The Torch

Issue date: 9/24/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Courtesy The Coho Apartments are recently completed, multi-family structures located near the University of Oregon Campus. The building feature include corrugated sheet metal siding, photovoltaic solar panels and solar hot water panels. Outdoor features include native landscaping materials and rainwater collection.

Local businesses and the City of Eugene have teamed up to offer a tour of four Eugene buildings that feature energy efficient and passive solar design, solar water heating, solar electric, rainwater harvesting and green building materials. The Solar and Green Building Tour on Oct. 5 is but one part of a much bigger picture.

The 13th Annual Advanced Solar Energy Society National Solar Tour includes more than 5,000 homes, schools and businesses, and is reported by ASES to be the largest grassroots solar energy event in the world.

Last year's tour included approximately 115,000 people in 2,900 communities in 46 states.

"The National Solar Tour highlights how families are using solar energy to fight back against skyrocketing energy rates," Neal Lurie, director of marketing for ASES, said. "Participants come in curious, but they leave convinced ready to go solar."

According to surveys from last year's National Solar Tour, 50 percent of the participants responded before the tour "they are definitely or very likely to invest in solar or energy efficient technology." After the tour, that number jumped to 76 percent.

One of the organizers of the Eugene event, Marianne McElroy, is a student in LCC's Energy Management Program. "I really felt a need to contribute in some small way and help our community come together and address this national issue of energy consumption," she said.

Eugene's tour is one of 15 to be held across Oregon.

"This tour will highlight solar and green strategies for every type of project, from a home remodel to a new mixed use development that can save money, protect natural resources and enhance human health," Jenna Garmon, green building analyst with the City of Eugene, said.

It starts at the Eugene Water and Electric Board North Building at 500 East 4th Ave., with a brief presentation by John Reynolds, chair of the ASES board, about the use of solar technologies and incentives that are available for more efficient energy use.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools