Zero Emissions solar homes tour posted online

SAN DIEGO — Area homeowners can get a glimpse at real-life solar photovoltaic, solar thermal and solar pool heating systems on homes representing a variety of architectural styles from the comfort of their living rooms by visiting the California Center for Sustainable Energy’s ‘Zero Emissions’ solar homes tour at http://www.energycenter.org.

Co-sponsored by the California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE), SunPower Corp. and Pardee Construction, the online slideshow highlights some of the 41 homes featured in this year’s Solar Residential Tour, where San Diegans visited homes county-wide to talk with homeowners who have gone solar (and their installers) about the costs, processes, economic and environmental benefits of going solar. The event, presented as a part of CCSE’s annual Solar Energy Week, is one of the largest solar residential tours in the United States.

“With fuel prices peaking and energy bills rising, people are becoming increasingly interested in educating themselves about the rich economic incentives of renewable energy,” said CCSE Executive Director Irene Stillings.

“We elected to offer the Zero Emissions Solar Homes Tour as an efficient way for folks to take a look at solar systems county-wide – without expending the fuel they would normally use to visit multiple sites,” she added.

Those taking the tour can access qualified installers who can assist them with information on costs, applications and the installation of systems featured online.

Through the State of California’s bellwether California Solar Initiative, CCSE is providing nearly $223 million in incentives to qualifying businesses, governments, homeowners and nonprofits who go solar within the San Diego Gas & Electric Service Area. CCSE is the only nonprofit in the state to administer the California Solar Initiative.

San Diegans can visit the CCSE Web site not only for information on solar rebates but for a variety of energy efficiency tips, programs and incentives.

One tip Stillings stressed encourages those who take the Zero Emissions Solar Tour to turn off their computers after viewing the online slideshow.

“San Diegans who shut their computers off before bed each night can save an annual average of $90 worth of electricity,” Stillings remarked.

The Department of Energy recommends computer users shut off their monitors if they aren’t going to use them for more than 20 minutes and that individuals shut down their computer systems if they won’t be using them for intervals of more than two hours.

The CCSE is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) dedicated to fostering public policy and programs to facilitate the adoption of clean, reliable, sustainable and efficient energy technologies and practices.

For more information on CCSE programs, rebates and services, visit http://www.energycenter.org or call (866) SD-ENERGY.