Central Oregon Green and Solar Homes Tour

Tour solar homes in Central Oregon this Saturday

Here in Bend, Oregon on Saturday October 3, its the annual Central Oregon Green and Solar Homes Tour.  Six of the region’s most sustainable homes are showcased from 9:00 to 5:00.  This event is one of the most anticipated of the season, sponsored by Cascadia Region Green Building Council.

Solar home tours are big events these days, criss-crossing the United States each month.  This one in my own backyard is not only upcoming, but exciting considering the keynote speech by Nathan Good, a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) AP, licensed architect.  Mr. Good will discuss how to reduce environmental impact through site planning, reduction of energy consumption, water conservation, materials selection and enhanced indoor air quality.

The tour will start at 10:30 on Saturday, following a speech by Mr. Good.  At the end, participants can enjoy a People’s Choice Award celebration at the Bend Brewing Company.  Sounds like a perfect day to me!  Solar and beer are two of Oregon’s finest accomplishments.

While you won’t see this home on the tour this weekend, here is another solar home in Ashland, Oregon:

Solar panels are a key component for green homesere is a quick virtual overview of the Green and Solar Homes tour here in Central Oregon this weekend:

For those of you who cannot attend, here is an overview of the Central Oregon Green and Solar Homes Tour:

1. On Awbrey Butte, you’ll tour an Asian-influenced NW contemporary home that is outfitted with a ground source heat pump, solar hot water system, solar PV system, energy recovry ventilator and night breeze equipment.  Even though the home is an impressive 4300 square feet, its energy bill is miniscule: $53.00 a month.
2. Northwest Crossing is a popular neighborhood in Bend, and it includes a wonderfully designed 1924 square foot home.  This house incorporates passive solar techniques to save on heating and cooling, and also has a 100% recycled content high efficiency fireplace.  Locally-resourced materials were used in construction.
3. On the west side of Bend, you will tour a 2043 square foot home that has been constructed with reclaimed features (exterior sidings, eave details, interior trim and handcrafted doors, cabinets and staircases).  Like the NW Crossing home, this one also includes passive solar design that will provide 40% of the home’s heating.  It also boasts solar hot water, which gives the home a combined efficiency of 90%.
4. Moving to the opposite side of town, you can see a Habitat for Humanity home on the east side.  This home is a perfect example of solar-sustainability and affordability.  The home is less than 1200 square feet, but boasts a 2 kilowatt (kW) grid-tied system, as well as solar hot water.  With passive and active solar elements, the house is positioned for optimum solar exposure.
   

   Central Oregon looking beautiful

5. Another home on the north side of Bend has LEED-home certification and includes impressive passive solar elements, low-flow faucets, a grid-tied PV solar power system and xeriscaping.  It also includes a cool hydronic in floor heat feature.  Who wouldn’t want to live in the beautiful Prairie style home with lots of active and passive solar features that can help warm and cool the house with free solar power?
6. Near the beautiful Smith Rock State Park, check out the last home on the tour.  At this straw bale home, passive solar will provide 40% of the heating.  In addition, a PV solar power system and solar hot water will make up most of the remaining energy needs.  In addition to saving electricity, this home cuts down on water use with a “lawn” made up of dry grasses and shrubs, as well as implementing low-flow showers, toilets and more.

Hopefully, you are now as jazzed as I am to see these solar homes in Oregon.  Even if you don’t live nearby, you can still get some helpful tips for going green in your hometown.

Be sure to leave your comments, questions and more below in the comments section.   We’ll get back to you ASAP to provide information on how to go solar in your hometown, and more.

Tags: bend oregon, cascadia region green building council, central oregon, green and solar homes tour