Everyone's familiar with the concept of the "open house," but suppose instead of McMansions you could visit only energy-efficient homes heated by solar or geother-mal energy, with electricity provided by the wind? Sounds like an alternate universe, right? Well, you actually can go on such a magical journey October 1, when the Colorado-based American Solar Energy Society sponsors the National Solar Tour. Last year, tours took place in 49 states plus the District of Columbia. This year, for example, you can go on the "Cool House Tour" of nine sites in and around Austin, Texas. A highlight of the tour in Tacoma, Washington is a solar-powered home with 1,500 watts of energy from the sun. "See my electric meter run backwards," the proud homeowner proclaims. "Sit in the solar-powered massage chair. Free organic seeds to the first 500 visitors!"
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