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 Lansing Area Tour
Regional Coordinator:
GLREA: Jennifer Malinowski (jennifer.malinowski@glrea.org or 800-434-9788)

Ballentine Home
7051 W. Eaton Hwy, Lansing



This 1728 square foot colonial ranch uses structural insulated panels and includes 160 square feet of south-facing windows, which provide 20 percent of the passive solar heating. The timberframe, which contains 30,000 pounds of oak, and 1/2 inch brick facing on the fire place, provides the thermal mass for direct solar gain. Passive cooling techniques, including landscaping are also used.  The house is kept cool in the summer by the careful placement of vines and trees along the Western side.  Deciduous trees shade the driveway in the summer, preventing it from absorbing and giving off heat.  When these trees lose their leaves in the fall the driveway is allowed to collect heat, which helps melt snow in the winter.  Other energy efficient features include the use of a tankless hot water heater, low-E argon gas windows, insulated doors, and a heat recovery ventilation system which both provides fresh air and recovers 80% of the heat that is exhausted. The home also uses recycled fixtures, low emissivity (healthy home) finishes, and ENERGY STAR lighting and appliances.

Directions:

From I-96:
Take I-96 to exit 90 at Grand River. Turn East, or toward Lansing, onto Grand River. Turn right on Ingersol (first street on right). Take Ingersol over the railroad tracks to Eaton Hwy., which goes right. House is the third driveway past Delta River Dr. and the fourth house. Park on the road and walk down a steep driveway.

From Saginaw:
Take Creyts North to Willow. Turn left, then turn right onto Webster, which angles off northwest. Take Webster across river to Delta River Dr. Turn left and go to Eaton Hwy. Turn left onto Eaton Hwy. House is the third driveway past Delta River Dr. and fourth house. Park on the road and walk down a steep driveway.

Click here for Mapquest area map
Please note that the star on this map does not indicate where the home is.

Cleary Home
5084 Mills Highway, Eaton Rapids, MI

This past summer, the Cleary home installed a dual mode air system that provides both solar hot water and forced air heat for the house. Also installed was a 340 watt, 2 panel photovoltaic system, which is connected to a battery bank and inverter. The system is set up to add more PV panels and a wind generator in the next few years.

Within the past year, a new Energy Star® boiler furnace and hot water heater were also installed. The hot water system is designed to that it can be preheated by the boiler furnace during the winter and the solar dual mode system during the rest of the year.

Directions:
Take I-69 toward Charlotte. Take the M-50 / Eaton Rapids exit, turn East toward Eaton Rapids. Go five miles on M-50 and turn South on Ackley Road (dirt road). Take Ackley until it ends at Mills Highway and turn right. The home is the first drive on the left (South) side of the road.

Click here for Mapquest area map

Eisensmith Home
5847 Bois Isle Dr., Haslett

This home stays cool in the summer and warm in the winter, thanks to proper insulation and harnessing the sun's energy in many ways.   A geothermal cooling system powered by solar electric panels provide “free” air conditioning to the home.  Features include a solar water heating system, radiant floor heating, solar air heating for the garage, PolarWall Insulated Vinyl Siding, Solatube skylights throughout the home, compact fluorescent lighting and much more. A high efficiency natural gas furnace with an ENERGY STAR thermostat is used to provide heat as well.  An AstroFoil Radiant Barrier in the attic reflects up to 97% of the sun’s radiant heat from being absorbed.  LED Flood lights on the home use 1/16 of the energy of normal light bulbs.  The homeowners also save energy with special ceramic paint on the interior walls which provide heat insulation, energy efficient appliances, lighting, window quilts and more.

Directions:
From 69: Merge onto E Saginaw St / I-69 BL W via Exit 94 toward E Lansing. After approximately 3 miles, turn sharp left onto E Lake Lansing Rd. Go 1 mile and turn right onto Bois Isle Dr. House is a tan ranch with brown trim on the right hand side of the road.

From 96: Take Exit 110 toward Okemos / Mason. Turn left onto Okemos Rd. Go 5 miles and turn right onto Haslett Rd. Turn left onto Bois Isle Dr. After 500 yards the road will split - bear right. House is a tan ranch with brown trim on the left hand side of the road.

Click here for a Mapquest map of the area.

GLREA
257 S. Bridge St, Dimondale

The offices of the Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association are housed in a historic 19th century building that was given a 21st century retrofit. Renovated to be highly energy efficient, the building has lost little of its historic feel. An 1800 watt grid - intertied PV system is situated on the roof, and is able to provide more than enough power to run the building.  A dual mode solar air system was installed, supplying the office with heat and hot water.   A Traveling Renewable Energy Display (TRED) is parked next to the building, and features a hybrid wind and solar system with battery back-up. TRED has come in handy by supplying emergency power to the building during blackouts.  The upstairs of the building is currently undergoing renovation for energy efficiency, including installation of a radiant floor heating system.

Directions:
From the East:
Take I 96 to the M-99 (Martin Luther King/Michigan Rd) exit. Turn left and take this to Dimondale Hwy and turn right. Follow Dimondale Hwy as it curves left and turns into Bridge Street. Continue on past the caution light and across the bridge to the corner. The GLREA Headquarters is on the left. From the West: Take I- 96 to the Lansing Road South exit. Go to the first stop light and turn left onto Canal. Go to the 4-way stop and turn left on Windsor Hwy. Go to the next 4-way stop and park in any available area. The GLREA building is on the left corner. There is on-street parking on both Jefferson and Bridge St.

Click here for a Mapquest map of the area.

This house demonstrates an innovative and holistic approach to efficiency and affordability. Passive solar orientation, structural insulated panels, controlled ventilation, native landscaping, and infill development characterize this practical, comfortable, and attractive urban home. To read about the story of this home, click here.

Directions:
1641 Mount Vernon Ave is 1 block South of Burcham and 1 1/2 blocks East of Hagadorn in East Lansing.

From I-69, take Exit 94 (Saginaw St.) towards East Lansing. Turn left onto Hagadorn Rd. Turn left onto Mount Vernon Ave.

Click here for Mapquest area map

Johnson Home
5214 Cornell Road, Okemos

This super-insulated 2000 square foot passive solar home features a solar domestic hot water system and radiant floor heating.  Due to the energy saving features of the home, the owner only paid $900 total for electricity and propane in 2006.

Directions:
From I-69:  Take exit 94, merge onto E Saginaw Street toward East Lansing.  Take a Left on Marsh Road.  Follow Marsh Road for just over 2 miles.  Make a Left at Haslett Road.  Follow Haslett Road for about 1 mile to Cornell Road. Take a right on Cornell Road.  End at home.

From I-96: Take exit 110 – Okemos Road.  Follow Okemos Road North for about 2½ miles.  Make Right on Grand River Avenue.  Follow Grand River to the light at Cornell Road.  Make a left on Cornell Road.  End at home.

Click here for a Google map of the area.

Lankheet Home
4080 Doane Hwy, Potterville

This home features a 900 Watt PV system with three arrays of 4 panels each. The wind generator is a Whisper 1500 on an 80 ft. tilt-up tower. Both systems connect to a battery bank and inverter. This grid-tied system provides 60- 70% of the energy needs for home, shop, and office. There is also a 160 sq. ft. solar pool heating system and an 80 sq. ft. solar air system for heating the shop. There are lots of south facing windows. The greenhouse is currently being remodeled, but helps heat the house along with a wood burning stove.

Directions:
From Lansing:
Take I-496 west to Creyts Rd. South exit. Take this to the first light and turn right onto Mt. Hope Hwy. Go to the second stop sign. Turn left onto M-100 (Hartel). Take this to Doane Hwy and turn right. Or take I-96 west to Lansing Rd South Exit. Take this to the 2nd stop light and turn right onto Crowner Rd. Take Crowner to Billwood and turn left. Take this to the end, which is M-100 (Hartel). Go to first left and turn on Doane Hwy. Go 0.9 miles and the home is on the left.

Click here for Mapquest area map

Meyerle Home
9140 Grove Rd, Dewitt

A 500 watt rack-mounted PV system is situated just south of this 1970's ranch style home. Excess electricity is stored in a battery bank which can supply two to three days of emergency power. The Meyerle's were able to reduce their electric bill by 2/3 last winter thanks to PV, a 93% efficient propane furnace, and a reduction in their water heater size.

Directions:
Take 69 west to the Airport Rd exit. Go north on Airport Rd approximately five and a half miles until you reach Chadwick Rd. Take a left on Chadwick and go exactly 1 mile to Grove. Turn right on Grove and go 9/10 of a mile to the home, which is on the left side. There are evergreen trees in yard, and the PV panels are visible from the road.

Click here for Mapquest area map

MSU Agricultural & Livestock Pavilion
Pavilion Drive, MSU Campus, East Lansing

This is a new 10 kW photovoltaic grid-intertied system. There is a display cabinet in the main lobby which explains the system and has a data collection display unit. To view the panels, follow the white fence around to the back.

Directions:
From I-96:
Go north on US 27 to the Jolly Rd exit. Turn left to the stop light and turn left. Follow this to Farm Lane and turn left. Take the North entrance into the Pavilion. From Mt. Hope: Go east to Farm Lane and turn right. Take the first entrance into the Pavilion.

Click here for Mapquest area map

Urban Options
405 Grove St., East Lansing

Urban Options is an Energy Star home and received a 5-star rating from the State of Michigan. The 4822 square foot house includes a passive solar addition made with structural insulated panels, over a dozen examples of recycled building materials, a high efficiency heating system, superwindows, a heat recovery ventilator, and ecological landscaping practices including compost demonstrations. Most of the electric needs are provided by a 2 kW UNI-SOLAR PV roofing system that consists of an array of 120 solar electric shingles. The roofing system was installed in 1998 and was the first of its kind in Michigan. It features back-up storage and utility interconnection.

Directions:
From the East or West:
Take I-96 to I-127 north. Take this to the Michigan Ave exit and turn right on Michigan Ave. This will join up with Grand River Ave. Go to Abbott and make a left. Go to first right, which is Albert. Go to the first left, which is Grove St., and park in the Grove St. parking ramp. Urban Options is the second house on the left, just north of Linden and north of the Grove St. parking ramp.

Click here for Mapquest area map

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

Join GLREA
Go to our membership area and find out how you can join GLREA!

Contact GLREA
Feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions or comments.

Current GLREA Board Members
Current GLREA Board Members

GLREA is a 501c3 nonprofit organization and contributions may be tax deductable.