The Minnesota Renewable Energy Society’s Sustainable Home Tour (formerly known as the Solar Tour) has annually featured energy efficient, renewably powered, and all around sustainable homes around Minnesota for 25+ years. This year the Sustainable Home Tour will be on Saturday October 1, 2016 with hours from 10am to 3pm.
We chatted with Chris Meyer, SE CERT Coordinator and organizer of the Greater Minnesota portion of the Sustainable Home Tour.
How can learn more about the various sites?
Chris Meyer: 
People can explore the site features and locations of our 30+ statewide sites in advance via our google map, which is linked to detailed information and photos of each home/site. Visitors can expect that someone will be available at each participating location to discuss with visitors their first hand experiences with the systems and sustainability features that they own.
There are lots of cool homes for folks to visit… Can you highlight a few examples?
Chris Meyer: We have a number of sites this year that have exciting new and highly efficient construction combined with renewable energy systems.
- Near Alexandria the EcoHouse on Echo Lake is designed for aging-in-place and is making more energy than its owners use (the Home Energy Rating Score (HERS) is 0).
- I’m very excited to have The Root River House near picturesque Lanesboro, a beautiful example of passive house construction on the tour this year.
- Kismet Cottage, part of Green Homes North had a few select upgrades added to its construction at the request of the home owner and for just 10% more cost is expected to be rated at LEED Platinum. This is a great example of how near-net-zero can also be affordable.
- For those with kids, in Welch the Clear Spring Yak Farm is giving tours and folks can meet some Tibetan yaks and see the solar PV array that is paying for their electric bills.
- We also have a special 10am showing of The Rose on Portland Ave in South Minneapolis. This incredible apartment complex has achieved sustainability rating from the very rigorous Living Building Challenge. It is one of the most ecologically sustainable buildings in the state.
Sounds like a great day for folks to get inspired! See you at the Sustainable Home Tour October 1st!
Here’s more about the tour from their official press release:
More than 10 Metro Homes and Over 20 locations statewide are Participating in the Minnesota Renewable Energy and Sustainable Home Tour – a Part of the World’s Largest Grassroots Renewable Energy Event.
On October 1, 2016 – 30 + homes, farms, and businesses across Minnesota will join the nonprofit Minnesota Renewable Energy Society (MRES) and American Solar Energy Society (ASES) as well as 150,000 other renewable energy system installers and owners throughout America to showcase more the 5,000 alternative – powered/ sustainable living sites – for the 21st Annual National Solar Tour, the world’s largest grassroots renewable energy event.
The event, slated for October 1, 2016 from 10AM to 3PM is free to attend, and allows visitors to see solar, wind, geothermal, and energy efficiency technologies as well as sustainable construction and living techniques, all being used to save money, access clean energy and become a more viable and sustainable community as a whole. This is an excellent opportunity to connect with a home, farm or business owner and hear about ‘real life’ experiences living with some of these techniques and features including affordability, financing options and other assistance that is available to homeowners and businesses.
Visit our website to find previews of the participating sites and systems. There is a link to interactive map and more details about each tour location which you can use to get directions and plan you visits. Look for a yellow balloon and a tour banner either at the end of the drive or in front of the house to find the participating site. Someone will be on hand at each location to five a tour and answer questions.
We have examples of the newest in sustainable home construction as well as deep retrofits and renovations that go as far as the property would let them. Near Alexandria the EcoHouse on Echo Lake is designed for aging-in-place and making more energy than its owners use. The Root River House near picturesque Lanesboro is a beautiful example of passive house construction. In Welch the Clear Spring yak farm is opening its doors and you can see the solar PV that is paying their electric bills as you tour the farm and meet some Tibetian yaks. We also have a special 10 am showing at The Rose on Portland in South Minneapolis, an apartment building that is one of the most ecologically sustainable buildings in the state.
