Solar Tour this Saturday!

14th annual National Solar Tour to ramp up on October 3, 2009 highlighting new ways to save money on energy bills.



Part of the world's largest grassroots solar event, the 2009 National Solar Tour is coming to San Antonio through the efforts of Solar San Antonio and the American Solar Energy Society (ASES). More than 150,000 will attend the ASES National Solar Tour to learn how to slash monthly utility bills and go green. The general public is invited to attend open-house tours of solar powered and energy efficient homes in some 3,000 communities in 48 states across the U.S. Locally, Solar San Antonio is bringing together 10 homes and businesses in Bexar County to help educate people about the benefits of solar in their homes.

What: We invite you to join us and take self-guided tours to see how neighbors are using solar energy and energy efficiency to reduce their monthly utility bills and help tackle climate change - and how you can too! Meet San Antonio solar installers, get answers to your questions from homeowners, and learn what it means to go solar. What makes this event so powerful are the neighbor to neighbor discussions that can help you gain the insight needed to make smarter energy choices.

When: Saturday, October 3rd from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m..

Where: Please visit www.solarsanantonio.org to download a tour map and brochure. We will also have these maps available at all tour locations.

Cost: FREE to all attendees.

Each tour stop will have additional exhibits and give-aways including:
• Free copies of the ASES's Get Started 2010 buyer's guide
• Electric vehicles from the Alamo City Electric Auto Association
• Information and CFL light bulbs from CPS Energy
• Natural Awakenings magazines
• Information on EchoTown's GetGreen cards
• EnviroBags from Clothesline Cleaners along with $10 FREE cleaning coupons
• Fans from San Antonio Water System
• Solar San Antonio t-shirts
• Plus more!

With solar costs 30-40% lower than just a year ago and incentives now covering 1/3 to 2/3 the costs, more families and businesses are going green to save money during tight economic times. Federal incentives have increased significantly. CPS Energy currently offers a solar rebate program and will begin its Solartricity Producer Program in January 2010. Now is an excellent time to go solar and the National Solar Tour is an easy way to get started. The ASES National Solar Tour features property-owners who open their doors to neighbors to share how they are using the latest solar & energy efficient technologies to drastically reduce monthly energy bills, reduce harmful carbon emissions, and enjoy tax credits and cash incentives as they improve their property values.

According to survey results from last year's National Solar Tour, 76% of participants said they are very likely to invest in solar or energy efficient technology after the Tour, compared to less than 50% before the Tour. A stunning 74% of participants indicated that they had never visited a solar or green-built home prior to this event. Last year's National Solar Tour attracted close to 140,000 people.

Solar San Antonio would like to thank the homeowners and businesses that made this tour possible! Installers who are participating in this year's tour include Novastar Energy, Ecowatt Design, Standard Renewable Energy, Solar Specialty Products, and Meridian Solar.

If you would like to volunteer at this year's tour we would love to hear from you. Please email cchapa@solarsanantonio.org or call our office at 210-354-0236.

For additional information on the 2009 National Solar Tour please visit us at www.solarsanantonio.org and our other social media spaces:
www.facebook.com/solarsanantonio
www.twitter.com/solarsanantonio