John Davis: Hit the Road on the Minnesota Sustainable Home Tour October 1st

The Minnesota Renewable Energy Society’s Sustainable Home Tour (formerly known as the Solar Tour) has annually featured energy efficient, renewably powered, and all around sustainable homes around Minnesota for 25+ years. This year the Sustainable Home Tour will be on Saturday October 1, 2016 with hours from 10am to 3pm.

We chatted with Chris Meyer, SE CERT Coordinator and organizer of the Greater Minnesota portion of the Sustainable Home Tour.

How can learn more about the various sites?

Chris Meyer: People can explore the site features and locations of our 30+ statewide sites in advance via our google map, which is linked to detailed information and photos of each home/site. Visitors can expect that someone will be available at each participating location to discuss with visitors their first hand experiences with the systems and sustainability features that they own.

There are lots of cool homes for folks to visit… Can you highlight a few examples?

Chris Meyer: We have a number of sites this year that have exciting new and highly efficient construction combined with renewable energy systems.

Near Alexandria the EcoHouse on Echo Lake is designed for aging-in-place and is making more energy than its owners use (the Home Energy Rating Score (HERS) is 0).

I’m very excited to have The Root River House near picturesque Lanesboro, a beautiful example of passive house construction on the tour this year.

Kismet Cottage, part of Green Homes North had a few select upgrades added to its construction at the request of the home owner and for just 10% more cost is expected to be rated at LEED Platinum. This is a great example of how near-net-zero can also be affordable.

For those with kids, in Welch the Clear Spring Yak Farm is giving tours and folks can meet some Tibetan yaks and see the solar PV array that is paying for their electric bills.

We also have a special 10am showing of The Rose on Portland Ave in South Minneapolis. This incredible apartment complex has achieved sustainability rating from the very rigorous Living Building Challenge. It is one of the most ecologically sustainable buildings in the state.