Illinois Solar Energy Tour

Site hosts can create their own online listing

We are taking applications from "tour hosts" to show their renewable energy systems in the 2010 National Solar Tour on Saturday, October 2nd, 2010 between 10 AM to 3 PM. For instruction go to Tour Host Application To be included in the Solar Tour printed guidebook please submit your application by July 31, 2010.  Applications after the deadline my be accepted but will not be included in the printed guidebook.

Free magazine for hosts 

Illinois Solar Energy Association (ISEA) is a chapter of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES). When you become a "site host" ASES offers you a free year’s subscription to its magazine, “Solar Today.”  It is a great publication loaded with interesting articles about renewable energy, primarily focusing on solar energy. You will receive an email from either ISEA or ASES in November to complete the subscription process and it will come to your address about every two months.  Please notify us if you change your email address before then to be certain to be included. 

Viewing Options

As a host site you agree to allow visitors to your property on Saturday, October 2nd, 2010 between 10 AM to 3 PM.  There are three ways in which to do this:

Full Tour:  Most home owners opt to host a Full Tour.  A Full Tour means you feel comfortable allowing visitors into your home to view the interior parts of your system.  

Modified Tour:  Some owners are happy to show their systems but are unable to allow visitors into their utility rooms or other spaces due to concern over space or safety.  If this is the case for you, you may list your site as a “Modified Tour” meaning you will be available to discuss your system, but guests would not be able to tour inside your home or building.  Some home owners create and offer flyers, handouts or posters explaining their systems or personal experience with their systems.  Offering handouts is not required, but we make this suggestion as an example of ways to participate.

Outside Viewing Only:  Some owners may not be available to meet guests, but are willing to offer their property for “Outside Viewing Only.”  Guests may drive by or view from the sidewalk or street, but do not enter your home or building or property.  You do not need to be on site and guests will be told that no one is available to discuss your system.  Of course, this option works if your system can be seen from street or alley.  These sites may not be included in the printed tour guide but be available online.

Tour Day Logistics

A couple of weeks prior to the tour, we will send you the following items in preparation for the event.  These will help us promote the day and measure our success.  Your help in using these materials is greatly appreciated!

• Lawn Signs – these are plastic sleeves with a wire frame that you need to assemble and place in a visible spot in front of your location.  Please put these out as early as you feel comfortable promoting your site.  These help promote the event and help visitors locate your property.
• Visitor Registration Sheets – Please ask guests to sign in as they arrive so that we may survey them later to gauge their experience.  If they already registered at a previous home, they don’t need to sign in again.  Please return these sheets to Lisa Albrecht as indicated at the bottom of the form.
• Informational Materials – we will include additional materials that visitors may take and keep.  Supplies are limited but will include a Special Edition of Solar Today and ISEA Solar Fact sheets and membership forms.
• Publicity Materials - We have produced a poster that can be hung in your local library, grocery store or anywhere that may have a bulletin board.  Please go to: http://www.illinoissolar.org/docs/tour/solar-tour-poster.pdf to print copies of the poster.  We find it helpful to cut the tabs as indicated on the sheet prior to hanging.

Thank you for your support and participation!  It is events like this and home owners like you that will help change the face of America and how we sustain our communities and planet.  We truly appreciate and applaud your efforts.