Thank you for your interest in the Solar Tour. The 2009 event held Saturday, October 3, 2009 was a huge success. Save the date and join us for 2010 - Saturday, October 2nd - 10 am - 3 pm.
The 2009 Solar Tour was a huge success with over 150 homes participating across Illinois and over 6,000 locations nationwide. This event is part of a national tour hosted by the American Solar Energy Association and is the largest solar energy event in the world! Home owners and businesses across the state generously welcome visitors to explore how to use renewable energy systems to reduce utility bills while minimizing the environmental impact of their buildings.
Despite the threat of rain, we had over 2,000 visits to host sites across the state! Stories are filtering in and will be added to this page in the future as well as photos. Dick Kay of WCPT radio broadcast live from Uncommon Ground, a Chicago restaurant who hosted an after party where home owners,volunteers and visitors shared stories and celebrated and explored the potential of solar in Illinois.
We would like to thank our sponsors - Department of Commerce and Economic Oportunity, Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation, IBEW/NECA and WCPT Radio, AM 820 for their tremendous contributions. Please patron our advertisers (listed on the Sponsors page), without whom we would never be able to have such a robust and diverse tour.
Although the addresses have been removed for privacy resaons, we do have a "virtual tour" demonstrating successful and working solar systems across the state. See the Directory of Buildings to surf varioius locations and technologies. If you'd like to be a tour host in 2010 or be listed on the virtual tour, please see Tour Host ApplicationTour Host Information in the Tour Host Menu at right.
2009 Solar Tour News + Links
ABC 7 News feature: Solar Tour Offers Glimpse of Efficiency 
Crain's Chicago Business: 10 things to do this weekend: Explore the Solar Tour
A Fresh Squeeze: Illinois Solar Tour: Homeowners Let the Sunshine In
Sun-Times: Bonanza of house walks offers something for every snoop
Chicago Tribune: Solar energy: Illinois Solar Tour aims to show how systems can have impact
Daily Herald: Sky's the limit for sustainable energy
Naperville Community Television tells the story of a House Run by the Sun
Join us as we begin planning for the 2010 Solar Tour! We need hosts, volunteers, organizers and sponsors. Contact Lisa Albrecht at lisa.albrecht@illinoissolar.org for more information.
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