by Katherine Searcy, Chair TXSES Board of Directors
The Texas Solar Energy Society’s mission is Equitable Access to Solar Energy for Every Texan. Green building enables the efficient use of solar energy by reducing the total energy needed for a home or business, which in turn reduces the size of the required solar photovoltaic system. In this way, green building is foundational to and interwoven with the widespread adoption of distributed solar. This issue of the Solar Reflector focuses on green building: the requirements for residential green building certification, accessory dwelling units, and solar home tours, both locally and nationally.
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For nearly a quarter-century, Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB) and TXSES have been on the front lines raising awareness about energy-efficient design and construction to architects, builders, contractors, suppliers and Texas homeowners. In 1992, a grassroots group in Austin, the Sustainable Building Coalition sprang from the enthusiasm created by AEGB and ‘green home’ tours became popular events. Staged in the Fall after scorching Texas summers and with a different name every year, the event lured curious Central Texans to explore residential and commercial spaces built specifically for efficiency, comfort and beauty. Ultimately, the Texas Solar Energy Society and AEGB collaborated to create the Cool House Tour and today we celebrate this 24-year partnership! Former TXSES Executive Director Lucy Stolzenburg shares her experience with the CHT: the good, the challenging and the inspiring. |
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Solar Home Tours In Texas and Across the U.S.
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For a quarter-century, the American Solar Energy (ASES) has organized and delivered the National Solar Tour, the largest grassroots solar event in the U.S. This year's all-virtual tour is being extended beginning September 28 and running through the official tour weekend, October 3 and 4. Carly Rixham, ASES Executive Director, talks about the Tour's long-standing history and what we can expect to see this year. |
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This year, the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) National Solar Tour is featuring more than 60 locations nationwide, including homes and businesses in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Because of COVID-19, the national and all local tours will be virtual. Rosa Orenstein, J.D., Executive Director of the North Texas Renewable Energy Group (NTREG) talks about what NTREG has planned for its 2020 Tour on Oct 3. |
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With more than 30 years' experience, Barley Pfeiffer Architecture has designed high-performance homes and remodels.
One of the more recent residential building types to emerge, the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), is a small house that can be built in your backyard, adding more accessible housing and increasing neighborhood density. Alan Barley, AIA , Barley Pfeiffer Architecture, explains how building less costs less without sacrificing comfort.
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LEED, Leadership for Energy Efficiency and Design, is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building types, LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings. While using LEED can seem daunting to the uninitiated, Jonathan Kraatz, Executive Director USGBC/Texas, outlines guidelines that can help anyone interested going down the path to sustainability in the built environment.
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In this guest blog, Cheema shares her experience in the workforce - first in the tech industry and currently in the solar workforce – as one of the few women in the workplace and one of the even fewer women in leadership. "But perhaps nothing could have prepared me for the gender homogeneity of the solar industry. If you work in solar, then you probably already know that the state of diversity in our industry is dire."
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We thank our generous business members who support our mission to lay the foundation for a 100% clean energy future for Texas, one community at a time.
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These organizations generously support TXSES' work to raise awareness of the value and benefits of solar energy that will support ambitious clean energy, enhance grid resilience and reliability and build strong equitable solar communities.
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For nearly three decades, Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB) has cultivated innovation in green building to raise standards for energy efficiency, water quality and conservation, indoor environmental quality, site development and material resources.
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Since 1992, EarthShare of Texas has supported more than 40 Texas environmental and conservation non-profits like TXSES.
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Home more these days? Our friends at Reliant Energy share some valuable tips on ways to save energy while you’re home. Take a peek.
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About TXSES
For more than four decades, TXSES has been the pre-eminent statewide organization
developing free thought-leading, independent, fact-based information and quality educational materials that inspire innovation, share best practices, and inform decision-makers on the critical importance of sound, favorable solar policies that will grow the industry, protect clean air, build healthy, resilient communities, support local, well-paying jobs and lay the foundation for energy independence. www.txses.org
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