Iowa Solar Tour Features Solar powered sites in Central & Eastern Iowa

By the IFU

When: Saturday, October 7th (unless specified otherwise)
Cost: Small cash donation
What you can do: Please spread the word and forward this email to friends of solar power

Iowa Renewable Energy Association (I-Renew) is excited to be a part of the American Solar Energy Society's National Solar Tour on Saturday, October 7th! 

Come experience at least one of the many tours presented by I-Renew at the New Bohemian Project in Cedar Rapids, the Spatial Designs office in Mason City, the Consumers Energy office in Marshalltown and many other solar sites in Cedar Rapids, the Cedar Valley area, Muscatine and around the state!

On October 7th, solar powered and energy efficient homes and buildings in Iowa and throughout the nation will be open for free public tours. Find out how your neighbors are trimming their energy bills and increasing their energy security. Learn about energy efficiency, speak with homeowners and experts and learn how solar technology works, what it costs and why it makes
sense. For more information on tours in Iowa visit www.irenew.org. For tours nationwide visit www.nationalsolartour.org.

Visit “Real Places for Real People” and discover how you can make solar a part of your everyday energy needs.  For more information regarding the Iowa Solar Tour contact Matt Gibbs at 319-341-4372 or mattgibbs@irenew.org .  See you on the tour!

Details below:

What is the Solar Tour?
Solar powered and energy efficient homes and buildings in Iowa and throughout the nation will be open for public tours. Find out how your neighbors are trimming their energy bills and increasing their energy security. Learn about energy efficiency, speak with homeowners and experts and learn how solar technology works, what it costs and why it makes sense. For more information visit www.irenew.org.

Cedar Rapids Area
New Bohemian Solar Project – The solar array was installed in 2005 through a series of hands-on workshops and has three types of racks – single axis, dual axis, and fixed.  A kiosk keeps track of real time electric data from the solar array.  The tour is from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Kouba building located at 1012 3rd St. SE in Cedar Rapids.  A silent auction will be held on site along with smoothies!  Come by to visit!
 
Indian Creek Nature Center – The Nature Center's buildings are a model of efficiency and use a photovoltaic (PV) system to produce 40% of their electricity. Come see the efficiencies and PV system that have made the Nature Center a leader in energy conservation since 1993. The Indian Creek Nature Center is located at 6665 Otis Rd. SE in Cedar Rapids. The tour hours are from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
 
Solar Hot Water Heated Home – This single family home uses a solar hot water system to heat its water and residence by utilizing approximately 72 sq. feet of solar hot water hardware. Come see how such a small area can provide such a huge benefit!  This tour is located at 927 37th St. NE. The tour will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Prairiewoods in Hiawatha – The Prairiewoods buildings and grounds feature photovoltaic (PV) passive solar and solar hot water systems along with strawbale construction and an array of examples of energy efficient construction and design.  Tours are available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Prairwoods is located at 120 E. Boyson Road, Hiawatha, IA 52233.

Decorah
Off Grid Wind and Solar Powered Home – This timber-frame home was built in 1999 and runs completely off-grid. The home features a 16 PV panel 24 volt system which produces 1600 watts of electricity. It also has a 100 foot tower with Bergy wind-turbine that produces 1000 watts.  This tour will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to noon. Please call Barb Ettleson or Pat Brochette 563-382-1469 for directions.
 
Marshalltown
Consumers Energy – The Consumers Energy office building features two on-site wind turbines, a geothermal heating and cooling system, photovoltaic cells, daylighting and solar tube construction, and an interactive Green Touchscreen kiosk used to educate folks about alternative energy sources.  The tour is located at 2074 242nd Street in Marshalltown.  Tour hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Mason City Area
Spatial Designs Tour – This 3055sf office has two African 3.6 wind turbines, one air x turbine, 2800 watts PV, 10,000 gallon rainwater detention/irrigation pond, inverter and battery backup system, recycled milk jug decking on bridge over the pond, recycled VCT tile, grass demonstration roof area, variable speed HVAC system, under-floor heating, F5 rated tornado shelter/boardroom…etc. In the last 5 months we have only purchased $7 of power total.  The tour will be open from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.  The tour is located at 524 Village Green Dr. SW in Mason City.

Duncombe Community Center – It’s the first known solar powered community center and FEMA tornado shelter in the US.  Duncombe is located just east of Fort Dodge. Community Center is located on Clark St. in the S.W. corner of town.  For more information call Peg Royster, 515-543-5716. Tour is from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Building America House -. Building America is a US DoE project, and provides information geared primarily to production builders to build homes that are 60% more efficient than the typical house. The tour is scheduled for 2:00p.m. on Thursday, October 12th.  Meet at the house, located at 2238 180th St. in Fort Dodge, IA 50501 For more information contact Tracy Feldmann, 515-287-7021.

Cedar Valley Tours
Center for Energy & Environmental Education – The center is located south of the UNI Performing Arts Center on the corner of Jennings Dr. and S. Campus St.  Parking is available in the ITC south lot.
At the center you will tour the solar passive building and see a 900-watt photovoltaic installation, a solar boat, an electric car, and a video on solar, wind and wood power.  The center is open from 1 to 4 p.m.
 
Prairie Lakes Church – Prairie Lakes Church is located at 1907 Viking Road in Cedar Falls, just north of the Target Distribution Center.  Prairie Lakes is a 55,000 sq. ft. insulated concrete form (ICF) building with geothermal heating and cooling. ICF forms were provided by Midwest ICF.  The architect and facilities manager will provide a tour and answer any questions.  The church tour is from 10a.m. to noon.
 
Solar Heated & Hot-water Home –  Jack and Carol Yates’ home is located at 519 Chateau Ct. near 4th St. and Hudson Rd. in Cedar Falls.  The home features thirty evacuated solar tubes that collect heat. The collected heat is used to warm water for domestic use like taking showers and doing dishes. Tubes buried in the floor of the house are also heated and warm the house during the fall and winter months. The home tour is from 1 to 4 p.m.
 
United Concrete, Inc. Insulated Concrete Forms – Insulated concrete forms are cost effective and highly efficient to keep your home dry and comfortable year round while paying lower utility bills. What’s not to love? United Concrete Inc. in Elk Run Heights and on Airline Highway is showcasing an ICF Reward Wall Systems townhouse development and a commercial building.
 
Terra-Dome Earth Shelter Home – Brian and Amy Unruh’s Terra-Dome home is located at 849 Latham Place in Cedar Falls.  This beautiful, unique home has sheltered the family for 26 years. Ask them about their utility bills!  The home tour is from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
 
Vertical ICF Home – Victor Schrage’s home is located at 5013 Mercedes Blvd. in Waterloo.  This 1,745 sq. ft. ranch style home was built with a vertical oriented, TF system of insulated concrete form that is energy-efficient, cost effective and environmental friendly.  The home tour is from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
 
EKHO RIDGE Development – This townhouse development is located at 2110 Cord Ridge in Waterloo.  When completed in 2008, it will feature 87 units.  The townhouses are built with Reward Wall Systems ICF blocks. The townhouse tour is from 1-4 p.m.
 
Basic Materials, Corp. Quarry Maintenance Shop – The shop is located at 6900 Dubuque Rd. in Raymond. The 9,100 sq. ft. building is made of steel-reinforced concrete for superior strength. It’s both energy efficient and environmental friendly.  The shop tour is from 8 a.m. to noon.

Muscatine
Muscatine Solar Tour Schedule of Events
For More Information: Contact John R. Root, Energy Services Advisor, Muscatine Power and Water 262-3354, jroot@mpw.org

Tour Description: Here’s your chance to learn about Energy Efficiency, Wind/Solar Power and Geo Exchange Technology.  

10 am to 11am Solar Powered Entrance Sign – Muscatine Community College — 152 Colorado St. Muscatine, IA

11 am to 12 noon 2.2 KW Solar array – Allsteel office complex 2210 2nd Ave, Muscatine, IA There will be a sign directing you around back to the array.

Noon to 2 pm 1 KW Solar Array and Electric Race Cars Muscatine High School 2705 Cedar Street, Muscatine, IA. Andrew Bennett, (563) 299-8932, drew_042@hotmail.com .  Students will be at Muscatine High School from 12:00 to 

2:00 p.m. to talk about their cars and the 1KW solar  array.  The cars were designed, built and tested by the students and they will answer any questions about the program. The team installed the 1KW array themselves and will talk about the current output.

2 pm to 3 pm Energy Efficiency, Wind Energy, Geo Exchange Technology, Build Your Own Solar Oven Workshop and Tour Muscatine County Environmental Learning Center 3000 Cedar St.

3 PM to 5 PM 2.2 KW Solar Array Muscatine Power and Water 3205 Cedar St.
How to Take this Tour: Stop at any or all the locations during the specified times.
 
Des Moines
Sarah Susanka “Not So Big House” Presentation
Sarah Susanka is an architect and best selling author of the “Not So Big House” books and will talk about energy efficient homes that have less square footage but fit our needs better.  This presentation will be taking place on Wednesday, October 4th at the Hoyt Sherman Place in Des Moines.  Please visit www.icosc.com < http://www.icosc.com/ >  for more information or contact Lynnae Hentzen at 515-309-3266 or lynnae@icosc.com .
 

All tours will take place on October 7th and are free of charge unless otherwise noted.  Donations are encouraged.  Please visit www.irenew.org < http://www.irenew.org/ >  for more information on the Iowa Solar Tour, including contact information for individual tours or contact Matt Gibbs at 319-341-4372 or mattgibbs@irenew.org .  For a list of all national tours visit www.nationalsolartour.org < http://www.nationalsolartour.org/ > .

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Iowa Farmers Union
PO Box 8988
528 Billy Sunday Rd
Ames, IA  50014
800-775-5227iafu@isunet.net
www.iafu.org