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 Hello: 

The Nolde Forest State Park Environmental Education Center's Sustainable Energy Committee seeks to inform and educate the public about energy issues, to promote energy conservation, and encourage the use of sustainable energy technologies.  Over the past decade we have coordinated annual green home tours featuring energy efficient and renewable energy systems, workshops on Climate Change, and solar hot water systems and contributed extensively to the educational component of The Pennsylvania Renewable Energy Festival held annually in Kempton, Pennsylvania.  The Committee is composed of community volunteers and Nolde staff acting as coordinators.  New members are welcome. 

For the first time, we are sponsoring the National Solar Tour right here in Berks County. 

You are cordially invited to the October 2, 2010 free open house solar tour of roughly one dozen residential and commercial sites in Berks County between 10 AM and 3 PM.  Maps and addresses will be provided.  

Map of sites go to  http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=116265324531727181160.00048fd67ee7be1254db7&z=10

BERKS COUNTY SOLAR TOUR IS WEB CONNECTED:

1.   Facebook - go to facebook and search Berks County Solar Tour

2.   American Solar Energy Society http://www.ases.org/ Click on ASES National Solar Tour "More".  Click on To Find A Tour.  Click on Pennsylvania.  Click on Berks County solar tour

3.   North East Sustainable Energy Association - http://www.nesea.org/ Click on Green Buildings Open House Tour.  Click on Browse Green Buildings Using A Map.  Enter Zip Code.

French Creek State Park:    One of our sites includes French Creek State Park showing their Green Office State Building and photovoltaic solar array.  The Pa DEP will also be at the French Creek State Park with their energy trailer providing energy games for children, general information on renewable systems and financing with state grants and federal tax credits.  French Creek State Park, 843 Park Road, Elverson, PA 19520-9523, 610-582-9680, Manager: Eric Brown 

Reading Electric:   Reading Electric will also open their doors on October 2, 2010 for viewing their recently installed systems, such as, the 145 kW rooftop and ground mount solar photovoltaic system.  Jim Kurtz, General Manager of Reading Electric Renewables will be on hand to address questions regarding the use of photovoltaic panels at their corporate office:  80 Witman Road, Reading, PA  19605  610 929-5777  http://www.readingelectric.com/ 

County Line Orchard:    County Line Orchard produces Apples, Peaches, Apricots, Pears, Blueberries and they just recently lanted in one of their fields a 10kW photovoltaic array converting the sun's rays into lectrical energy to be used on the farm.  County Line Orchard's will be open selling their fruits and owner Todd Smith will be available to answer questions regarding the solar system.  9200 Kings Highway, Kempton, PA  610 756-6411 WWW.clorchard.com   

 Honey Corp.    For 10 years, Honey Corp focused on the manufacturing hot tubs; more recently they expanded their product line to include the installation of whole house GE power systems and both photovoltaic and solar hot water systems.  On their roof one will find a 4 kw photovoltaic system powering their facility.  The president Tim Honey will be on hand to answer your questions.  3226 Morgantown Road, Mohnton, PA  19540 610 856-6051  honeytch@aol.com  www.honeyspas.com  

 Wes & Linda Loder Home:    This is a one-bedroom, retirement home designed to be low maintenance and have virtually no monthly bills. A photovoltaic panel powers the well, and a storage tank and gravity provide water pressure at no cost. The roomy, brightly-lit interior is a result of using oak timber frame construction with minimal interior walls. Tile and wood floors offer a setting for a highly-efficient, massive masonry heater with its own bake oven. Built using local stone and decorated with Mercer tiles, the heater adds its own practical beauty. An orchard, gardens and wood sheds complete the compound. Solar hot water system came last year and the off-grid PV-based system came this year.  1394 Green Hill Court, Kutztown, PA  19530 

Mary Smith's 1812 Farmhouse:     Come and see how renewable technologies work on an 1812 farmhouse which happens to have an attached 1700's log cabin.  Mary's 5kW photovoltaic and 80 gallon solar hot water system provides her with essentially all of her home energy needs.  In fact it looks like Met Ed will soon owe her money for the excess energy not used by her home and pumped back into the electric grid for others to use.  1458 Old Bernville Road, Leesport, PA  19533

Steve Peebles Home:    Steve Peebles is the owner of All Good Energy http://allgoodenergy.net/ and is  accredited by the Building Performance Institute (BPI) and the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET).  Steve assists his customers lower their energy usage by incorporating energy efficient technologies and with the installation of solar energy technologies.  Steve has opened his home for the Berks County Solar Tour, all are welcomed to come see and ask him questions about his solar hot water and photovoltaic systems.   1505 Hilltop Road, Leesport, PA  19533

Tom Johnson Home:    Come and see Tom's Cansolair solar panel.  The Cansolair (WWW.cansolair.com) system captures thermal energy from the sun in the winter and pumps this heat directly into his home through a forced air ductwork.  Tom is the owner of Mountain Wood Company which he operates out of his barn - So he will have customers at his place as well as persons on the solar tour.  269 Mountain Rd., Kempton, PA  19529

Ruhmel Contracting, Inc.:    October 2, 2010, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.  Ruhmel Contracting Inc, opens up their one of a kind model home featuring a 10 KW Bergey wind turbine, a 6 KW PV solar array, GeoThermal HVAC, Rainwater harvesting system, and a 2,000 SF Green Design Studio.website www.ruhmelhomes.com 9905 Old 22, Breinigsville, Pa 18031

Bill & Gloria Meek's Home:  October 2, 2010, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.  You are cordially invited to stop by the Meek's and ask them about their solar photovoltaic system including their metering device showing how many Kwh of electricity they produced this year in offsetting their demand on the grid.  Their system consist of 20 panels each rated at 235 watts.   Proprietor Michael Seitz of Keystone Alternative Energy & Technology will be on hand to answer your technical and financial questions regarding the solar system.  730 Imperial Drive, Mohnton, PA  19540730 Imperial Drive, Mohnton, PA 19540see pictures of the Meek's system. 730 Imperial Drive, Mohnton, PA 19540 

Proprietor Bryan Somers Home:  October 2, 2010, 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.  Proprietor Bryan Somers of Somertyme Green Solutions will demonstrate his 6.86 kW residential photovoltaic system.  While at Bryan's home, make sure to view his meter as it spins backwards feeding the grid with his excess green electrons.  4465 Prestwick Dr., Reading, PA  19606  

 Come back soon, more Berks County sites will be listed!