By NANCY HILER
The goal in this case, however, is to learn about solar-electric technology and other energy efficiency measures from those who already make use of them.
Amid current concerns about global warming and ever-rising energy costs, Long Island residents are invited to join some 100,000 people across the country expected to participate in the American Solar Energy Society's 12th annual National Solar Tour on Saturday, Oct. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The ASES is a non-profit group whose mission is to increase the use of solar energy, energy efficiency and other sustainable technologies. Locally, the tour is coordinated by Renewable Energy Long Island, an East Hampton-based sustainable energy advocacy group.
"The solar tour is a great way for homeowners and business owners to find out whether solar energy would work for them," said Gordian Raacke, RELI's executive director.
Anyone who registers for a visitor's pass through RELI can stop by to see how owners of solar-powered and energy efficient private homes and other buildings throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties are cutting utility bills and protecting the environment. Tour participants will see what solar-electric systems look like and ask questions of their owners about how the systems work and how much energy and money they have saved.
Information and directions to locations on the Solar Tour can be downloaded off the RELI Web site, or visitors can pick up a tour handbook with the details at any of the sites that day. To register for Long Island's Solar Tour, contact RELI by phone at (631) 329-888 or online at www.RenewableEnergyLongIslandsland.org.
This year the organization enlisted more than 100 owners of solar energy-equipped properties island-wide to open their doors to the public, including locations in Bellmore, North Bellmore, Baldwin, Bethpage, East Meadow, Hewlett Harbor, Levittown, Long Beach, Lynbrook, Massapequa, Oceanside, Point Lookout and Seaford.
Sun power spreading
In June, the Long Island Power Authority dedicated the 1,000th solar-electric installation on Long Island, the most recent participant in the company's Solar Pioneer program, which provides rebates to those who put in solar-electric photovoltaic (PV) systems.
"RELI had a goal to see 1,000 solar roofs installed on Long Island by the end of 2007, and we are thrilled to have reached this important solar milestone six months ahead of schedule," Raacke said at the dedication.
To date, LIPA has paid out more than $26 million for 5,781 kilowatts (kWs) of solar-electric panels, which translates into current residential and commercial rebates of $3.75 per watt, or as much as $37,500 for a 10-kilowatt system.
Other financial incentives available to Long Islanders who install solar-electric systems are federal and state tax credits, state and county sales tax exemptions, and a state real property tax exemption for the increased assessed value that a solar system provides.
"We've come a long way," LIPA Solar Pioneer Project Manager Bob Allgor said at a LIPA and RELI-sponsored solar energy seminar hosted by the Town of Hempstead last week.
New this year
Although solar power continues to be the focus of the Solar Tour, LIPA is involved this year in advocating a new opportunity for home energy savings, which will be included in this year's tour. "This year, as an added bonus, the tour will feature energy efficiency at work in seven selected locations," RELI's Raake explained.
At each of these locations, visitors will be able to see firsthand the various cost-cutting and energy-saving measures that were implemented as a result of LIPA's recently introduced comprehensive house assessment program, called Home Performance with Energy Star(r).
Home Performance assessments are conducted by a network of independent home improvement contractors, which are accredited by the Building Performance Institute (BPI) and take what LIPA calls a "whole-house approach" to testing homes and identifying energy waste. They then recommend specific ways to improve energy efficiency, comfort and safety. The audit might call for a new boiler or installation of a solar-electric system, for example, as well as straightforward enhancements such as increasing insulation and replacing inefficient appliances. LIPA says the program can help cut energy costs by as much as 40 percent.
All but one of the Home Performance audit demonstration sites on the Solar Tour are located in Suffolk County, in areas such as Oyster Bay, Hampton Bays, Hauppauge, Lindenhurst and Middle Island. The single Nassau location is in Hicksville.
LIPA is kicking off its campaign to educate consumers about the program with a free Home Performance with Energy Star informational seminar this week. It will be held in the Pavilion at Hempstead Town Hall, 1 Washington St. in Hempstead on Thursday, Sep. 27, at 7 p.m. Another seminar will be held in Glen Cove on Oct. 3.
As with the solar tour, those interested must register, either by calling LIPA at 1-877-ESTAR LI (1-877-378-2754) or through RELI by e-mailing tina@renewableenergylongisland.org.
Comments about this story? nhiler@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 234.
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