Michigan Sustainable Homes & Businesses Tour
(formerly Michigan Solar Tour)
Part of the ASES National Solar Tour
October 6, 2007
10 am - 4 pm
The solar tour is free and self-guided. Visit as many sites as you would like from 10am to 4pm, in any order that you would like.  Enjoy the good energy, and have fun!

Greater Lansing Area
Metro Detroit Area
Greater Ann Arbor Area
Southwest Michigan Area
Greater Marquette Area
Greater Traverse City Area
Greater Grand Rapids Area
Northwest Michigan Area

Greater Ann Arbor Solar Tour
Regional Coordinator:
Jason Bing (jason@recycleannarbor.org or 734-662-6288).

A3C – Collaborative Architecture ~ www.a3c.com
210 East Huron Street, Ann Arbor
We are a mid-sized architecture and interior design firm located in downtown (East Huron Street across from the Hands-On Museum) and we have registered for and are progressing toward a USGBC, LEED-CI Gold Certification.  As a part of this renovation we will accomplish the following:

• Reducing NO2 & CO2 Levels below 50% with a Geothermal HVAC system and future incorporation of Photovoltaic Panels & Wind Turbines.
• Reducing Storm Water Run Off by 50% through rain water capture system and a demonstration Green Roof modeling Intensive & Extensive designs.
• Improving Indoor Environmental Quality by providing for natural ventilation and selection of materials that eliminate or have minimal out-gassing.
• Increasing Daylight and Lighting Controls with energy efficient lighting, integrated control systems and daylighting through roof monitors
• Utilizing Sustainable Materials & Resources by selecting regionally sourced, renewable and recycled products throughout the building.

We are designing our project to be an educational resource for our clients and the community by incorporating multiple approaches to sustainable materials, finishes and systems throughout.  The addition of a conferencing space on the roof will allow easy access and increased visibility of our Green Roof.  This space, as well as the rest of the building, will be available to city and non-profit groups for meetings and tours.  Our project is currently under construction and is scheduled to be complete in October.  Don’t miss this opportunity to view an in-progress / under-construction green building project!

Directions:

From North: Take US-23 South towards Ann Arbor.  Take Exit 43 (M-14 west / Downtown Ann Arbor).  Take M-14 west to Exit 3 (N Main Street).  Follow N Main Street South to E Huron Street.  Make a Left on E Huron Street and end at 210 E Huron Street.

From South:  Take US-23 North towards Ann Arbor.  Take the Exit for I-94 W.  Follow I-94 W about 3 miles to exit 177 (State Street).   Make a Right on State Street and take State Street North to East Huron Street.  Make a Left on E Huron Street and end at 210 E Huron Street.

Click here for Google area map.

Barclay Dream Farm
4445 Valentine Road, Whitmore Lake

    

The Barclay Dream Farm in Webster Township boasts the largest tracking photovoltaic array in Michigan (we’ve yet to find anyone who can contradict this claim). The 12 foot by 17 foot, 3.2 kilowatt tracking array consists of 16 Sanyo HIT-200, 200-watt modules, mounted on a Wattsun AZ-225 dual-axis tracker, which follows the sun on sunny days and automatically finds an optimum position on cloudy days (to avoid unintended tracking of bright spots in the clouds). At 17% efficiency, the Sanyo PV modules are one of the most efficient on the market, and by combining an amorphous silicon layer with the crystal silicon, do well on both sunny and cloudy days. The PV array is grid-intertied with a Fronius IG-4000 inverter, and on a yearly basis has produced over 110% of our home's yearly electrical energy consumption. During the period from September 1, 2006 to August 31, 2007 our array generated a total of 5433 kWh, while our house used only 4923 kWh, resulting in a yearly net excess generation of 510 kWh, which we sent to the electrical grid to be used by our neighbors.
 27 square feet each, mounted on an outdoor shed. Antifreeze is pumped underground in insulated copper pipe to the house where it heats a 100 gallon solar servant water tank. We typically do not use any fossil fuel for water heating from March through October. For the rest of the year, our system pre-heats the water so our propane hot-water heater has to do much less work. Through a combination of our SDHW system and stringent efficiency measures, we have reduced our propane use by two thirds!
More pictures and information about our systems of our may be found at our website, http://www.dreamfarm.org/.

Directions:

From Ann Arbor: Take US-23 N toward Brighton / Flint. Take N Territorial Road exit (Exit 49). Turn Left on E North Territorial Road. E North Territorial Road becomes N Territorial Road W. Take for about 2 miles. Turn Right on Jennings Road (portions unpaved). Take for one mile. Turn Left on Valentine Road. The home is about one mile down the road.

Click here for Mapquest area map

Dotson’s Mobile Solar Generation Units
8895 Kearny Rd, Whitmore Lake, MI

MOBILE SOLAR ELECTRIC GENERATION UNIT

These units along with a solar hot water system have been connected in our home since September,  2007.
 
Directions:
From Ann Arbor:  23 North to Barker Rd, go west approx 1 mile, pavement turns to
dirt. Turn left on Kearney, go approx 3/4 miles, go right into driveway and make quick left.
Addresss is 8895 Kearney Rd, Whitmore Lake

 From Novi or North of Brighton:
96 West to 23 South.  Take Exit 53 turn left on 8 mile go through down town Whitmore Lake. 
Go right on Barker Road.  Go approx 2 miles until pavement turns to dirt. Turn left on Kearney,
go approx 3/4 miles go right into driveway and make quick left.
Addresss is 8895 Kearney Rd, Whitmore Lake.

Click Here for a Google area map.

En-house Resource Center, Recycle Ann Arbor
2420 South Industrial Hwy, Ann Arbor

The Environmental House Energy & Green Building Resource Center (EnHouse) is a comprehensive resource and touring facility dedicated to furthering the causes of green building, energy efficiency and renewable energy.

The EnHouse staff and resources will help you to discover programs, techniques, projects and service providers that will help you to ensure that your next project is safe for its inhabitants, stands up to the test of time, and treads lighter on the natural environment.

The Environmental House will be offering tours of the photovoltaic array and control equipment from 10 am to 4pm.

Directions:

From Ann Arbor: From the intersection of Main St. and Huron St go South on S Main St toward W Washington St. Turn left onto E Stadium Blvd. Turn right onto S Industrial Hwy.

From Ypsilanti: Take I-94 W to the State St exit- Exit 177. Turn right onto S State St. Turn right onto E Eisenhower Pkwy. Turn left onto S Industrial Hwy.

Click here for Mapquest area map

This house constructed in 1954 has a long east-west axis, allowing for ample southern glazing and solar thermal gain. To the north the roof pitches down to minimize exposure to the cold winds. The west is protected from the winds by the garage and has few windows to prevent overheating. The east opens to the sun for morning heat gain and light for the bedrooms. A black panel solar thermal array provides 30% of the heat and protects the house in the summer, almost eliminating the need for air-conditioning. The panels trap the sun's heat, while a thermostatic electric fan pulls air through the array and into the house.

A solar porch addition on the second floor was constructed with reclaimed windows from Recycle Ann Arbor and seconds from Fingerle Lumber. Serving the double function of trapping the sun's heat in the winter and providing a buffer in the summer, porch is controlled by a thermostatic electric fan.

Backyard Habitat certified with the National Wildlife Federation. Organic garden onsite.

Home also features high efficiency appliances and lights and a straw bale shed with a green roof.

Directions:

From Ann Arbor: From the intersection of Main St and Huron start out going South on S. Main St. S. Main St becomes Ann Arbor Saline After passing Maple turn left onto Ellsworth. The home is the first drive on the left after the UU Church parking lot. Look for the pile of stones at the road.

From Ypsilanti: From the intersection of Michigan and Hamilton, head West on Michigan. After about 2 miles, turn right onto Ellsworth. Follow Ellsworth. It will turn to a dirt road past Maple. House is the last drive before the church parking lot. Look for the pile of stones at the road.

Click here for Mapquest area map

Longman Home
3366 Outback Trail, Pinckney

The home is a reclaimed timberframe house with numerous energy efficient design features.  Passive heating and cooling in the home is accomplished through strategic orientation, covered porches, SIPS and strategic thermal mass.  The entire timberframe of the home was constructed from reclaimed Douglas Fir, most of it from the Toronto Subway System.  The home also features geothermal heating and cooling, radiant heat and strategic ventilation.
 
Directions:
From Ann Arbor:  Take Dexter Pinckney Road (D-19) North to M-36/Main Street.  Go West on Main about 2 miles and then turn Right onto Cedar Lake Road.  Make the 2nd Left onto  Outback Trail.  We are next door to the house with the large horse pasture and white horse fence.  You cannot see the house from the road, but we have a brown mailbox with the house # on it.

Click Here for a Mapquest area map.

Mechanical Energy Systems
8130 N. Canton Center Rd., Canton



Visit our Demonstration Center and see a variety of working solar applications that can be retrofitted to existing homes and businesses. See how we light our office with Solatubes, heat our water with a Solar Boiler and power our computers and phones with Wind and Photovoltaic systems. Check out our Solar Wall and Solar Hot Air Panels used to assist the heating of our building during the winter months. Also, learn about the advantages of Solar Attic Fans and Solar Pool Heating systems. We offer high efficiency heating and cooling equipment to promote energy conservation, as well. Let us share our 22 years of Solar expertise as you walk through our building and discover how you can become an energy advocate, and control your future energy needs!

Directions:

8130 Canton Center Rd., Canton, MI 48187
http://www.by-solar.com/directions.html

From Ann Arbor: Take US-23-BR N / M-14 E. Merge onto MI-14 E. Merge onto Ford Rd / MI-153 E via Exit 10. Turn left (north bound) onto Canton Center Rd. At first light past Warren Rd. turn left to stay on Canton Center Rd, we are located a 1/4 mile down on the east side.

From Ypsilanti: From the intersection of Cross and Prospect, head north on Prospect Turn right onto Ford Rd / MI-153. Turn left (north bound) onto Canton Center Rd. At first light past Warren Rd. turn left to stay on Canton Center Rd, we are located a 1/4 mile down on the east side.

From Detroit: Take US-96 W to I-275 N. Exit Ann Arbor Rd, turn right (west bound) on to Ann Arbor Rd., follow to Sheldon Rd., turn left (south bound) to Joy Rd. turn right (west bound), follow to Canton Center Rd., turn left (south bound). We are located a 1/2 mile down on the east side of Canton Center Rd.

Click here for Mapquest area map

Michcon Nature House at the Leslie Science and Nature Center
1831 Traver Blvd., Ann Arbor

A fully integrated super-insulated 1700-square foot solar building utilizing a range of passive and active solar technologies including solar photovoltaic, hot water and hot air systems, waste-heat recovery systems, water conservation systems (including composting toilets, and gray-water processing systems). Natural and "green" building materials used.

Directions:
From downtown Ann Arbor: From the intersection of Main St. and Huron St., head East on Huron. Turn left onto N Division St. Turn slight right onto Beakes St. Beakes St. becomes Broadway St. Broadway St. becomes Plymouth Rd. Turn left onto Barton Rd. Turn right onto Traver Rd.

From Ypsilanti: Take MI 17 West to US 23 N. Take US 23 N to the Plymouth Rd. exit, Exit 41. Turn left onto Plymouth Rd. Turn right onto Barton Dr. Turn right onto Traver Rd.

Click here for Mapquest area map

Wakeman/Brown Old West Side Residence
Office of SUR Energy Systems, LC
221 Buena Vista, Ann Arbor

This home has 3 separate solar systems and a "green" remodeled kitchen. Much of the heat for hot water in this home is provided by a 30 tube Thermomax Evacuated tube solar collector. The collected heat is transferred to an 80 gallon storage tank. The water is then fed through a tankless (flash) water heater using natural gas for heat. If the solar tank is hot the tankless stays off; if it is warm the tankless fires partially; or if there is no sun the tankless heats the water all the way to the final temperature. The output goes through a mechanical mixing valve for added safety.

The second solar system supplements the electrical use in the home. 6-165 watt (990 watts total) Sharp solar modules feed a 3kW grid tie inverter. The inverter seamlessly feeds electricity into the electrical panel in the basement. If the sun shines, the electricity consumed in the home is a mix of utility power and solar power. If the loads in the home are small enough the inverter could feed power out to the utility grid. Grid tied solar is the fastest growing sector of the solar electric industry due to the simplicity of the system. Grid tie provides no backup power.

The third system provides a small amount of backup electric power in case of a power outage. Reclaimed solar (throw aways from other jobs, a somewhat tongue in cheek system) trickle charge these batteries which are connected to an off grid inverter. The inverter feeds a generator panel that allows one to easily switch 6 individual loads back and forth from the inverter to the utility, depending on the state of the batteries and the need for power. This switching is done manually and would be considered the opposite end of the simplicity spectrum from the grid tie system. It is designed as an example of using lower cost components and more operator involvement.

All of the solar currently is on the back (East facing) roof of this old west side home. The grid tie inverter was selected to accommodate a future installation on the front of the house which will pay more attention to something very important: aesthetics. The future installation will face West rather than south and sacrifice efficiency for aesthetics.

Directions: From I-94: Take Exit 172. Stay straight to go onto Jackson Road / I-94 BL E. Continue to follow I-94 BL E. Turn right onto Crest Ave. Turn Left onto W Washington St. Turn Right onto Buena Vista Ave.

Click here for Mapquest area map

Ypsilanti Food Co-op
312 N River Street, Ypsilanti
Phone #734-483-1520 / Web: www.ypsifoodcoop.org

The Ypsilanti Food Co-Op building features a 950 watt photovoltaic installation, equipped with watt meters to monitor the energy consumption and generation. They will have tour guides available from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm to explain how the system works.

Directions:

From Ann Arbor: Take I-94 E toward Detroit. Take the Huron Street / US-12-BR (Exit 183) toward Downtown Ypsilanti. Turn left onto US-12 BR E / S Huron Street. Take for one mile. Turn right onto W Michigan Avenue / US-12 BR / MI-17. Turn left onto N River Street. The co-op is about 0.2 miles down the road.

Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association
URL: www.glrea.org
Email: info@glrea.org
Lansing:
(517) 646.6269
Toll Free:
1.800.434.9788

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Current GLREA Board Members

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