2023 GLREA - ASES Solar Home Tour

Michigan Solar Home Tour 

Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association (GLREA) and American Solar Energy Society’s (ASES) is pleased to announce the 2023 Solar Home Tour beginning on Thursday October 5, 2023 from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.  Because GLREA has Members all over Michigan, we are conducting Solar Home Tours both on Zoom and in person. The Oct. 5 virtual tour will include presentations covering a variety of solar energy applications.  The virtual tour will be recorded and posted on the GLREA You Tube channel.  

Zoom Virtual Tour 

The Oct. 5 virtual tour will include presentations covering a variety of solar energy applications.  The virtual tour will be recorded and posted on the GLREA You Tube channel.  

Our presenters include:

Cliff Johnson - Ann Arbor

Cliff’s solar array went live in the fall of 2021, and since then he has been taking an active role in learning how to get the most out of the 16-panel, 5 kW system.  Cliff will share his results through the seasons, what he found most useful as a solar homeowner, and other matters of interest to current or potential solar families.

John Gourlay - Chelsea

John has a 4.5 kW grid-tied solar energy system with battery backup. The solar panel array is on a fixed ground mount near the house, and the electronics and batteries are in the basement, all installed in 2018. John lives in an area with unreliable electric utility power, and so the battery backup was a primary factor in the design of the system.

Bob Chapman - St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Detroit

Bob, former director of Warm Training (now Ecoworks) and Michigan Interfaith Power & Light, will tell the story of “Putting One’s Faith Into Action” as the Power Purchase Agreement owner of a rooftop solar installation at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Detroit.

Adam Schaller - Lakeshore Die Cast in Baroda

The company in Berrien County installed a 150 kW solar system in 2020 and then a 1.25 MW system two years later. Adam will discuss performance, utility rates, and funding and share his experiences as a business owner doing a solar project.

Please Register in advance for this meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0kduCsrz4rGtfBa3F7VS6e6-SWcgiH5PGV

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

In-Person Tour 

Making the Motor City a Solar City - October 7th

Celebrate solar energy by participating in the North End Woodward Community Coalition and Solar Neighbor's second annual 'Making the Motor City a Solar City' . Join the tour for a chance to win a solar-powered generator or one of several other solar-themed prizes!

You can find more information HERE and Register HERE!

Solar Open House in Okemos – Saturday, Oct. 7, 10:00 am- 12:00 noon

The Presbyterian Church of Okemos is participating in the ASES National Solar Tour and will have an on-site tour of their 100 panel, in-ground solar installation which was put into service in March of this year. They want to share their experiences and what they have learned. The church is located at 2258 Bennett Road in Okemos.

Solar Open House in Grass Lake – Saturday, Oct. 14, 10:00 am- 12:00 noon

Joe Trumpey will share stories and details of his family's life on their off-grid farmstead. He designed and built their strawbale home that has been off-grid using solar power since 2007. They have not burned a gram of fossil fuel to heat their home, water, or cook their food in 14 Michigan winters.  The address is Sandy Acres Farm, 3004 Michael Drive, Grass Lake. (third of a mile off of Bohne).

There is no cost for this Event.  But please sign up and get a ticket so I have a list of people to send the Zoom link to. 

I want to thank our Sponsors:

MI Dept Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE)

Homeland Solar

McNaughton McKay Electric Company

Harvest Solar

Srinergy

This Event offers you the opportunity to learn and see how you can use solar energy to reduce your monthly energy bill, help promote a clean environment and fight climate change.

For more information contact John Freeman at Jfreeman13@comcast.net