CLEVELAND – Ever wondered if you could harness solar power for your home or business?
The GEO fifth annual Northeast Ohio Tour of Solar Homes Oct. 13 is a free, self-guided tour that features solar homes and green building projects.
The tour highlights nine northeastern Ohio communities. Tour hours for most homes are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m; all institutions have. specific tour times.
* Bay Village: The Lake Erie Nature and Science Center installed a geothermal heating and cooling system three years ago, and saves almost $4,000 each month in heating and cooling costs over a conventional system.
* Slavic Village: A model energy-efficient home built in Cleveland by Greenbuilt Homes averages less than $800 each year for heating.
* Broadview Heights: Milton Sell, who has two wind turbines and four solar panels on his home, has paid an average of $15 for the last several months, on his electricity bill.
* West Park: Gary Cole has watched his electric meter run backward at points during the past year because of electricity generated by his solar power system.
‘Green’ projects. Many green building projects will be featured on the tour: the new RTA station at West 65th, the Cleveland Environmental Center on Lorain at Fulton, the Cleveland EcoVillage Townhomes, and the Geauga YMCA at Heather Hill.
These projects will all be utilizing some green building technologies such as energy efficient design, passive solar design, solar power systems, and other technologies like fuel cells and geothermal systems.
There are 13 sites on this free, self-guided tour. Other participants include the African American Museum, the Adam Joseph Lewis Center for Environmental Studies at Oberlin College, Lake Farmpark in Kirtland, several more private homes, and more.
For more information about the tour and a complete listing of sites and directions call Amanda Rhoads in the Green Energy Ohio office, at 216-861-4491 or visit http://www.GreenEnergyOhio.org.
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