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UNI's CEEE presents Solar/Energy Efficiency Tour in five communities on Oct. 4
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --Home owners in five Cedar Valley communities will open their doors to the public for the Cedar Valley Solar/Energy Efficiency Tour on Sunday, Oct. 4. The home tours will feature: solar hot water systems, photovoltaics (solar electric), ground source heat pumps, insulated concrete form construction and energy efficiency. The Center for Energy & Environmental Education (CEEE) at the University of Northern Iowa with the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) are hosting this opportunity for the public to see solar and energy efficient technologies that can reduce monthly energy bills, reduce harmful carbon emissions and qualify for tax credits and cash incentives.

Tour homes are located in Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Waverly, Evansdale and Independence to encourage wide participation. Homes on the Solar/Energy Efficiency Tour are listed below, by community. Homeowners will be on hand to talk about why they use alternative energy sources to warm and cool their homes and to make their homes more energy efficient.

"We hope the Cedar Valley tour and other ASES National Solar Tours will help Americans address a critical problem -- the need to reduce energy use -- while introducing them to an array of clean, effective solutions that generate ongoing economic and environmental rewards," said Carole Yates, who is coordinating the tour for UNI's CEEE.

More information is available at www.ceee.uni.edu/Home/SolarEnergyEfficiencyTour.aspx or http://www.ases.org.

Cedar Falls
Kamyar Enshayan and Laura Jackson, 1703 Washington St., 1 to 4 p.m.
Features: flat-panel solar thermal system that provides hot water for dish washing, showers and laundry; wood burning stove is main heating source.

Jack and Carole Yates, 519 Chateau Court, 1 to 4 p.m.
Features: passive solar home with photovoltaic system (solar electric) producing 85 to 90 percent of the electrical needs and solar thermal/evacuated tube system for domestic hot water and in-floor heating.

Bill and Marie Stigliani, 922 W. 9th St., 2 to 4 p.m.
Features: retrofitted home with a geothermal system for heating, cooling and hot water; vertically installed system using eight wells drilled 75 feet deep.

Clark Rickard, 903 Main St., 1 to 4 p.m.
Features: homeowner designed and had a geothermal system installed in an older home with a small yard; seven vertical loops extend 150 feet deep in the backyard; retrofitted ductwork.

Waterloo
Dave and Del Turner, 430 Prospect Blvd., 1 to 4 p.m.
Features: older home (1939) with new solar thermal system.

Evansdale
Fred and Ellen Morris, 208 Grand Blvd., 2 to 5 p.m.
Features: geothermal retrofitted for this 1928 home, saving the homeowners on average $70 per month on utility bills.

Waverly
Randy and Pam Druvenga, 1100 Copper Terrace, 1 to 4 p.m.
Features: new passive solar home with solar thermal system; high energy-efficiency insulated concrete forms construction, 6 to 8-inch concrete form walls with foam insulation.

Independence
Joe and Judy Olsen, 2003 206th St., 1 to 4 p.m. (1/3 mile north of Independence)
Features: log cabin home with solar thermal system; energy efficient windows and doors.