Getting A Solar Education

Businesses and homeowners have an opportunity to get up close and personal with solar technology at the 12th annual Solar Tour Saturday October 6 from 10 am to 4 pm. Mark your calendars and log on to Solar Washington's website to see locations and maps of the tour.

Start your Solar Tour with a mouth-watering barbecue brunch at Northwest Mechanical. 3204 NE 145th Street: Shoreline WA 98155.

While you satisfy your taste buds and fill your belly, technicians will let you see the components of solar electric and solar hot water installations up close. Getting your initial questions answered on this first stop will help you come up with substantive questions for property owners at the other sites. It will also help you better appreciate each of the other installations on the tour.

You may also want to stop by the Zero Energy House at Shoreline Community College; 16101 Greenwood Avenue N; Shoreline WA 98133. Students from the American Solar Energy Society will be on hand to do solar site survey's using Google earth. Using this technology you can see whether your home or business has adequate solar access for a solar installation.

The Solar Tour is a statewide event promoted by Solar Washington. Shoreline Solar Project and the Student Chapter of American Solar Energy Society (ASES) will be participating in the event. Many solar vendors in the area will also be promoting the event and inviting their clients to participate as tour sites.

Those with solar installations who want to participate can sign up via the Solar Washington website.