On Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 30 and 31, "practical sustainability" will be the focus of the Tucson Innovative Home Tour and Solar Tour.

Check out the press releases below for detailed information:

This exterior view shows the masonry and insulated concrete form (ICF) construction of the home’s outer walls. The low-maintenance, low-water-use xeriscape landscaping is watered by both a rainwater harvesting system and a graywater system that reuses much of the water. (Photo provided by the Solar Institute.)

Next Generation Home Seminar “How to have a much better home at much lower cost.”
Tucson’s officially recognized Next Generation Home Program presents the best unbiased, non-commercial information, advice and ideas from local experts for on the latest advances for improving your home, remodeling, building and buying - plus an analysis of the real costs of home ownership and how you can reduce them by up to 50% and more.

When. Saturday, October 30, 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. with registration starting 8:00 a.m. The tour is 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. with tickets available at the seminar 10:30 a.m. - noon.

Where. Take the seminar and get your home tour tickets at Pima Community College’s Campus Center Auditorium (CC 180), 1255 N. Stone Ave., just north of Speedway. Lots of free parking. Just go in the main entrance.

How. The seminar is $10 per person, $5 with tour ticket. Available only at the seminar. Cash only - please bring exact amount.

For more information, see the web site at www.solarinstitute.org or call 792-6578.

This interior shot from the top of the stairway on the second floor shows the striking light well on the northern side of the house which provides a dramatic entrance, views outside and natural daylighting for much of the home. (Photo provided by the Solar Institute.)

Tucson Innovative Home Tour & Tucson Solar Tour
New advances for better homes and better living, with an emphasis on sustainability and fitting in with the natural environment. Choose among over 20 exceptional, award-winning and nationally recognized homes, speak with owners, designers and builders, and discover new ways to make your home much better and cost a lot less in this special non-profit, non-commercial community sharing of the latest advances, sponsored by dozens of nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and government jurisdictions.

When. Saturday and Sunday, October 30 and 31, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Where. Tour is city-wide and self-guided. There are different homes each day. Tickets include a tour guide with directions.

How. Tickets for the tour are $10 per person. Cash only - please bring exact amount. Tickets are good for both days and available in advance at locations around Tucson, and at the seminar.

Tickets will be available starting Saturday, October 23 at locations around Tucson, including
Reproductions Inc., 234 E. 6th St.
Antigone Books, 411 N. 4th Ave.
Book Stop Used Books, 214 N. 4th Ave
House ‘n Garden, 250 E. Wetmore
Mostly Books, 6208 E. Speedway
PakMail, 7090 N. Oracle #178

For more information and details on these and additional locations, see www.solarinstitute.org, or call 792-6578.

Additional Information:

The Tucson Innovative Home Tour and Tucson Solar Tour are non-profit, non-commercial, community sharing events that give people a unique opportunity to learn about important new advances for better homes and better living, with a focus on sustainability and fitting in with our natural environment. Such advances offer much greater comfort, health, performance, practicality, durability, ease of maintenance and long-term cost savings. Visitors can see over 20 exceptional, award-winning and nationally recognized homes, buildings and solar applications, and speak with owners and some of Tucson’s top experts.

These events are special because ...

* The largest and most comprehensive community events of their kind in Tucson, and among the largest in the nation, they also attract visitors from all over Arizona and the U.S.

* The Tucson Solar Tour, long-time affiliate of the National Solar Tour, organized by the American Solar Energy Solar, provides many examples of how solar energy can be put to good use.

* Founded 15 years ago by long-time community leaders in sustainability, these offer a unique opportunity to see the latest and best green advances. It is the only tour of its kind that is independent, expert, nonprofit, non-commercial and broadly based on community sharing.

* They not only feature practical ways to live much better here by fitting in with the environment, they also show how to cut the soaring costs of homes by up to 50% and more.

* A seminar also gives everyone a chance to learn how they can do this too.

The combined events are also special because ...

* Advances of this kind have enormous potential for Tucsonans and our community. Studies have found that homes designed and built using such advances can cut the total cost of home ownership in half during just the first thirty-year mortgage period.

* In the case of energy alone, studies have found that the people of the Tucson metropolitan area spend over $1.5 billion per year on energy — approaching 10% of our gross local product — and over 70% of that money leaves Tucson and the state, a huge drain on our economy. Such homes can cut energy costs by over 75%.

* This is a non-profit, non-commercial, community sharing event that is done completely by volunteers. Homeowners receive no compensation: they do it out of a willingness to share. Hundreds of volunteers from dozens of organizations have contributed to the great success of this tour.

* For fifteen years now, this has been the biggest community event in Tucson dedicated to sustainability and desert living. It has been recognized nationally as the largest event of its kind in the nation. With some of the finest leading-edge homes anywhere, it attracts visitors from all over the country.

The Tucson Innovative Home Tour is a public service of the Solar Institute in cooperation with a community partnership of non-profit organizations, including the American Institute of Architects, Association of Energy Engineers, Tucson Homeowners Alliance, Tucson Solar Alliance, Neighborhood Coalition of Greater Tucson, Tucson Commission on Disability Issues, Arizona Solar Energy Association, University of Arizona, Pima Community College, City of Tucson, Pima County, State of Arizona, American Solar Energy Society and U.S. Department of Energy.

For more information, see www.solarinstitute.org or call 792-6578.