sequatchie valley institute

Solar powered and energy efficient homes and buildings in Tennessee and across the country will be open for public tours. It’s all part of the upcoming National Solar Tour.

The tour offers local residents an opportunity to find out how their neighbors are:

• trimming energy bills
• increasing energy independence
• taking steps to address global warming

Here at Sequatchie Valley Institute, we will be sponsoring the Southeast Tennessee tour for the 11th consecutive year! The Institute will be open all day on Saturday, Oct. 6, for tours.

DIRECTIONS FOR THE 2007 SOLAR TOUR:

• Solar Homes Tour Directions (PDF file to download and print)

Saturday, October 6, 2007
Free and open to all (donations gladly accepted)!

Come on out and enjoy the autumn colors in the beautiful Sequatchie Valley while you about making electricity from the sun at the Sequatchie Valley Institute! You can also visit places in Chattanooga, Bledsoe County, and the Monteagle/Sewanee area that are using solar energy. Many uses of solar and other renewable technology and alternative building techniques will be demonstrated by the open houses. Have you seen the biggest solar array in the Southeast? It’s covering a parking lot at Finley Stadium and is sponsored by TVA’s Green Power Switch program. The National Solar Tour is organized by the American Solar Energy Society. The local tour of Chattanooga, the Sequatchie Valley, and the southern Cumberland Plateau is sponsored for the 11th year by the Sequatchie Valley Institute, a non-profit organization that promotes sustainable living and technology. For solar tours in other locations, please see the website www.ases.org/tour/ or nationalsolartour.org.

The Sandy Fox home in Chattanooga, which is open for the tour, is a participant in the TVA Green Power Switch Generation Partners program. This is an exciting new aspect of solar energy which supports the installation of solar and wind generating facilities by individual homeowners and businesses. In areas where the power distributors support the program, consumers can install renewable energy systems that connect to the electric grid. Electricity produced by the renewable energy system flows into the utility grid, and TVA pays for this “green” electricity by providing credit on the consumer’s electric bill! This is a simple and inexpensive way to encourage the use of renewable energy systems. Benefits include an inexhaustable supply of locally produced pollution-free electricity. More people throughout Tennessee are either building solar or hoping to in the future. Federal and State grants are available to help install systems.

The Sequatchie Valley Institute will be open for tours of four homes that demonstrate use of solar electricity, green building, and hand-crafted passive solar design. Call 423-949-5922, cell phone 678-982-2445, e-mail Carol-Kimmons [at] utc [dot] edu or visit our website www.svionline.org for more information.

Chattanooga Area

Sandy Fox Home. Four 70-watt and two 140-watt Sharp Modules in the form of a triangle, 560-watt total going to an OutBack Power PS1 3000-watt utility interactive inverter w/back-up, Natural Light 10 Watt Solar Attic Fan. plus 100-watts of PV for pond pumps and low voltage lights in the yard. Also located at Sandy’s home is the Solar Trailer, complete with 2000-watt Sharp solar PV array with 3KW OutBack Power Systems inverter portable power system on a 20′ enclosed trailer, system manufactured by Big Frog Mountain Corp. Chattanooga, TN and used to power concerts such as the Solar Stage at Bonnaroo for three days straight.

• Location: 909 Summer Street, Chattanooga, TN 37405
• Directions: From Frazier Ave. in North Chattanooga, turn onto Tremont. Turn left at the 1st stop sign on Tremont, then turn right on Summer. The house is on the left facing the street. You can’t miss the solar trailor!
  Time: 10 am to 4 pm EDT
• Contact Info: Call Sandy at 423-619-8885, sandy [at] bigfrogmountain [dot] com.

Finley Stadium. Finley Stadium has one of the largest solar electricity generation complexes in the Southeast, covering part of the Finley Stadium parking area. If you go to the Sunday Chattanooga Market, you will see the panels just across the road.

• Time: You can visit anytime.
• Location: 1826 Carter Street. Finley Stadium south parking lot.
• Contact Info: Rick Carson at TVA, (423)751-7461, wrcarson [at] tva [dot] gov
• Directions: Exit downtown Chattanooga from 27 onto MLK, turn south on Chestnut to 20th Street.
• No representatives will be there but you can park under the solar panels. Electricity from these panels goes into the TVA electric grid through the Green Power Switch program.

Sequatchie County (Between Dunlap and Whitwell)

Sequatchie Valley Institute at Moonshadow. Off grid, photovoltaic electricity, Trace Inverter, RV Solar boost charge controller, Zomeworks Tracker, Trojan batteries, Southwest Wind Power wind generator, Sunfrost refrigerator, passive solar, hand-crafted buildings of rock, logs and clay, solar greenhouse, hydroelectric system and passive hot water system under construction.

• Time: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm Central Time.
• Contact Info: Telephone: 423-949-5922, 949-4598, cell 678-982-2445 E-mail: Carol-Kimmons [at] utc [dot] edu. Website: svionline.org
• Location: 1233 Cartwright Loop, Whitwell, TN 373797.
• Directions:
  • From Chattanooga: We are located just off Rt. 28 near Cartwright, between Whitwell and Dunlap. It will take under 1 hour from most locations in Chattanooga. Take I-24W from Chattanooga toward Nashville. Take exit #155 (Dunlap). Turn right on to Hwy. 28. Go 18 miles North from I-24 (you will go through Whitwell). Watch for Cartwright Automotive on your left. Turn left just past this on Cartwright Loop. Follow this road for 0.7 miles to Box 1233 and a Solar Tour sign. Turn right and park, walk across dry creek to the first house. You will be met there.
  • From North Chattanooga: Take Hwy 111 from Soddy-Daisy to Dunlap. Turn left at the ramp exit and drive through Dunlap. At the last light, take the right fork, which is Rt. 28 (passes by the schools and BiLo). Travel 7 miles to Cartwright Loop, just past a small store, and before Cartwright Automotive. Turn right on Cartwright Loop and go 0.7 mi.to Box # 1233.
  • FROM DUNLAP: We are located just off Rt. 28 near Cartwright, between Whitwell and Dunlap. It will take about 20 min. from Dunlap or Whitwell. Take Rt. 28 (passes by the schools and BiLo) south from the Middle School. Travel 7 miles to Cartwright Loop, just past a small store, and before Cartwright Automotive. Turn right on Cartwright Loop and go 0.7 mi. to Box # 1233.
• There will be Solar Tour signs. Call for directions from other locations.

Nona McIntyre Home. Passive solar Mother Earth News design; circular and earth bermed.

• Time: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Central Time.
• Contact Info: See Sequatchie Valley Institute above.
• Directions: See Sequatchie Valley Institute above.

Mildred Kimmons Home. Passive solar construction with dual-metering capability, when the TVA Green Generation Partners Program is approved by the Sequachee Valley Electric Co-op. Green architecture and healthy house design used throughout to provide a non-toxic and environmentally friendly living space for elder living (95 years young!). Both interior and exterior built with Southern Pine Beetle-killed pine and other local and salvaged materials. Wall insulation made from blue jean scraps.

• Time: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm Central Time.
• Contact Info: See Sequatchie Valley Institute above.
• Directions: See Sequatchie Valley Institute above.

Bledsoe County

Robert and Hillary Bergeron Home. 100% Solar electric, off grid, with generator back-up, propane refrigerator, stove, and water heater, solar dryer, wood stove heat, compost toilet, rain-fed water system.

• Time: From 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Central.
• Contact Info: Telephone: 423-447-3173. Address: 230 Stone Ridge Dr., Pikeville, TN 37367,
• E-mail: hsbergeron@yahoo.com.
• Directions: Please call or email.

Monteagle/Sewanee Area

George Chamberlain Cabin. Photovoltaic electricity and rainwater collection system.

• Time: 10:00 am to 1 pm CDT
• Contact Info: Carolyn Hoagland email choagland [at] connectec [dot] com
• Location: 519 Firetower Rd., Sewannee, TN
• Directions:
  • From Monteagle, TN: Go West on MAIN ST, which becomes US-41 ALT for 1.1 miles. Turn RIGHT onto FIRE TOWER RD for 0.5 miles. Stay left at the fork. Avoid Deepwoods Road. Pavement turns to gravel. Turn left onto 1/2 mile long gravel driveway.
  • From Sewanee, TN: Go East on US-41 ALT for about 2 miles, past flashing yellow light. Turn LEFT onto FIRE TOWER RD for 0.5 miles. Stay left at the fork. Avoid Deepwoods Road. Pavement turns to gravel. Turn left onto 1/2 mile long gravel driveway. There will be Solar Tour Signs along the way.
• Note: Thanks to St. Andrews School students for acting as hosts for this open house.

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Across the US, tens of thousands of Americans will visit homes, schools, churches and businesses that demonstrate the buildings of tomorrow. The Sequatchie Valley Institute and SE Tennessee join 46 other states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico in showcasing solar options during the Tour.

Media tours of solar powered buildings can be arranged prior to the National Solar Tour. For information please contact Carol Kimmons at 423-949-5922, or email carol-kimmons [at] utc [dot] edu.

For tours in other areas, go to www.NationalSolarTour.org. Owners of solar or other alternate energy homes in our 5-county region who are interested in being part of the tour may contact Carol.

• Media Alert re: National Solar Tour 2007 (PDF format)

Additional Information

The National Solar Tour is the largest event of its kind anywhere and has been duplicated in other countries such as Australia to showcase advances in energy efficient construction, new products and renewable energy technologies all with the goal of lowering energy bills and increasing comfort. The local tour of Chattanooga, the Sequatchie Valley, and the southern Cumberland Plateau will be sponsored for the 11th year by the Sequatchie Valley Institute, a non-profit organization that promotes sustainable living and technology.

The tour will highlight solar and wind energy technologies that are working right now, in real places, for local people. Participants will see how solar technology can provide clean, efficient and inexpensive energy, as well as home heating and hot water.

Some of the homes on the tour, like the home of Carol and Johnny Kimmons at the Sequatchie Valley Institute, get all their electricity from solar photovoltaics. “Living with solar energy enables us to have the energy we need without paying monthly electric bills and also helps to protect the environment,” said Carol.

All aspects of solar and other renewable technology will be demonstrated. Everyone is welcome and the tour is free, with donations accepted. The Sequatchie Valley Institute will be open for tours and technical information. Directions to the other homes on the tour will be available by request.

Still More Information

Solar powered and energy efficient homes and buildings in Tennessee and across the country will be open for public tours. It’s all part of the upcoming National Solar Tour. The tour offers local residents an opportunity to find out how their neighbors are trimming their energy bills, increasing their energy independence and taking steps to address global warming. . Learn about energy efficiency, speak with homeowners and experts to learn how solar technology works, what it costs, why it makes sense and rebates you can receive. Across the US over 100,000 people will visit homes, schools, churches and businesses that demonstrate the buildings of tomorrow. The local tour of Chattanooga, the Sequatchie Valley, and the southern Cumberland Plateau will be organized for the 11th year by the Sequatchie Valley Institute.

The National Solar Tour, sponsored by the American Solar Energy Society is the largest event of its kind anywhere and has been duplicated in other countries such as Australia to showcase advances in energy efficient construction, new products and renewable energy technologies all with the goal of lowering energy bills and increasing comfort.

The tour will highlight solar and wind energy technologies that are working right now, in real places, for local people. The tour will help people see how solar technology can provide clean, efficient and inexpensive energy, as well as home heating and hot water. Some of the homes on the tour, like the homes at the Sequatchie Valley Institute, located 45 minutes from Chattanooga, get all their electricity from solar photovoltaics. “Living with solar energy enables us to have the energy we need without paying monthly electric bills and also helps to protect the environment,” said Carol Kimmons. Other homes remain connected to the grid and are selling green energy back to TVA.

Many aspects of solar and other renewable technology will be demonstrated. Everyone is welcome and the tour is free, with donations accepted. The Sequatchie Valley Institute will be open for tours and technical information. Directions to the other homes on the tour will be available by request. Call 949-5922 or email Carol-Kimmons [at] utc [dot] edu or see svionline.org for information.If you have a passive solar designed home or building or a house powered by photovoltaics or other alternative technologies that you would like to open for the tour, please contact Carol at the above address.

Links for Solar Tour:

• http://ASES.org lots of links
• http://findsolar.com where to go for info on installing systems
• http://DSIREUSA.ORG state and fed. incentives
• http://mysolar.com general info
• gil from cleanenergy.org is a Knoxville activist organization, works with college students
• QSEIDG sustainable energy education group from Queensland, Australia
• http://bigfrogmountain.com Chattanooga solar supplies and installation of alternative energy systems (email thomas or sandy at that domain)