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Middlesex County
Availability for visits: Availability is year round, Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. for energy related tours. Visits must be scheduled in advance. See our website for contact information www.natickfarm.org School groups schedule through our School Programs Coordinator and Girl Scouts schedule through our Public Programs Coordinator.
Considerations and opportunities noted by host:
Note: Whenever making arrangements, be sure to double check directions with the host.
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Host’s Name(s): Evergreen Solar Location:
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Description of site:
We manufacture and sell Evergreen branded solar panels. We are also a pilot research and development facility for photovoltaics. We happen to be one of only several manufacturers in the world to make our own wafers, cells and panels all under one roof. We are known for our unique “String Ribbon” technology for making our wafers that differ greatly from the conventional method of cutting and sawing silicon ingots (blocks) that the industry at large does. Our process uses 50%less silicon than everybody else and ggives our panels the quickest energy payback as well as the smallest carbon footprint in the industry.
This is an especially suitable site for high school age and mature students.
Availability for visits:
Contact Evergreen Solar.
Considerations and opportunities noted by host:
To arrange a visit and interview:
First point of contact: Terry Lawson, tlawson@evergreensolar.com
Second point of contact: Chris Lawson (no relation), clawson@evergreensolar.com
Directions: Provided during arrangements.
Note: Whenever making arrangements, be sure to double check directions with the host.
Host’s Name(s): Joel Parks Location:
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Description of site:
There is a photovoltaic array with 24 panels that is grid tied. For more information, go to http://jpjt.net/solar
Availability for visits:
Call ahead, weekends or evenings are good.
Considerations and opportunities noted by host:
There is an ice cream place down the road called Bedford Farms but it's generally not open in the winter. There is also the Lexington Museum of Our National History along with Battle Road (i.e. Minuteman March) close by.
To arrange a visit and interview:
email solarjpjt.net or call (781) 354-9319
Directions:
Take 128 to Route 3 North. From Route 3 take the first exit, number 26. At the end of the ramp, take a left onto Route 62 West. Go 1/2 mile to the first left. Take a hard left onto Old Burlington Road. Go 1/4 mile to to the first right. Take a right onto Wilson Rd. Go 100 feet to the first left. Take a left onto Ledgewood Drive. Go downhill, then uphill on Ledgewood Drive. Number 13 is a gray house on the right near the top of the hill. Please park only on the odd-numbered side of the street as it is (too narrow for cars to parked on both sides).
Note: When making arrangements, be sure to double check directions with the host.
Host’s Name(s): Jeff Deyette Location: 6th Floor
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Description of site:
This is the headquarters of the Union of Concerned Scientists, a national environmental organization. Our headquarters is a green-designed building with lots of great features to reduce our energy use. We have a solar PV (photovoltaic) system on our roof (which is accessible, weather permitting). More information about UCS can be found at www.ucsusa.org and more information about our green headquarters is available at:
www.ucsusa.org/ucs/about/our-green-headquarters.html
Availability for visits:
Could be arranged anytime during normal office hours (9-5, Monday-Friday). I would be willing to do 3-5 visits during the year.
Considerations and opportunities noted by host:
Our office is located in Harvard Square, so there is lots to see and do in the area, including plenty of places to eat. There is the Wordsworth House, and a museum and historical site operated by the National Park Service is just a short walk away. They use geothermal heat pumps to heat and cool the building.
To arrange a visit and interview:
Call Jeff at (617) 547-5552 Ext 256 or email jdeyette@ucsusa.org
Directions:
Directions by Public Transportation: Take the Red Line train or many MBTA bus lines to Harvard Square. Exit the station via the Brattle Street Exit. UCS is located less than a block up Brattle Street on the left. It is not directly on Brattle Street, but behind the Brattle Theatre and Algiers Restaurant -- turn left at the gray kiosk on Brattle Street and you'll see it. It's a six-story concrete building with black-trimmed windows and a glass awning noting "2 Brattle Square." We're located on the 6th floor.
Note: When making arrangements, be sure to double check directions with the host.
Host’s Name(s): David Erickson Location:
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Description of site:
We collect heat through glass on the roof and an attached greenhouse.
Availability for visits:
My availability is flexible.
Considerations and opportunities noted by host:
None noted.
To arrange a visit and interview:
Call (978) 369-7150 between 10:00 am and 10:00 pm
Directions:
Ask when arranging a visit.
Host’s Name(s): David Bearg, PE, CIH Location: |
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Description of site:
Airxpert Systems Inc.
Along with our energy efficient home we have a dark maze on site that relies on the sense of touch.
Availability for visits:
We are flexible; call in advance.
No more than 20 to a group.
Considerations and opportunities noted by host:
We have 4 cats; parking is restricted when there is snow so plan accordingly
Go to sagefarm.net for more information.
To arrange a visit and interview:
Call David anytime from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Directions:
Located in the southern part of Concord MA, Darton street is the second right off Dover Street. This turn is marked by yellow diagonal signs: SLOW & NARROW ROAD. Dover Street connects at its east end to Plainfield Road. Plainfield Road runs between Route 117 to the south and Powdermill Rd to the north. One end of Powdermill Rd connects to Sudbury Road, which in turn connects to Route 2. Directions can also be found on www.sagefarm.net
Note: When making arrangements, be sure to double check directions with the host.
Host’s Name(s): Gray Watson Location:
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Description of site:
We have a 5kW (kilowatt) photovoltaic (solar-electric) array on the roof of our house in Lexington. We also have rainwater storage and a pump system to feed irrigation lines. This adds to our 2 gas-electric hybrid vehicles. For more details on the Watson’s solar home go to http://256.com/solar/
Availability for visits:
Arrangements can be made any time of year, probably with a maximum of 4-6 visits but that is flexible.
Considerations and opportunities noted by host:
To arrange a visit and interview:
Contact Gray at: gray.nesea@mailnull.com or (781) 674-9228.
Directions:
The host suggest using www.MapQuest.com or ask when making arrangements.
Host’s Name(s): Maureen Kaplan Location:
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Description of site:
Hi! I'm your neighbor. My house is also an electric company but you wont have to worry about dirty air or global warming. I wont make you cough. My house has solar panels on the roof that generate electricity (on sunny days, at least). Solar panels don't look like they are doing anything. There are no bells, whistles, moving parts, noises, etc. They just sit quietly on the roof and generate electricity. At any moment in time, when they make more than I am using, the energy goes out to the power lines for anyone else to use. Visitors will see the panels on the roof, the piping to the electric meter (down the side of the house), an electric meter showing what the house is using at the moment. It can go backwards if we are sending energy to the power lines, the meter downstairs (which tracks all the energy we generate) and an inverter (a box that changes DC to AC). My car is a hybrid car. It is very boring looking because it looks just like any other Honda Civic. But because it uses both gasoline and electricity to run, it is cleaner and gets many more miles out of each gallon of gasoline. It can turn itself off when I stop at a light or wait in traffic, and turn itself back on when I touch the gas petal. The car is just a car, which is why I like it. The fact that it gets 45-49 miles per gallon means that I can visit my daughter in New York on one tank of gas. For more information go to www.soltrex.com.
Availability for visits:
We will start with one visit to see how it works out. Weekends during the day are a good time to visit.
Considerations and opportunities noted by host:
Near by places to visit are Lexington Green ("shot heard round the world") and the Museum of our National Heritage. Eating places in Lexington Center include: Italian (Mario's, Bertucci's, Vinnie Ts), Chinese (Peking Garden, Yangtse River), Thai (Lemon Grass), sandwiches (Via Largo), Indian (Kushboo), and ice cream (Rancatoris).
To arrange a visit and interview:
Email Maureen at Maureen.Kaplan@erg.com
Directions:
We are located near the Arlington/Lexington border. We will provide directions to trip organizers.
Host’s Name(s): Joanne Hallisey Location:
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Description of site:
Our house has a photovoltaic solar electricity system. We save energy by harnessing the sun's energy and when we are not using the solar power, the extra power goes back into the grid.
Availability for visits:
Saturdays or evenings are good (after 6pm). Will can accommodate 3 visits per school year
Considerations and opportunities noted by host:
This is a private home, so advance planning is important (I need to clean). We have three cats for those who have allergies. We are 1/4 of a mile from the Broadmoor Audubon Sanctuary, which has the same type system but on a larger scale, and 2 miles from the Natick Community Farm. The nearest stores are in South Natick (2 miles) or Sherborn Center (1.5 miles).
To arrange a visit and interview:
Email Joanne at hallisey@MIT.EDU
Directions:
Ask when arranging a visit.
Host’s Name(s): David Otten Location: |
Description of site:
The site has solar cells on the roof to generate electricity from the sun. The electricity that is not used it sold back to the electric company, Nstar.
Availability for visits:
Most likely we would be able to accommodate up to one visit per month.
Considerations and opportunities noted by host:
Tours should take about a half-hour and no more than 10 children at a time please.
To arrange a visit and interview:
Email David at otten@mit.edu or call him at home during the evenings (617) 965-5875
Directions:
Ask when making arrangements.
Host’s Name(s): James Bill Location:
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Description of site:
At Urban Design and Development Corporation we build loft condominiums that use passive solar systems and are constructed with heavy thermal mass materials such as concrete flooring and brick walls that soak up sun and radiate that heat at night. There is radiant heat flooring in addition to solar heat. We make use of large windows to use daylight for lighting, we recycle the rainwater, which then gets filtered and used for the toilets. For more information go to davissquarelofts.com
Availability for visits:
We are flexible but call ahead. We wont be ready until February or March.
Considerations and opportunities noted by host:
Dress for the outdoors with sneakers and such. We are located right by Davis Square and there are a lot of attractions and a ton of restaurants there.
To arrange a visit and interview:
Call James at (617) 718-1988
Directions:
By Car:
The office is located at 99 Elmwood Street, Somerville. Free parking is available in the lot or on the street. Look for Smart Cars parked next to the office.
By Subway:
Go to Davis Square. Walk west on the bike path to our office, which is next to Dicks Auto Body. Do not proceed to the site tour location until after you sign a safety form in the office.
Note: When making arrangements, be sure to double check directions with the host.
Host’s Name(s): Brian Hebeisen Location:
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Description of site:
Our house has solar panels that supply about 25% of our electricity. We also have many energy saving features like all compact fluorescent lights and high efficiency appliances. We decided to make our house more energy efficient and add the solar panels because we care about the environment and want to do our part.
Availability for visits:
Anytime with advance notice.
Considerations and opportunities noted by host:
We have cats in case anyone is allergic. Our house is 1 mile from the Charles River, which has nice walking paths, and their are ice cream stores within a 5-minute drive.
To arrange a visit and interview:
Call Brian during the day or evening at (617) 926-2150 or email him at brian.hebeisen@zoran.com
Directions:
See www.mapquest.com or ask when making arrangements.
Host’s Name(s): Ed Craddock Location: |
Description of site:
The house has solar generated electricity and solar heat and hot water, as well as a hybrid car.
Availability for visits:
Flexible, just call ahead
Considerations and opportunities noted by host:
There are a couple of McDonalds near by but other than that there is not much else.
To arrange a visit and interview:
Call Ed at (617) 332-4098
Directions:
Turn right out of NCSC parking lot and proceed north on Waltham Street. In about 1/2 mile, with Fessenden School on your right, you intersect with Crafts Street. Turn right onto Crafts but note that the Craddock home is directly ahead here, on the left immediately after you turn right onto Crafts -- note the PV system on the roof.
Note: When making arrangements, be sure to double check directions with the host.
Host's Name(s): Moneer Azzam Location:
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Description of site:
Our house operates on three basic solar systems. The first one is a grid connected solar system.We also have an attic exhaust/intake fan with battery back up, a solar hot water system, and we can do a demonstration of our solar LED lighting system.
Availability for visits:
Contact Moneer to discuss availability.
Considerations and opportunities noted by host:
To arrange a visit and interview:
In the evenings, call Moneer at (781) 431-2562
Directions:
Manor Avenue runs west off of Weston Road in Wellesley just before the Weston boarder with Wellesley. Weston Road runs north-south between Routes 9 and 30. Route 9 is accessible from Route 128/95 coming from the south and Route 30 is accessible from Route 128/95 from the north. Coming from the west on Route 90, take the Natick exit, exit 13 to Route 30 and Speen Street. Follow Route 30 to Weston Road.
Note: When making arrangements, be sure to double check directions with the host.
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