Location

"Solar Basics for the Home"  10am to Noon, Appalachian Center, 205 North Main Street, Berea, KY.

Presentation by Solar Energy Solutions of Lexington, KY.  The basics of home photovoltaic and solar hot water systems will be covered including site evaluation, sizing the system, costs, tax credits and more. Steve Boyce of the Berea Utility Advisory Board, and Ed Fortner, Berea Municipal Utilities Manager, will describe the upcoming Berea Solar Farm and how Berea Utilities customers can lease a solar panel. Workshop participants can view the Appalachian Center's 15 kW photovoltaic system and display.

Noon to 4pm Open Houses

SENS House and Aquaponics Facility, 121 Jefferson Street

Visitors can view and learn about the SENS House 1.5 kW tracking photovoltaic array and its 3.15 kW fixed photovoltaic array that together make the house "net zero electricity." Solar hot water, passive solar heating, and edible landscapes illustrate other means of capturing and using solar energy. The SENS aquaponics (aquaculture and hydroponics) facility uses solar thermal heating as part of its system for raising catfish, tilapia and vegetables. Free samples of fresh-grilled catfish will be served.

Boyce/Maxson/Abbot Residence, 302/304 Center Street

4200 ft2 house planned, built and shared by two families, featuring solar water heaters, grid-tied photovoltaic systems, metal roof, hardy plank siding, geothermal HVAC, passive solar design, daylighting, ceiling fans, emphasis on materials that are nearly local and have recycled content.

Ukeiley/Crowe Residence, 507 Center Street

Older single-family home, retrofitted with a 1.2 kW grid-tied PV system that uses black, high-efficiency PV panels and high-efficiency inverter and meets almost all the home's electricity needs; other energy-saving features.

Reedy/Clemons Residence, 2593 Hammonds Fork Road, Rockcastle County

Geodesic dome home featuring passive solar design, on-demand propane water heater, 350-watt off-the-grid solar electric system (ground-mounted with manual tracking), and very energy efficient appliances. For directions to this site, see www.sustainableberea.org

HomeGrown HideAways, 500 Floyd Branch Road, Berea  **Note: Hours for this site only are 10am to 2pm**

Ecological design educational facility featuring compact fluorescent and LED lighting, low-flow plumbing fixtures, a home-made solar water heater, and other energy efficient upgrades. Visitors can also see the progress made on this summer's Natural Building series. www.Homegrownhideaways.org