People in Northwest Ohio will have the opportunity to check out the latest in “green energy” by participating in the eighth annual Ohio Solar Tour on Oct. 2 and 3.

Northwest Ohio’s 22 open house sites will feature photovoltaic (solar), wind and geothermal energy, along with other renewable energy technology. Energy-efficient and Energy Star homes will also be included.

Site owners and Green Energy Ohio members will offer guided tours, which are free and open to the public. The tours will be at designated sites in Toledo, Maumee, Perrysburg, Sylvania, Bowling Green, Port Clinton, Ottawa, Tiffin, Upper Sandusky and other locations.

“This is an opportunity for Northwest Ohio residents to see people in their towns and neighborhoods that have renewable energy installations in their homes and businesses,” said Joe Peschel, local coordinator of the Northwest Ohio Solar Tour for Green Energy Ohio.

“The cost for installing solar equipment has gone down in recent years, especially with some of the tax credits available that have made solar energy more affordable and cost effective with a sizable return on their investment,” said Peschel, who also serves as coordinator of noncredit customized training in Workforce and Community Services at Owens Community College.

The Findlay area and Toledo area campuses of Owens will serve as regional sites during the Ohio Solar Tour.  Two guided tours will take place in the Northwest Ohio region Oct. 2 starting at the Owens campuses in Findlay and Toledo.

The Findlay area tour will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring stops at the solar array and wind turbine on Owens’ Findlay-area campus at 11 a.m., the Wyandotte Solar Farm in Upper Sandusky at 12:30 p.m., the Doepker residence at 1:30 p.m. and University of Findlay at 2:30 p.m. Interested parties should meet in Lot H adjacent to the Community Education and Wellness Center at Owens located on Bright Road in Findlay.

The Toledo area tour will take place from noon to 5 p.m., beginning at Owens in Lot H at the wind turbines adjacent to the Industrial and Engineering Technologies Building off Oregon Road in Perrysburg Township. It will include stops at several residences, including that of professor Al Compaan, who is involved in photovoltaic research at the University of Toledo, and the solar field at UT’s Scott Park Alternative Energy and Technology campus.

Other solar tour sites include the Decker Horse Stables on Erie Road in Lambertville, Oct. 2-3 from 1 to 4 p.m.; Powerhouse Electric Supply in Ottawa, Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Ohio Hi-Point Career Center on State Route 540 in Bellefontaine, Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Green By Design energy business on Dixie Highway in Bowling Green, Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Toledo Museum of Art on Monroe Street, Oct. 2 from 1 to 4 p.m.; solar barn roof at Duff Warehouses Inc. in Harrod, Oct. 2 from 1 to 4 p.m.; Sylvania United Church of Christ on Erie Street, Oct. 3 from 1 to 4 p.m.; and the Crown Battery Renewable Energy Center at the Lake Erie Business Park on State Route 2 in Port Clinton, Oct. 3 from 1 to 4 p.m.

For a complete list of sites with directions, visit www.greenenergyohio.org and click on 2010 Ohio Solar Tour.

The Ohio Solar Tour is presented by Green Energy Ohio, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting environmentally and economically sustainable energy policies and practices in Ohio.

Green Energy Ohio is the Ohio Chapter of the American Solar Energy Society, another sponsor of the statewide solar tours. Other tour sponsors include the Ohio Department of Development, American Electric Power, University of Findlay, The Gund Foundation, AstrumSolar, Ameridian, Extreme Solar, Third Sun Solar and Dovetial Solar and Wind.

Tags: Green Energy Ohio

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 30th, 2010 at 1:31 pm and is filed under Community, Environment.
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