The Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency, American Solar Energy Society, installers and grassroots organizations will showcase solar-powered and net zero homes, schools and businesses as part of the 28th annual National Solar Tour.

The event will take place Oct. 7. The tour will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., followed by a soiree from 6-9 p.m. Tour tickets cost $12, and tickets to attend both the tour and the soiree are $65.

The Beyond Solar Soiree will be held at the custom, owner-built solar home of Gary and Laura Lyndes near Turtle Lake. The dinner will partially be donated by Grassburger, while Ska Brewing will supply beer, and Wagon Wheel Liquors will provide wine. There will also be live classical music by Brian Wagner.

The showcase will demonstrate how to reduce monthly energy bills, reduce harmful carbon emissions, and earn rich tax credits and cash incentives. The self-guided Beyond Solar Tour affords participants the direct perspectives of homeowners and installers about the costs, processes, as well as economic and environmental benefits of going solar or building new homes to net zero sustainability standards.

Featured stops include a tour of the Solar Straw Bale of KSUT “Garden Guy,” Tom Bartels. He will discuss minimizing a carbon footprint while designing a home and how to consider efficiency in the design. Another stop is a solar home in the Animas Valley, whose owner is an expert on air source heat pump and a Rivian owner.

Mountain Middle School will also be visited during the tour as its carbon neutral campus generates nearly 100% of its power from solar energy. The school uses its solar power to provide the school’s electricity, power its HVAC system, charge its electric van and electric charging stations for staff vehicles.

For details and tickets, call 4CORE at 259-1916 or visit fourcore.org.