SNOWFLAKE - A geodesic dome home, tires and cans used to create a one-of-a-kind art home, and a yurt, were highlights of the 10th annual solar home tour in Snowflake and the surrounding area. Sponsored by Val-U Solar, the tour was held on Saturday, Nov. 6. The tour was an all-day event that featured five homes, a trip to the Dry Lake wind farm and a fabulous lunch catered by the folks from Black Mesa Ranch.
Started by Chuck and Valerie Bell, Val-U Solar provides innovative methods of living off the sun and wind. "We originally started the tour with one car-load of people 10 years ago," said Chuck. "Two years ago we had to rent a bus for the 60 people who wanted to go on the tour."
This year there were a total of 14 people on the tour and most of them are either already living off the grid or exploring new ways to build a home.
"Our first few years were about touring solar powered homes, but people wanted to see alternative building methods too," Chuck said. "We are fortunate to have a wide variety in this area. It's expensive to put in electricity if you live even a half mile from the lines." According to Chuck, APS charges $80,000 a mile to put in lines to a house.
The tour started with a conventionally built home that has solar panels, a wind turbine, and a backup generator. Doug and Chauna Clifford are tied into the electric grid and report that their electric bill went from around $110 a month to about $9 now. They have all the standard appliances plus two extra freezers. In fact, the Cliffords sell back electricity to the grid and receive money back from the company once a year.
A geodesic dome home built by Randy and Debra Housel was next on the list. Although not completely done on the inside, the dome is livable and made of concrete and Styrofoam. "The dome shape is one of the strongest structures in the world," said Randy. It has taken them five years to get to this point, but the Housels are determined to build the home themselves.
When completed, it will have a second story, about 3,000 square feet of livable space and have radiant in-floor heating powered by a passive solar and panel system. The Housels are also completely off the grid and have a well and backup generator.
After a brief tour of the wind farm, it was back to town for a lunch provided by Black Mesa Ranch. Owned and operated by David and Kathryn Heininger, the ranch generates all its own power from solar and wind sources and produces high quality goat cheese and hand-made chocolate candy.
The Chic Farm, "where hens rule the roost," is owned by Carol Muskus and Diane Dalton. The women have 40 acres, two green houses, solar, wind, and backup generators and over a hundred animals. Dalton lives in the yurt which has 872 square feet of living space and several attached stick-built rooms for storage and laundry. The yurt was built on a concrete foundation and uses bubble wrap as insulation and has a deck that was added this summer. Everything on the farm is recycled and reused and the women are entirely self-sufficient.
The most unique home on the tour is what is known as an "Earth Ship." Built against a hill, constructed of old tires and cans, the home has been a work in progress for the past 22 years. Built mostly by Tim and Mary Windwalker, the home is a unique piece of art as well as a comfortable place to live. Passive solar heating, skylight windows, stained glass art and windows, and glass mosaics built into the walls, have landed this home on the National Tour of Solar Homes.
"In 15 years we've only used about two cords of wood," Mary told the group. The tires keep the house warm in winter and cool in the summer. With 1,500 square feet of living space, the Windwalkers have raised five daughters here and run their custom footwear business out of a separate studio.
A second tire structure has been started on the property that may one day be turned into a wine tasting room when the grapes go in.
Chuck tells the group that the demand for solar and wind power, as well as alternative methods of building homes is on the rise. It's also becoming much less expensive, and for those who wish to live away from towns, a must-have.
For more information on the tour or solar and wind power, contact Val-U Solar at (928) 536-7835.
Reach the reporter at kwarnick@wmicentral.com