Chester County Hosts Largest Local Tour in National Solar Energy Event

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — Chester County is a leader in solar energy and local tours will show you who's doing what here, like TESD's Hillside Elementary and Wayne's Central Baptist Church.

More than 15 Chester County homes, schools, businesses, non-profits, and houses of worship have come together to create the largest local tour in the world's largest grassroots solar event.

Part of the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society's (ASES) 26th Annual National Solar Tour, the tours nationwide showcase thousands of clean energy homes across North America, in person and virtually. Tours are going on now in Chester County.

The tours highlight three areas in which people can act to drastically reduce monthly energy bills, reduce harmful carbon emissions, and enjoy rich tax credits and cash incentives as they improve their property values.

The Chester County virtual tour kicked off on Oct. 2 and continues through Jan. 15, 2022. It showcases the solar and other technologies locals have adopted through 3-minute video tours of farms, homes, businesses, government buildings, and houses of worship which are both entertaining and informative.

Central Baptist Church in Wayne shares its multi-year plan to become a Net-Zero congregation. Hillside Elementary in Tredyffrin/Easttown School District has a tour narrated by students, highlighting the benefits of green roofs.

Local host Dave Weber accompanies his tour with guitar music and evocative songs from "You are my Sunshine" to "Let the Sun Shine." He explained his family has avoided over 73,000 pounds of CO2 emissions and often gets electric bills that say, "No payment due."

"The ASES National Solar Tour shows families and businesses real-life examples of how their neighbors are harnessing free energy from the sun to generate electricity, warm and cool their homes, heat water and slash monthly utility bills," said Nora Ziegler, the local tour coordinator.

"We called our tour the Chester County Clean Energy Tour, because it demonstrates an array of practical and economical solutions available right here, right now. It also gives Chester County building owners and renters a glimpse at how a variety of solar systems look in and around structures with different architectural styles, from an 1840's barn to LEED-certified buildings," Ziegler explained.

In addition to homes, other tours focus on public buildings. The West Bradford’s Township building illustrates the benefit of installing a Geothermal Heating and Cooling System in new and renovated government facilities. The Stroud Research Center’s tour is an inspiring example of the energy efficiency that offices and schools could undertake in addition to their exceptional water management system.

"The National Solar Tour attracted more than 150,000 people in 49 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico in the kick-off weekend. It affords participants the direct perspectives of homeowners and installers about the costs, processes, and economic and environmental benefits of going solar. It encourages neighborhood conversations addressing the growing need for clean energy," said ASES Executive Director, Carly Rixham.

This National Solar Tour is free and open to the public. Learn more about the local tour here.

Chester County Clean Energy Tour is coordinated by local volunteers who are active in clean energy policy and practice.

Since 1954 the American Solar Energy Society has led the renewable energy revolution. It is a nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the use of solar energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable technologies across North America. ASES leads national efforts to promote solar energy education, public outreach, and advocacy.

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