The 2018 National (self-guided) Solar Tour of Homes on October 6 and 7, a partnership between Solar United Neighbors and the American Solar Energy Society, will be the largest ever, with more than 400 participants. Dave Strenski, with Solar Ypsi, will speak about practical solar applications from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., October 7, at Ypsilanti Freighthouse. The event includes distributing maps of three dozen house to tours in the Ypsilanti area. SolarYpsi is a loose group of volunteers, educating, designing and installing solar power around Ypsilanti.

Strenski explains, “Solar power continues to drop in price as more people install systems. A typical Michigan home uses about 600 kWh per month, or 20 kWh per average day. With four hours of peak sun to capture that energy, the typical home needs 5,000 watts of solar panels to be 100 percent solar-powered, and a contractor could do everything for about $15,000. The 30 percent federal renewable energy tax credit would make  your out-of-pocket cost about $10,000.”

Location: 100 Market Place, Ypsilanti. For more information, more than 70 solar installations can be seen at SolarYpsi.org. Take a virtual solar tour at SolarYpsi.org/AerialVideos.html.