You can live better - we can help
 
The Solar Institute is a nonprofit research and educational organization offering a broad range of information, referral and consulting services.
These include planning, design, construction, and improvement of homes, buildings, communities, landscapes and ecosystems.
Our focus is to create built environments that fit in better with nature, as well as healthy living environments so you and your world can thrive.

News
Sustainability and you. Just as "environment" was in the 1970s, Sustainability is now the crucial concept of our times. Soaring population growth is outstripping local resources all over the planet, causing ever greater social, economic and environmental disruption. In our corner of the world, Arizona's population having just zipped past 6,000,000, the population of the Tucson metropolitan area is now over 1,000,000: Tucson is now larger in population than seven states. Lifestyles dependant on importing virtually all basic needs from distant places are about to become much more expensive. Click for more on what you can do to protect yourself – and your world.
"Solar and Sustainability Month". In recognition of the importance of solar energy and related sustainable measures to the people of Arizona, and in support of the contribution made by the Tucson Innovative Home Tour and Tucson Solar Tour and associated events in Arizona to progress in these fields, the Governor has designated October to be “Solar and Sustainability Month” in Arizona. You can see the text and news release by clicking above. The Solar Institute is your source for help in putting sustainability to work in sustaining your life in better ways.
Living sustainably in the desert. Click here to see the Arizona Daily Daily Star's great Sunday Home feature on one of the fascinating homes on last year's Tucson Innovative Home Tour, a chance to see homes with "practical and cost-effective ways to exist better in Southern Arizona's climate." The feature home is a "... treasure trove of items that reduce environmental impact ... 70 percent of exterior irrigation comes from gray water or rainwater ... By the kitchen sink, a tap dispenses water from the rooftop solar water still ..." and much more,
"Home Sustainable Home: A tour of eco-friendly Tucson houses shows the possibilities for a brighter future." Click here to see the fine article in the Tucson Weekly about one of the homes on the 2006 tour, that of an expert on permaculture and rainwater harvesting. "There's an insurgent joy to the clipped power cables ... a defiant beauty to the lush enclave that surrounds his old adobe ... his world thrives on a fraction of the energy and water used by most Tucsonans." Total utility bills? "Right now, it's about $20 a month," he says with a big smile. "This gives people a chance to find out how to live better in the desert."
Passive solar design is the “hot building technology” of our times, according to renowned building scientist, J. Douglas Balcomb. "I see two reasons for it to lead architectural design in coming years: It is a critical technology for the 21st century, and it works." Read this article and others in Solar Today, the journal of the American Solar Energy Society, including coverage of the National Solar Tour.

The latest help for you from the Solar Institute
Earth Day has a greater urgency each year. Soaring population growth is outstripping local resources all over the planet, causing ever greater social, economic and environmental disruption. Under this world-wide onslaught, the ecosystems that sustain us are rapidly deteriorating. Lifestyles dependent on importing energy, water and other basic needs from distant places are becoming more difficult and costly to maintain. Living in harmony with nature is no longer about luxury, it's a matter of survival. This is what sustainability is about: not just living as if we have a future, but living to assure we have one. There are many things you can do to make your life - and your planet - better. We can help.

Information, consulting and referral services. The Solar Institute's family of community organizations offer expert help for a wide range of services and products for your home and business. It's an independent, non-profit, non-commercial, community sharing program that helps you get the best unbiased expert information and advise to satisfy your needs and the best value for your money. Join the Tucson Solar Alliance or the Tucson Homeowners Alliance and you can get simple questions answered at no charge, as well as professional consulting at greatly reduced rates. This works like Consumer Reports: these organizations are not affiliated in any way with any business and do not receive money or other considerations from any commercial enterprise. Click here for information on how to get in touch with us or see the Tucson telephone directory for "Solar Alliance of Greater Tucson."

Next Generation Building Institute. A broad network of professionals and organizations are leading a quantum leap forward in building design and construction: high performance buildings that function much better but cost a lot less to operate and maintain, buildings that fit in with the natural environment and contribute to a sustaining and sustainable built environment, buildings as if people mattered. Tucson is recognized nationally for being at the forefront of this work. Now owners, designers and builders have a central resource to make their buildings the best they can be. Through the Institute you can access some of the most knowedgeable and experienced professionals in the country, as well as the unique Next Generation planning and design methodology that brings it all together. Click here for information on how to get in touch with us.

Now is the time to build your dream home. The news gets worse every day for home owners: the costs of houses, materials, products, utilities, taxes and everything associated with homes are not just going up, they are increasing at alarming rates. [See "Other News" below.] However, those who are interested in pioneering a new approach to designing and building a high quality home that will cost a lot less over the long term now have a unique opportunity to fuflfill that dream.
  For years, Tucson's officially recognized Next Generation Home Alliance has analyzed not only all the functions and values of a home and how to improve them, but also all of the major costs of a home and how to reduce them as much as possible. Designing and building a new home the right way can result in total savings of up to 50% for the long-term cost of home ownership. This includes reductions as much as 75-80% for utility bills and other operations, maintenance and repair costs.
  Think of what it would mean to cut your costs of home ownership in half. The Alliance is now ready to make the results of all this effort available to a few aspiring homeowners who are willing to be the first pioneers to put this new approach to designing and building a home to the test.
  The Next Generation Home Project is accepting applications for the first pioneers of Next Generation Homes. Applicants must understand that this is a new approach to designing and building a home that has never been attempted before. Like any new pioneering development, it will encounter new challenges and problems, and, of course, has risks associated with that. Applicants should be highly interested, willling and able to work together cooperatively with architects, engineers, scientists, builders and others to faithfully follow this method through to satisfactory completion, test the results and share their experience with the community. Because this is a test of real-world conditions, applicants must also be financially sound and have their own financing. The project will take advantage of available tax credits, rebates and other measures to minimize costs, but no grants are available for the project. It should be anticipated that the initial price of the house will be higher than comparable standard homes to achieve the quality necessary to reduce costs over the longer term. Click here for information on how to get in touch with us.

The Next Generation Affordable Housing Project is looking for volunteers to help non-profit housing providers design and build a new generation of much better, much more affordable homes for those who need them most. You too can help! There are many ways you can help and no experience is necessary. Click here for more information.

Alert: Now is the time to buy solar energy equipment! If you are interested in a solar photovoltaic electric power system, a solar water heater, a solar pool heater or other equipment of this kind, the time to do it is now. New federal tax credits, which started in January, 2006, offer up to $2,000 for solar energy equipment and $500 for energy efficiency. In addition, the State of Arizona offers a $1,000 tax credit - and Tucson Electric Power offers a $2,000-3,000 rebate on pv systems! The net cost of a photovoltaic electric power system could be a small fraction of normal cost.
  The Tucson Solar Alliance can help you. It's a non-profit, non-commercial community program that does not sell anything - it just helps you get the best and most appropriate system for you at the best price, with the best unbiased expert information and advise in town. It is not affiliated in any way with any companies or sales programs. Considering what happened the last time such high tax credits were available, things are going to get wild in the solar marketplace. You will want to choose the right equipment, the right manufacturer and the right installer very carefully to avoid disappointments. With demand spiking, the prices are likely to go up soon too.
  Cooperative Buyers Groups are now forming.
Click here for more information.

More help for you
How to deal with soaring home costs
» In June, the federal government reported that the price of homes in Tucson jumped more than 24 percent over the previous year — the highest increase in the nation. Last year, the increase was more than 29 percent. Over the past 5 years, the increase was over 86%. - Arizona Daily Star, September 6, 2006.
» During the first six months of 2005, housing prices rose by a minimum of $5,000 per month, according to the Tucson Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service. – Arizona Daily Star, October 16, 2005
» The median price for single-family homes in Tucson is now around $260,000. – Arizona Daily Star, July 14, 2005

How to deal with record energy costs
» This year, the price of oil, natural gas, electricity and other forms of energy all hit new record highs again - U.S. Energy Information Agency, October 13, 2006
» The price of oil broke $70 per barrel, and the price of gasoline $3.00 per gallon again this year. - Arizona Daily Star, October 13, 2006
» "Oil spurs U.S. trade deficit to a record." With oil leading the list of imports, the U.S. trade deficit soared to a record high of $782 billion last year, up 18% over last year's previous record and continues to set new monthly records. - U.S. Energy Information Agency and Arizona Daily Star, October 13, 2006
» OPEC oil cartel plans cut in output on Nov. 1, which will raise gas prices again ... after the U.S. elections. - Arizona Daily Star, October 20, 2006
» Tucson Electric Power recently proposed a 23% rate increase. - » Arizona Daily Star, August 19, 2006
» In December, natural gas prices for delivery in January soared to nearly $15 per 1,000 cubic feet, compared with $7 per 1,000 cubic feet a year earlier, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. - Arizona Daily Star, January 26, 2006

The Solar Institute has solutions for you.
  Not many people realize that it is possible to substantially reduce the costs of home ownership. Studies by the Next Generation Home Alliance analyzed all of the major costs of home ownership in Tucson and then determined how to reduce them. Designing and building a new home the right way can result in total savings of up to 50% for all costs and savings as much as 75-80% for things like gas and electric costs, and other operations, maintenance and repair costs. Think of what it would mean to cut your costs of home ownership in half. Savings for existing homes can also be substantial.
  One of the main focuses of the Tucson Innovative Home Tour and the Next Generation Home Course is to show you how you can do that. You may be surprised at how much better you can live at much lower costs.
  To help you do that, the Solar Institute now offers information, consulting and referral services for members of any of its family of community organizations, generally at very good discounts. Others have done this - we can show you how.
  Click here for information on how to get in touch with us.

Additional help from the Tucson Homeowners Alliance
Fall Home Tips. Now that cooler weather is back, our compilation of practical information and ideas can help you complete important home priorities and prepare for winter.

Tips for Hiring a Contractor The government reports that the number one source of complaints from homeowners is problems with contractors. This Homeowners Alliance compilation can help you learn from other people's experience and avoid pitfalls.

Property Tax shock. The average valuation of homes for tax purposes jumped 30% this year according to the Pima County Assessor's Office in Tucson. For some, the increase was even more. That's on top of an average increase of 30% in 2006, 19% in 2005 and 11% in 2004. Click on the link to learn more about why this is happening and what you can do about it.

"Mold stirs worry in homes." - Read the Arizona Daily Star's report on mold problems in local homes and learn what you can do to avoid such a disaster.

Solar Institute sets record straight on summer comfort. The front page of the Arizona Daily Star featured advice from the Solar Institute on how to stay comfortable at low cost. Click here to see the article and get more information under "News You Can Use."

Homeowners unite! Join the Tucson Homeowners Alliance to share and obtain information, ideas and experience in owning, operating and maintaining your home. In the immortal words of Benjamin Franklin, we can hang together or we will most assuredly hang separately.

Additional news and information
Popular press discovers value of next generation of homes.
  "We are building the wrong kinds of houses. Last month, while researching a story on energy-efficient home building ... dozens of experts convinced me we can change the way we build houses. The new methods range from subtle, such as passive solar design and framing with structural insulated panels, to advanced, such as using rooftop photovoltaic modules for converting the sun's rays to electricity and constructing exterior walls with insulated concrete forms." - Newsday, February 17, 2005. For more information and to read more of the article, click on the title above.

"The Power is theirs" - it can be yours too! - Read the Arizona Daily Star's Sunday feature article about homeowners who power their homes from the sun. You have seen some of these homes on the Tucson Innovative Home Tour. Click here for more information on how you can do this yourself.

Universal design is an important new concept for anyone planning to build or buy a new home. It's about designing homes as if people mattered. It means greater functionality, adaptability, flexibility and much lower long-term costs in a home to meet our curent and changing needs. Thanks to the leadership of the Tucson Commission on Disability Issues, our community is also at the forefront of advances in this field. Click above to learn more about why this is important to you.

Sustainability in action at the UofA. The student organization, ECLIPSE, is putting solar energy and sustainability into action at the University of Arizona. It has successfully launched an initiative to install the University's first major solar electric power system - funded by students. Congratulations to our friends at ECLIPSE and the UofA student body!

DIY Rammed Earth workshops. "Rammit Yourself!" A comprehensive full-day workshop where you can learn rammed earth construction "hands on," both theory and practice, through actual construction. Bring a sample of your soil if you would like it tested. A rare opportunity to learn from one of the top experts and pioneers in the field: Quentin Branch. 9:00 am - 4:00 pm. Fee of $100 includes good lunch. Plan on getting dirty. For information on the next one, call (520) 896-3393.

RIP: Dr. Helmut Frank, a good friend and colleague, died November 10, 2004. A remarkable man. A remarkable life. We honor his memory. His obituary.