The Capitol Hill Energy Cooperative is an all-volunteer organization in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Washington DC.  The Co-op promotes energy efficient, green building, and renewable energy projects through monthly meetings, and extensive community outreach.  For example, the Co-op is now working to get solar photovoltaic projects installed.  The Co-op has educated its members on how to go solar, and members have completed seven installations as of May 2010.  The Co-op has a goal to get more than 50 local homeowners, institutions, and businesses to go solar by the end of 2011.  The co-op has also done extensive work on weatherization — providing tips on how to follow-through on energy audit recommendations.  Our work has extended to other areas such as reducing water consumption, and urban/organic gardening.

About the Fair

The Solar Home Tour and Fair will be the first major event hosted by the the organization — the first event of its kind in the neighborhood.  If your organization or business would like to participate, we will be holding a Fair at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation located on East Capitol Street – just 2 blocks from the US Capitol and Supreme Court.  Fair participants can set up a table and reach out to members and others that will be attending.  Currently, the co-op has 300 people on its listserves.  As the Tour and Fair approaches, we will be doing extensive marketing to ensure that the event is well attended.  At least five other Cooperatives are sprouting up across the city, and many of these new groups will help us bring more people to the Tour and Fair from other parts of the City.  The Fair will include activities for kids, like riding in a solar car, food, and other activities.  The Fair will primarily be outdoors, but if there are weather issues – we also have sufficient space to move the Fair indoors.

About the Tour

The Co-op will be selling tickets to the Tour portion of the event at $10 per adult (kids are free).  Each family that purchases a ticket to the Tour will receive a Tour Booklet that will be very similar to the one used for the Annual Metro DC Tour of Solar Homes and Buildings.  This professionally-designed book will serve as the Tour ticket — and will include advertising.  Your organization can choose to participate in the Fair, advertise in the Tour book, or both.  If your business has been involved in green projects on Capitol Hill and are able to get the building owner to become a showcase home on the tour, this is also a great way to get your message out.  There is no charge for this — but you will need to request that the homeowner fill out the online tour participation request.  The Tour will be set up so that sponsors may participate in both the Fair, and the afternoon Tour — so, for example, a solar installer may want to set up a table at the Fair, and help lead a home tour that showcases their work.

Join Our Sponsors!

The Capitol Hill Community Foundation has provided a grant to the Co-op, which will be used to develop promotional materials, and a new Website dedicated to the Tour and Fair.  Other businesses that are working with us now are Solar Solution, Maggio Roofing, and Green DC Realty.  Please consider joining them.  The participation rates are shown below.