Self-Reliance is coordinating the Cape Cod element of the American Solar Energy Society’s National Solar Home Tour on Saturday October 1 to raise awareness around ways we can transition our homes off fossil fuels.

Homes will be open between 10am and 4pm to showcase technologies that reduce fossil fuel consumption, improve occupant health & comfort, reduce climate warming gases and save money.

If you have been wondering whether it is time to finally install solar or a heat pump or many other energy saving technologies and you have some questions, this is a great opportunity to hear from people who live with them.

Please note that there have been some location cancellations due to the forecasted wet weather and unforeseen circumstances.  

LOCATIONS

Cassell/Devenish Residence, 75 Willowfield Drive, North Falmouth, MA Open 10am-4pm

People can park on the street.

Technologies demonstrated:

  • 10kW of PV
  • Solar Hot Water for DHW & Space Heating
  • Grid-tied Energy Storage (participating in the Connected Solutions program)
  • Mini-Split Heat Pumps
  • Raised Vegetable Beds with Drip Irrigation

*Masks are optional for visitors who want to enter the basement to see the battery, solar tank,

one of the heat pumps

Leslie Residence, 11 Snapper Lane, Falmouth, MA

Technologies demonstrated:

  • PV 
  • Plug-in Hybrid
  • Composting and Small Vegetable Gardens
  • Rainwater Collection

Burnett/Wigley Residence, 32 Turtle Pond Road, Falmouth, MA Open 

Technologies demonstrated:

  • PV-rack-mounted 1.8 mW solar array & flat-mounted 5.2 mW solar array
  • Pictures of solar battery and converters in basement
  • Outside metering/shut-downs
  • Mini-Split Heat Pumps serving two floors
  • Small but productive vegetable garden
  • Compost bin
  • Rain-collection barrels
  • Natural landscape with minimal lawn
  • Unpaved stone driveway

Kilfoyle Residence 406 Sippewissett Rd, Falmouth, MA 02540 (Driveway is off Evangeline Rd.)

Technologies demonstrated: 

  • Both rooftop and ground mount PV.  The ground mount is 9 kW or so-all on a 0.8 acre site  
  • Solar hot water 
  • 48 kBTU heat/cool heat pump with mini splits 
  • a lot of garden space (even still have some vegetables still there) 
  • We have 8 fruit trees and a wildflower meadow of sorts in front.  And a Tesla in the garage.

Overholtz Residence, 193 Percival Drive, East Falmouth, MA

Technologies demonstrated:

  • PV
  • EV + Charger
  • Solar Hot Water
  • Heat Pump Water Heater
  • Mini-Split Heat Pumps
  • Small-scale food production

Sayigh/Bocconcelli Residence, 64 Nobska Road, Woods Hole

Technologies demonstrated:

  • PV 
  • Solar Hot Water
  • Heat Pump Hot Water Heater
  • Greenhouse, Composting & home-scale food production
  • EV & Charger
  • Mini-Split Heat Pumps

Amsler Residence, 41 Wellington Way, Hatchville, MA open 10am-2pm

Technologies demonstrated:

  • PV
  • Solar Hot Water w/ space heating
  • EV & Charging
  • Mini-Split Heat Pump
  • Composting
  • Small-scale food production including chickens for eggs and meat

Patrick Residence, 24 Collins Road, Waquoit, MA Open from 2-4pm

Technologies demonstrated:

  • Super Insulation & Air Sealing post fire in home built in 1820
  • PV
  • Solar Hot Water for DWH
  • Urine Diverting Toilets
  • Mini-Split Heat Pump in the barn 
  • Chickens
  • Kitchen Composting
  • Vegetable Garden and Orchard

Commercial Warehouse, 33 Trinity Place Mashpee – may have troubles staffing 

Technologies featured:

  • PV
  • geothermal – groundwater slab heating in warehouse
  • heat pump water heater
  • super insulated deep energy retrofit – blown cellulose – 3000 SF heated by 15kBTU / hr mini split – 1.5 ACH 50 pascals
  • super insulated 5000 SF pole barn- blown cellulose  – heated & cooled with less than 500 kWh / year 
  • net zero facility – warehouse and office are net positive
  • examples of home-scale food production – closed loop recirculation planter
  • composting toilet with heat recovery ventilation

Geyser Residence, 64 Shore Road, Cotuit, MA Open 10am-4pm

Technologies demonstrated:

  • solar hot water – 2 systems –  close loop antifreeze SDHW + space heating
  • PV
  • geothermal (incoming well water dehumidification)
  • examples of home-scale food production
  • composting
  • composting toilet
  • wood stove hot water thermosiphon system
  • geothermal – groundwater driveway deicing

Lipeles Residence, 56 Pierces Tavern Road, Wellfleet, MA  Open 10am-2pm

Technologies demonstrated:

  • PV
  • Mini-Split Heat Pumps for whole home heating and cooling
  • Food waste composting