Community: HREG Solar Tour

For Immediate Release - January 23, 2018 Houston Renewable Energy Group (HREG) is pleased to announce that this year’s Solar Tour will take place in Cypress which will be the first time this event is held in one of Houston’s north suburbs. HREG, the homeowners and several local solar-savvy installers will showcase a series of solar-powered homes for the 15th year! The Solar Tour will present the solar technologies the Cypress community is using to 1) drastically reduce monthly energy bills, 2) reduce harmful carbon emissions, and 3) enjoy tax credits and cash incentives as homeowners improve their property values and assert energy independence. All three homes on the tour have different size solar panel arrays ranging from 6.9kw to 15.9kw using a variety of panels and inverters. In addition to the photovoltaic (PV) systems, there will be electric cars charged by solar including a Tesla, a Certified LEED Platinum home designed to be passively energy efficient and a stand-alone solar pergola demonstrating a novel use of PV technology. The home locations can be found at www.houstonrenewableenergy.org/map/. The Solar Tour will utilize an “open house” format and will run from 10 AM to 2 PM on Saturday, February 3, 2018. Come hungry because The Lunch Box food truck will be serving treats and the early birds will enjoy a free breakfast! Attending the HREG Solar Tour will allow the public the opportunity to speak with both the homeowner and installer to see how solar and other energy efficient technologies can save money and benefit the environment on a local, national and global level. The Solar Tour will be kicking off the next Solarize Houston wave, a group purchase program that has significantly lowered the cost of installing solar arrays for 31 Houston homeowners over the last two years. For 2018, Solarize Houston’s objective is to add another 40+ homes to this total. Solarize Houston will have an information table at one of the homes on the tour in addition to seven other environmental organizations and businesses. For anyone interested in continuing the conversation after the tour, there will be an after party at Bearded Fox Brewing Company, a local craft brewer that opened in Cypress in 2017. There will be several locally-produced beers available for purchase at this location along with live music from the Boomerays. Make February 3, 2018 a day to feed your curiosity, tempt your palate and taste some excellent locally-brewed craft beer. Please visit HoustonRenewableEnergy.Org for more information about the HREG Solar Tour and Solarize Houston. About the Houston Renewable Energy Group Since 1999, the Houston Renewable Energy Group (HREG) has promoted renewable energy solutions, while supporting renewable energy businesses, and educating residents in the Houston metro area on renewable energy technologies, energy efficiency and green building techniques. The group also serves as the local chapter of the Texas Solar Energy Society (TXSES). www.houstonrenewableenergy.org About Solarize Houston Solarize Houston is coordinated by the Houston Renewable Energy Group (HREG). HREG’s volunteers include engineers, lawyers, and developers with experience in renewable energy construction and a dedication to promoting solar in greater Houston. “Solarize Houston exists to help others understand and adopt solar more easily and more affordably than if they tackled it alone,” says Dori Wolfe, a long-time solar professional who will be leading this year’s program. “We are available to speak to neighborhoods, schools, companies, and other groups interested in the benefits of renewable energy.” Media Contact: Rachael Cornick, Houston Renewable Energy Group, rachael.cornick@hreg.info SOURCE: Houston Renewable Energy Group RELATED LINKS? http://houstonrenewableenergy.org/houston-solar-tour/ http://houstonrenewableenergy.org/solarize_houston/ http://www.beardedfoxbrewing.com/ http://environmentassoc.com/ http://www.kw.solar/ # # # #