Solar Homes Open House

Visitors can see high and low-tech energy-savings ideas installed and in use

Lafayette — Three local homes will be open to the public on Saturday, Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. as part of the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association’s (NESEA) annual “Green Buildings Open House.”

The homes are located at 19 Fox Hill Road and 40 Pelletown Road in Lafayette and at 15 Price Road in Augusta.

Many homes across New Jersey are open to the public that day, free of charge, so the public can talk with homeowners who have made a commitment to reduce their use of fossil fuels and discover the ways people are conserving energy, saving money and protecting the environment.

This event is also part of the American Solar Energy Society’s annual National Solar Tour and is an opportunity for the public to learn first-hand how incorporating green building design and equipment can help to dramatically reduce electrical and heating costs, increase energy conservation and generate surplus clean energy.

About the homes

A contemporary solar home will be on view at 19 Fox Hill Road in Lafayette. This home features a 5 KW solar electric system, a solar hot water system, passive solar space heating, earth sheltering and a two story sun space, which result in energy savings of 80 percent compared with a conventional home.

Nearby, at 40 Pelletown Road, the public can visit a newly installed 7.3 KW solar electric system, which is mounted on a new energy saving metal roofing.

A few minutes away at 15 Price Road in Augusta, visitors can see a dramatic 10 KW wind turbine and 10 KW ground mounted solar electric system which provide almost all of the electricity needed for this home.

Tours are popular

Last year, thousands of people toured over 600 energy-efficient buildings from Pennsylvania to Maine to experience the variety of ways that are being used to conserve energy, save money on energy bills and help reduce the carbon footprint of their homes or other buildings.

A complete list of Green Buildings Open House sites and events is available at www.nesea.org/openhouse/listings/.



Examples of green features that are used in homes and buildings that will be open during this event include passive solar heating (advantageous placement of windows); solar hot water collection and storage; radiant floor heating; the generation of electricity by using photovoltaics (solar panels) or wind turbines; use of energy-saving appliances and techniques (super-insulation and sealing air spaces); use of sustainable and healthy building materials, and the use of water-saving fixtures.

Available at each host site will be NESEA’s Sustainable Green Pages, which lists organizations and individuals that offer sustainable products and services in the Northeast that include quality building practices, energy services and transportation. In addition, state and federal incentives (tax credits, grants, rebates and discount utility rates) are available at www.dsireusa.org for renewable energy and energy-efficiency technologies. Check www.EnergyStar.gov for Federal tax-credit information on qualified appliances and products.