Solar tour lets those who live green share their lifestyle

It can be nice to know well in advance about something of interest to avoid having to say “Hey, why didn’t you tell me about that? I would have loved to attend.” I’ve heard it many times, so this year I’m giving plenty of notice.

The next Southern Nevada Solar Home Tour will be Saturday, April 5. This event is timely, informative and lots of fun. It’s a great way to learn how our neighbors are using clean sources of energy, reducing energy bills and protecting the environment. The tour will consist of as many as 15 sites, most of them residential. Each location will feature various examples of solar energy, energy and water efficiency, green building and other ways people are making a difference.

The homeowners on the tour are the experts. They graciously share their homes, knowledge and experience with tour goers, explaining what they’ve done, why they did it and how a greener lifestyle is working for them. Interacting directly with others is the best part: meeting new and interesting people, asking questions and offering ideas.

Not all of the details are finalized yet but it is safe to say that there will be several solar-powered, net-zero or near-zero energy homes on the tour. While many homes will share similar strategies such as energy or water efficiency, others will offer more unique shades of green. In the past, there have been traditionally built homes along with homes made of adobe brick, straw bales and other alternative materials.

There are many people interested in the topic of green living and the Southern Nevada Solar Home Tour is one of the best ways to find out more about it. The tour is produced by Solar NV, the Southern Nevada chapter of the American Solar Energy Society. Solar NV is a nonprofit organization. The American Solar Energy Society has chapters across the country, many of which hold similar home tours each year. The combination of all the local tours is called the National Solar Tour, for which ASES provides organizational support.

Last year, more than 115,000 people attended the National Solar Tour and attendance continues to skyrocket. The Southern Nevada Solar Home Tour has been a sell-out success since the very first event in 2005. There is a $15 per car donation and carpooling is enthusiastically encouraged. For those driving fuel-efficient hybrid or alternative fuel vehicles, there is a $5 discount for being part of the solution. All carbon emissions for the tour are offset making it a carbon-free event.

Here’s how it works. The tour will start at 9 a.m. at the orientation plaza of the centrally located Springs Preserve, 333 S. Valley View Blvd., near the Meadows mall. For those of you who are not yet familiar with the Springs Preserve, it is the valley’s newest treasure and contains some of the best examples of green living that can be found anywhere on the planet. Shaded parking is provided by a canopy covered in photovoltaic solar panels. How appropriate!

At the Springs Preserve, preregistered tour goers will receive a guidebook with descriptions, maps and directions to every site on the tour. The rest of the tour is self-guided and can be taken in any order. After taking some time to review the guidebook to see which locations look the most interesting, you will have from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. to visit any of the homes on the tour.

Advance registration is required. Secure online registration and complete information about the tour can be found at www.solarnv.org. Keep in mind that the tour capacity is limited and it is a very popular event. If you would like to attend, it would be a good idea to register early before it sells out.

There is another event coming up in April that also is worth noting, the fifth annual Summerlin Earthfaire, the valley’s largest Earth Day celebration.

This is a family-oriented event that is free and open to the public. It will include more than 60 exhibitors — from environmental organizations to pet adoption, children’s environmental art activities and hands-on science experiments. Participating environmental groups provide information about their respective organizations as well as tips on recycling, energy savings and environmental education. There’s also musical entertainment, food, fun and more.

The Earthfaire will be held Saturday, April 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Summerlin Centre Community Park, 1800 S. Town Center Drive.

Both the Southern Nevada Solar Home Tour and the Summerlin Earthfaire are wonderful opportunities to get out, become involved and take part in the growing trend toward environmental awareness and responsibility. Please share this information with your family and friends, and encourage them to enjoy April’s local green activities with you.

Steve Rypka is a green living consultant and president of GreenDream Enterprises, specializing in renewable energy, green building, alternative transportation and lifestyle choices for both residential and commercial clients. The company is committed to helping people live lighter on the planet. Rypka can be reached via e-mail at steve@greendream.biz. More information relating to this column is posted at www.greendream.biz.