Free Solar Tour and Solar Social Kickoff Sat., Oct.2, 2010

Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, is your chance to get up close and personal with active solar energy systems in several homes and businesses featured in the 2010 7^th Annual Houston Solar Tour. The self-guided, open-house tour winds through several Houston neighborhoods and begins at an event and exhibition at the University of Houston’s College of Architecture on the UH Central Campus.

In conjunction with National Energy Awareness Month, the 2010 Houston Solar Tour is affiliated with a national initiative of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) www.ases.org.  Houston is among some 3,200 neighborhoods in 48 states hosting similar open-house tours on the same day across the U.S.

Described as “the largest grassroots solar event in history,” the ASES solar tours promote  sustainability and build awareness of working energy-saving technologies and systems through building design, energy efficient appliances and the use of green materials during remodeling.

“The Houston Solar Tour offers the opportunity to explore how local homeowners and businesses of all sizes are taking control of energy use with solar technologies and other renewable energy solutions,” explains Matthias Jung, director of this year’s tour. "The sun makes up 98% of our solar system's mass, it guides our agricultural seasons and is the ultimate source of energy for life on our small planet. The annual Houston Solar Tour and Social, one of the biggest, if not the biggest in the world, is a great way to celebrate the growth and potential of solar energy solutions in our community.”

Tour organizers hope to inspire individuals to make sustainable energy choices that help lower costs, support energy independence, protect against power outages and reduce carbon emissions.

The City of Houston was recognized recently by the U.S. Department of Energy as one of 12 U.S. cities to be designated as a Solar America City and is working toward developing its own sources of solar power energy.

“Houston’s annual Solar Tour and Social is a fantastic way for our communities to get to know the uses and benefits of solar power as a viable renewable energy source,” says Laura Spanjian, Mayor Annise Parker’s new Sustainability Director for the City of Houston. “Houston was recently honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as the number one municipal purchaser of green power, and the fourth overall purchaser in the nation. We currently use 50 Megawatts from wind energy and are working toward purchasing more of both wind and solar energy to power the City’s electricity load.”

Spanjian is responsible for directing and coordinating a number of Houston projects and initiatives that improve air, land and water quality; and support and expand renewable energy, energy efficiency, green buildings, recycling and composting, alternative and clean transportation, local food production and more livable and vibrant neighborhoods.

The Houston Solar Tour organizing partners include, HREG - Houston Renewable Energy Group; HARC - Houston Advanced Research Center; ASES - American Solar Energy Society; and The City of Houston

More information about the Houston Solar Tour, including updated details about open-house sites and exhibitors, is available at www.houstonsolartour.com and www.twitter.com/Htownsolartour.

To find out more about the City of Houston’s green initiatives and programs, visit www.greenhoustontx.gov; www.facebook.com/greenhoustontx; www.youtube.com/user/GreenHoustonTx and www.twitter.com/greenhoustontx.

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The 7^th Annual Houston Solar Tour runs from 12– 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 2, and is free to the public. To kick off the tour, a free Solar Social event will be held just before the tour gets under way from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at the UH Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture on the Central Campus. Solar system designers and installers, energy companies, non-profits and other groups will offer a variety of exhibits, information and presentations about solar and other renewable energy solutions and technologies at the UH Solar Social event.

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ABOUT THE AMERICAN SOLAR ENERGY SOCIETY
Established in 1954, the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is the nation’s leading association of solar professionals and grassroots advocates. Supported by more than 12,000 members, ASES’ mission is to speed the transition to a sustainable energy economy. ASES advances education, research and policy, inspiring the nation to go solar. ASES publishes the award-winning SOLAR TODAY magazine, presents the National Solar Conference, rallies citizens to build a Solar Nation, and leads the National Solar Tour – the world’s largest grassroots solar event. www.ases.org