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Solar tour scheduled in area for eighth year

By Blackwell Thomas, The Southern

Sunday, October 7, 2007 11:27 PM CDT

CARBONDALE - Some of the area's most energy-efficient homes will be on display beginning Saturday as part of the National Solar Tour. It's the eighth time homes in Southern Illinois have taken part in the annual tour, which began 12 years ago.

The American Solar Energy Society is sponsoring the event, which organizers are billing as offering "local residents an opportunity to find out how their neighbors are trimming their energy bills, increasing their energy independence and taking steps to address global warming."

Aur Beck is helping to organize the local tour and says it will highlight not only solar power but also more traditional means of energy efficient design.

"It's an opportunity to let people actually see solar and alternative building technologies in operation," he said. "But it's also an opportunity to see things like straw bale homes, which is alternative for today but they've been doing it for thousands of years."

Beck added that, with winter upon the region, the timing for the tour couldn't be better.

"Also, it's important, this is energy awareness month," he said. "It's more critical than ever that people know that there are ways to not waste energy."

Beck said the list of homes that will be toured will go up this week.

"We've put it up earlier in the past but people have shown up on the wrong days," he said with a chuckle.

One of the homes sure to be on the tour is that of Judy Ashby and Hugh Muldoon, who use solar power and other green technologies.

"It (using solar power) is our effort to try and clean up the environment," Ashby said. "And it has cut our energy bill in half. We don't mind showcasing it and encouraging people to come by and check it out."

Ashby echoed Beck's sentiment on the timing of the event, saying local action has global implications.

"Each person has to do what they can," she said. "We're really on a tight edge as to whether we can save this planet and come back from what we've done to it. Our kids and grandkids are the ones who will have to deal with it."

Forty-six states will be taking part in the tour nationwide.

blackwell.thomas@thesouthern.com

351-5823