Salem Green + Solar Tour 2010

Looking for something to do this weekend? Here's an idea sent in via email from the Pringle Creek Community. It's an event free for bicyclists.

Salem Green + Solar Tour 2010
A tour of nine leading green-building projects in our area

Saturday, October 2nd, 2010
9am to 4pm

All new sites this year include:
*the first Passive House-certified home in the Pacific Northwest, so efficient it almost never needs mechanical heating or cooling.
*the first net-zero-energy small commercial building in Oregon, the LEED Platinum Painters Hall, a 1930s industrial building renovation.
*ABC Extreme Makeover’s newly-completed LEED Gold dormitory at Oregon School for the Deaf — get the personal tour before you watch it on TV Oct 31st!
*downtown’s beautiful LEED Gold commercial-retail building, WaterPlace.
*a solar electric and hot water system integrated into an existing home at McNary Estates, compatible with the community CC& R’s.
*the first Solarize Salem Co-op’s solar PV installation, at $5.50 per watt, possibly one of the lowest costs in the nation.
*a modern, efficient & healthy home with natural materials, solar hot water, and a thermal mass “masonry heater” -- one small fire provides enough radiant heat for the entire day.
*the newly-renovated Gordon House designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the original visionaries to integrate the built environmental with the natural.
*a 30-acre homestead owned by Master Gardeners, with solar hot water and electric, new construction, and fun, friendly animals!

To view preview photos and information, go to http://pringlecreekcommunity.blogspot.com

SCHEDULE
Architect Nathan Good will begin the tour at 9am with a preview of tour sites and a presentation on green building and design -- key terms, costs, features and benefits. http://www.nathangoodarchitect.com
Project sites will be open from 10am-4pm, and will be hosted by the owner, architect and/or builder who will explain the green features, benefits, costs & lessons learned.

REGISTRATION & TICKETS
Tickets sold day-of beginning at 8:30am at Painters Hall, Pringle Creek Community, located off Madrona, Fairview Industrial Drive, and Lindburg Rd (formerly Strong Rd. SE). For directions and a map, go to http://tiny.cc/paintershall
Tour sites are located throughout the area — West Salem, Keizer, downtown, East Salem and Silverton.

COST
$10 per car, carpooling encouraged — bring your friends!
Bicyclists free! An organized group ride leaves at 10:15am.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
Pringle Creek Community, Marion County Public Works Environmental Services, Salem AIA (American Institute of Architects), Nathan Good Architect, Wild Pear, Friends of Straub Environmental Learning Center, Tanner Creek Energy, Zena Forest Products, Solarize Salem, BAM Agency, Inc., Lifesource Natural Foods, Barnwood Naturals, Mahonia Vineyards & Nursery, Bilyeu Homes, Spectra Construction, and City of Salem.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
Contact 503-315-1055 or info@pringlecreek.com, or visit http://pringlecreekcommunity.blogspot.com

Salem Green + Solar Tour is part of a state-wide tour in 14 communities across Oregon, all happening on the same weekend. According to Solar Oregon, which oversees state-wide coordination, "the Oregon Green and Solar Tours are one of the biggest events of their kind in the nation" and "each tour reflects the unique interests of the community, yet all share a common goal: to educate the public about green and solar strategies." http://solaroregon.org/news/your-community-your-tour-join-us
You can also read about the National Solar Tour overseen by the American Solar Energy Society http://nationalsolartour.org/about-tour/about-solar-tour