2005 Phoenix/Valley of the Sun Tour Information

Select a Location Below for Information and Maps:
APS STAR Center Open House (large solar testing facility - Tour Guides available here)
Beaulieu Hydrogen House (solar hydrogen house)
Fuller (papercrete presentation & demonstration)
MacLeod (residential solar grid-tied retrofit)
Lee (Lee residence)
Foster (Green Building new build)
Baron (Green Building remodel)
Gilbert (homegrown solar pioneer)
Thompson (permaculture edible landscaping)
Stack (tract home solar retrofit - Tour Guides available here)
Titmus (urban solar permaculture)

• APS Star Center - 1500 E University Drive, Tempe
• Orange Table Cafe at the Scottsdale Performing Arts Center - 7373 E. Scottsdale Mall #6, Scottsdale
• Stack residence - 1070 E Jupiter Place, Chandler

APS STAR Center Open House (large solar testing facility)

NOTE: Tour Guides available at this location

Address:  1500 E University Drive, Tempe -- From the intersection of McClintock and University Drive, go west on University about 100 yards then turn North into the entrance of the APS STAR Center.  Image

Beaulieu Hydrogen House (solar hydrogen house)

NOTE: THIS LOCATION REQUIRES PREREGISTRATION - CONTACT DAN AIELLO @ j2envarch@aol.com or (602) 952-8192

Address: 10989 E Tusayan Trail, Scottsdale. From the intersection of N Pima Rd and E Happy Valley Rd, go east on Happy Valley Rd about 2.2 miles to Tusayan Trail. Turn North onto Tusayan Trail and continue to Guard House (Group will be escorted from Guard House to the Beaulieu residence). Limited opportunity - 3pm. Image

More Information Here

Fuller ( Papercrete presentation & demonstration)

Address: 1 Continental Drive, Tempe. From the intersection of 68th St. and Curry Rd, travel North approx. 1 mile to Continental Drive; then go West approx. 200 yards to the PeraClub . Enter the gated area and follow signs to the papercrete demonstration site. Limited opportunity with presentations at 11am and 2pm only. No reservation required.  Image

More Information Here

MacLeod (residential solar grid-tied retrofit)

Directions: 7340 N 34th Ave, Phoenix. From the intersection of W Glendale Ave and 35th Ave, head North on 35th Ave. Turn East on Orangewood then South on 34th Ave. Proceed to the 2nd house on the right.  Image

Features:

• 2375 Watt Grid-Tie Photovoltaic System
• White Elastomeric Heat-reflecting roof paint
• Arbor shading
• Hybrid Evaporative cooler/Air-Conditioner (SEER 12) cooling system
• Added Blown-in Insulation
• Energy Star Appliances
• Front Loading High Efficiency Clothes washer
• Solar Tubes
• Compact Flourescent Light Bulbs
• One Prius, One Honda Insight, Two Bicycles

Lee Residence

Directions: 209 W Quartz Rock Rd, Phoenix, from the intersection of Central Ave and Happy Valley Rd, go North on Central 1/4 mile, then West on Quartz Rock Rd. Home is 3 blocks on the South side of Quartz Rock Rd. Image

More Information Here

Foster (Green Building new build)

Directions: 29457 114th St, Scottsdale, from N Pima Rd go East on Dynamite (also called Rio Verde) to 114th St. Turn North on 114th to home. Image

Features:

• SOLAR HOT WATER
• 5KW GRID-TIE PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR POWER SYSTEM
• SITE ORIENTATION 20* OF SOUTH
• HIGH SEER HVAC UNITS
• ENERGY STAR APPLIANCES
• NO LAWN
• PERMEABLE DRIVE
• FINISHED CONCRETE FLOOR
• DOMESTIC HARDWOOD DOORS
• NO WOOD BASE OR WINDOW TRIM
• LOW-IMPACT SITE CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE
• WATERPROOF INSULATED (E-CRETE AAC) STEM-WALL FOUNDATION
• INTEGRAL WALL SYSTEM, AAC E-CRETE
• OVER R-30 EXTERIOR WALLS
• REGIONALLY EXTRACTED MATERIALS
• INTEGRA EARTHEN COLOR EXTERIOR FINISH
• NO PAINT, NO LATHING
• LOW LIGHT REFLECTING EXTERIOR COLOR
• R-38 BLOWN-IN CELLULOSE CEILING INSULATION
• STEEL FRAME INTERIOR PARTITIONS
• ADVANCED AIR SEALING PACKAGE
• LOW U-FACTOR WINDOWS, U-39
• WINDOWS WITH LOW SOLAR HEAT GAIN COEFFICIENT .29
• FULLY SHADED SOUTH GLASS
• GENEROUS DAYLIGHTING
• COMPACT / TUBULAR FLORESCENT AND LOW VOLTAGE LIGHTING
• ALL DUCT WORK IN CONDITIONED SPACES
• BELOW GROUND RETURN AIR
• CROSS-VENTILATION COOLING
• PASSIVE WINTER SOLAR HEATING
• PASSIVE RADON VENTING
• SEALED COMBUSTION FIREPLACE
• CENTRAL VACUUM WITH OUTSIDE EXHAUST
• DETACHED GARAGE
• GRAYWATER TWO-PIPE SYSTEM

Baron ( Green Building remodel)

Directions: 8325 E Monte Vista Rd, Scottsdale, from the intersection of E McDowell and N Hayden Rd, go East on Mc Dowell to Granite Reef. Go North on Granite Reef to Monte Vista. Go West on Monte Vista to home. Image

Features:

• ENERGY AUDIT PERFORMED WITH COMPLETE BOOKLET AND PICTURES IDENTIFYING ALL AREAS OF CONCERN
• ORIGINAL YARD LANDSCAPE WITH GRASS CHANGED TO DROUGHT TOLERANT XERISCAPE WITH NO DRIP SYSTEM NEEDED
• ADDITION OF FOUR NATIVE DESERT TREES FOR SHADE
• RAMMED EARTH GARDEN SEAT-WALL ELEMENT ADDED
  REMOVAL OF CONCRETE DRIVEWAY, FLOWER BOXES, AND WALKWAY TO INTRODUCE DECOMPOSED
• GRANITE GROUND TO INTEGRATE INTO NATURAL DESERT LANDSCAPE ALLOWING LESS HEAT GAIN IN THE ENTIRE AREA
• VEGETABLE GARDEN SPACE IN PROCESS
• ADDITIONAL PLANS TO INSTALL A WATER HARVESTING CISTERN,SEALING ASPHALT SHINGLES ON ROOF, ADDING NEW RAIN GUTTERS, TRENCH DRAIN AND FLO-THRU PIPE TO DISTRIBUTE RAINWATER FROM FRONT DESERT PATIO INTO DESERT GARDEN TO WATER TREES AND WILDFLOWERS
• GUEST BATH WATER CLOSET UPGRADED TO CAROMA DUAL FLUSH MODEL
• INTERIOR FLOOR SALTILLO TILE
• CORK FLOORING IN GUEST BEDROOM
• CLAY PLASTERS OF WALL SURFACES IN GUEST BATHROOM
• 12 SEER AIR CONDITIONER AND UPGRADED VENTING SYSTEM IN MAIN HOUSE
• RETURN AIR VENT SYSTEM INSTALLED IN GUEST BEDROOM DOOR USING RECYCLED MATERIALS
• CLERESTORY WINDOWS ADDED TO STUDIO ALONG SOUTH WALL FOR MAXIMUM NATURAL LIGHTING
• STUDIO LIGHT SPECTRA 90 4’ TUBES INTRODUCES HEALTHIER BLUE LIGHT VS YELLOW
• INTERIOR CEILING LIGHTS LO-VOLTAGE RECESSED AND TRACK LIGHTING USING ENERGY EFFICIENT BULBS
• RECYCLED WOOD FROM TEAR-DOWN OF PREVIOUS ARIZONA ROOM TO BUILD STUDIO SHELVING IN REAR YARD

Additional Information:  New low-E windows in the north facing side that will also address summer sun challenges when it hits low into the windows. The two bedroom windows and the main large living room window. Bronzed aluminum. The company is Republic West right on McDowell and 82nd street!

New path and driveway material has been installed from Stabilizer Solutions to augment the natural desert environment with natural aggregates that have been hand tamped and rolled. The driveway is more porous to allow rainwater to permeate into the earth. The path uses a natural soy based StaLoK material. It is more durable. This will provide an organic addition to the previous layout protecting the house from tracking in the landscape dirt.

New retractable screen door to allow natural light and view to be appreciated while preventing bugs. I really dont like to typical screen doors available here in the valley. This has a very strong magnet and also allows the screen door to close slower and not "snap" back. The view will be nice and clean.

I planted several sections of Ocotillo fencing along the path to create a natural flow leading to the front door. Each section is 5' wide by 6' tall. It also helps to create that porosity and layering we are always talking about to break up the intense sun.

New lo=voltage path lights and tree lights hanging down from the 3 trees as well as some uplights were installed. They are programmed on a very strong transformer with a timer. FX Luminaries is the company.

The facade of the brick wall was power washed. A new product from Innovative Formulations in Tucson called FlexCrete will be toweled onto the block wall in front. Later a color will go over this and also be troweled. This FlexCrete has insulation properties. David will be driving up on Thursday evening to bring me the product. Hopefully I will find some guys to trowel it on Friday and/or Saturday. If you know any good trades guys who are really good and dependable, let me know.

The front landscape has a graywater system that disperses from the washingmachine. In the back yard, there is a serious pvc piping system to carry rainwater way to the alley as well as down the chain from the rain gutter in the back.

Andy from Blazing Solar will be here to talk about and demonstrate the type of solar water heater he plans to install in my 40 gallon gas water heater. He will show pictures and if people want to go up on the roof so he can show them where its going we will do that too. In addition he will show the cash refunds that the FEDs and State will give after January ! Quite substantial. And lastly, he will bring two solar ovens that he will place in the front yard to demonstrate how the ovens work.  I have Solar lights surrounding my vegetable garden that do very well.

Gilbert (homegrown solar pioneer)

Directions: 6409 E Decatur St, Mesa, from the intersection of University Dr and Power Rd, go west on University 1/2 mile to 64th St. Turn North on 64th St. to Decatur St. Home is on the southeast corner of 64th St and Decatur St.  Image

Features:

• PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS PROVIDING 5 KW OF POWER
• WIND GENERATOR PROVIDING 400 WATTS OF POWER
• BATTERY BACK UP AND GRID TIED SYSTEM
• NET-METERING PIONEER, SYSTEM IN PLACE FOR OVER 10 YEARS BEFORE INTERCONNECTION AVAILABILITY
• SOLAR ON MOTOR HOME FEATURED IN HOME POWER MAGAZINE ISSUE # 24
• SOLAR PANELS FROM ARCO, KYOCERA AND PHOTOWATT ALL WORKING COLLECTIVELY
• HOME MADE MOUNTINGS AND TILT FEATURES ON PV ARRAY
• ABUNDANT SHADE OF YARD PROVIDED BY LARGE SOLAR ARRAY
• LOW-E R-6 WINDOWS THROUGHOUT
• COMPACT FLUORESCENT BULBS IN MOST FIXTURES
• ENERGY STAR REFRIGERATOR
• SOLAR OVENS FOR COOKING
• SOLAR WATER DISTILLERS
• SOLAR DC ATTIC FANS
• XERISCAPE, DROUGHT TOLERANT NATURAL DESERT LANDSCAPING
• MONITORING DEVICES FOR USAGE, POWER AND BATTERIES
• ENERGY SYSTEM DATA FOR PAST THREE YEARS COLLECTED AND DOCUMENTED IN EXCEL SPREADSHEET FORMAT

Thompson (permaculture edible landscaping)

Directions: 602 W Rawhide Ave, Gilbert, from the intersection of Cooper and Elliott, go South on Cooper about 200 yards to Madera Parc. Turn East on Madera Parc then take first Right (southeast) on Rawhide. Proceed to third house on the left. Image

Information: This botanically lush, cool and comfortable site is a visible treasure - a green jewel in a barren wasteland of concrete, cacti and  gravel. Come see a living example of the highest kind of urban horticulture - a superb demonstration of ecology and beauty with edible and useful landscaping. You WILL be amazed! There is no other place quite like this!

"What permaculturists are doing is the most important activity that any group is doing on the planet." - David Suzuki

In 3 years Dan Thompson aka "Permaculture Dan" has transformed the Bermuda grass and gravel yard of an ordinary Gilbert Arizona suburban home into a Permaculture Oasis in the desert. Come see this amazingly oxygen-rich and deliciously edible landscape. Not only is almost every plant edible but the living "passive" shade modifies the climate surrounding the entire home - buffering temperature extremes and saving thousands of dollars in cooling and heating bills over time. This also substantially reduces the amount of mechanical systems (such as solar panels, etc.) that would be needed to power the home - avoiding thousands of dollars in purchasing costs. Let Nature do some of the "work" for you! Don't just landscape for looks! Learn to landscape for energy savings as well as delicious food! Embrace your outside space for personal enjoyment and entertaining and let it pay for itself in energy savings.

Vegetation is not just attractive - it provides us with clean water, oxygen, air-and-surface-cooling shade, air purification and noise reduction:

- Plants clean water and give it back to us: in our food or back into the water table and/or into the sky to recycle again - none is lost - it is only cleaned and then released in these three ways.
- The oxygen concentration on the street is 17% but in Permaculture Dan's backyard it is an amazing 26%! Now that's a breath of fresh air!
- When the temperature of the street is 150 degrees the temperature in Dan's backyard is 99 degrees - and this is the hottest it gets there!
- The more plants you have outside, the cleaner your air is inside, and the less dust comes inside your home.
- You will also notice some noise reduction benefits as well.

Why bake in the dry, desiccating heat when you can sit in the moist cool shade and munch happily away on your own home-grown, nutritious (health-enhancing), delicious fruits and veggies?

Come see how to Save Money, Save Energy and Create a Cool, Green, Healing Oasis of your own with predominantly edible plants. Join with others in helping to cool our urban heat islands. Let's all take some measure of personal responsibility for using less oil, gas and electricity by growing some of our own foods and by helping cool and shelter our homes from extremes of climate with edible, beautiful and useful plants. And save money while doing it!

Stack (tract home solar retrofit)

NOTE: Tour Guides available at this location

Directions: 1070 E Jupiter Place, Chandler, from the intersection of McQueen and Chandler Blvd, go South on McQueen 1/2 mile to Frye Rd. Turn East on Frye, then North on Cross Creek Rd to Jupiter Place. Go West on Jupiter Place to cul-de-sac.  Image

Features:

• SOLAR ENERGY EFFICIENT RETROFIT OF A 6-YEAR-OLD 1600 SQ. FT. RESIDENCE
• 3 BEDROOM, 2 BATH, SRP BILLS AVERAGE LESS THAN $20 A MONTH
• GRID-TIED SOLAR ELECTRIC PV SYSTEM 1.8 KW, NET-METERING, (SELLING BACK EXCESS ENERGY TO THE UTILITY COMPANY)
• SOLAR HOT WATER SYSTEM
• ENERGY STAR HEAT-PUMP LENNOX 16.5 SEER WITH HEPA AIR FILTER
• ENERGY STAR EFFICIENT APPLIANCES
• TWO SOLAR TUBE LIGHTS, NATURAL LIGHT FOR INTERIOR WITH MINIMAL HEAT GAIN FROM THE SUN OR
• ENERGY LOSS FROM THE INTERIOR
• LED AND COMPACT FLORESCENT BULBS FOR INDOOR LIGHTING 
• SOLAR SHADES ON EAST AND WEST WINDOWS
• RESOURCE EFFICIENT XERISCAPE LANDSCAPING
• SOLAR LANDSCAPING LIGHTS
• LCD COMPUTER SCREEN AT 1/2 POWER USE AND NO ELECTRON EMISSIONS CREATING LESS EYE STRAIN AND REDUCING HEALTH RISKS
  NON TOXIC FAUCET ON KITCHEN SINK
• HOME ORIENTED WITH GARAGE ON SOUTH AS HEAT BUFFER
• WATER REDUCTION ON ALL SHOWER HEADS AND TOILETS

Titmus (urban solar permaculture)

Directions: 2652 E Butte Circle, Mesa, from the intersection of University Dr and Gilbert Rd, travel east on University through the light at 24th St - then turn South on Yale (across from Discount Tire).  Follow Yale (curves a little) to Butte Circle .  Turn East on Butte Circle and go to cul-de-sac. Image

For More Information: contact Daniel Peter Aiello, Arizona Solar Energy Association - j2envarch@aol.com or (602) 952-8192