Installed in 2007, this installation was featured on Channel 13.
Conner Prairie, 13400 Allisonville Rd., Fishers, IN 46038. 317.776.6006.
Note: The Conner Prairie is open to 5 PM on Saturday, October 3rd. Please visit this site before 4:30 PM.
This installation includes a 45 ft Skystream wind turbine near Lenape Village and an Uni-solar PV array on the roof of the Welcome Center. To gain entrance, mention “ASES Solar Tour” and show a copy of this guide. The solar array is viewable from the employee parking lot (head left at the entrance to the Welcome Center). A better view of the array is available from the “1859 Balloon Voyage” exhibit, but at an additional fee payable to Conner Prairie. Discount coupons for the Balloon ride are available from participating BP AM/PM stores.
http://www.connerprairie.org/
Broad Ripple Brewpub, 842E 65th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46220. Contact phone: 317.809.4383.
The Broad Ripple Brewpub recently installed a solar thermal system that uses Apricus evacuated tube technology and heat exchangers to heat water to temperatures up to 170ºF. The heated water can be used for domestic hot water or space heating. The system was installed by IDS (http://www.idsustainability.com/) .
http://www.broadripplebrewpub.com/
The Indiana Renewable Energy Association is the Official Indiana State Chapter of the American Solar Energy Society. For more info, http://www.indianarenew.org/ .
Several of the installations in this tour were partially funded by grants from the Indiana Department of Energy and Defense. (www.in.gov/oed/) .
CLICK HERE for Indy Solar Tour brochure with photos and maps to individual sites.
See separate Tour Directions, for suggested driving direction to each site.
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