The first San Luis Valley Solar (SLV) Fair was held at Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado on the first Saturday in July. This all-day event featured expert local speakers on residential solar heating, existing solar homes, passive solar architecture, solar home performance, solar hot water, solar electric (photovoltaics), radiant floors, thermal mass designs, active solar heating systems, energy conservation priorities, and the Federal solar tax credits that are available to home owners and businesses.

One of the featured speakers was Paul Shippee, of Colorado Sunworks, who has designed and built two zero-energy homes, one in Longmont, Colorado and one in Crestone, Colorado. The earth-covered, passive solar SunEarth home in Longmont was documented by a Federal program (HUD) to be the best performing solar home in the U.S. during a nationwide solar monitoring program.

According to Paul, a zero-energy solar home utilizes passive and active solar collectors and super-insulation to reduce heating bills for house heating and domestic hot water to zero. The goal of 100% solar heating is achievable in Colorado’s sunny and cold climate through innovative solar home design based on principles of passive solar energy and correct placement of thermal mass heat storage.

To learn more about passive and active solar home design principles visit Paul’s website www.crestonesolarschool.com where you can read many solar articles and also register for upcoming 4-day Solar Home Design & Natural Building workshops May 28 – 31, June 25-28, July 23-26 or August 20-23. These are residential programs held in Crestone and include local solar home tours.

The idea of holding a series of local San Luis Valley Solar Fairs at Adams State University is to promote an in-depth solar educational opportunity for local residents, builders, architects, home-owners, businesses, and financial mortgage institutions. Practical solutions for several renewable energy alternatives to rising and vulnerable fossil fuel costs were presented at the all-day SLV Solar Fair event. Hands-on hardware demonstrations were also on display.

A special guest speaker from Denver, Morey Wolfson, a renewable energy policy analyst, spoke on the details of the Federal solar and conservation income tax credits available for solar heating and solar electric home installations. A tax credit means 30% of the money spent on solar or energy conservation for your home can be subtracted from your federal income tax bill. Similar tax credits may also be available from the State of Colorado. Hidden subsidies for oil and gas have traditionally made these fuels artificially cheap to buy. A solar tax credit is designed to level the playing field for solar home renewable energy expenditure options.