If it’s hot, it’s time for the nationally recognized Austin Cool
House Tour. On Sunday June 5, in conjunction with Austin Energy Green
Building, TXSES will feature 16 homes that captured our attention and
will best educate our citizens. These projects exemplify the benefits
and beauty of a whole-house approach to design and construction: proper
orientation, comfort, energy water and material efficiency, durability
and low maintence, and health and safety.

In February and March, with snow on the ground and fueled by coffee
and chocolate, the Cool House Tour selection committee viewed almost 40
projects, a record number of applications from architects, builders and a
few homeowners who did it all themselves.. “It will be so difficult to
decide” was muttered often because the diversity and quality as
remarkable.

The 16 homes selected are a mix of new construction and renovation,
in Austin proper and to the southwest and north. Designs feature
contemporary and traditional, luxury and modest, with all price points
in between. One of our East Austin homeowners almost abandoned his
remodel when his first general contractor left the home leaning
perilously close to collapse and his bank account close to zero. Builder
Adam Stepan saved the home, the homeowner, and built a five-star
project in the process. Another home is the first Austin Energy Green
Building rated home in Round Rock. Karen and Dan Cripe, along with
Solluna Builders, never abandoned their dream of the perfectly sized,
renewably powered and energy efficient home in a sea of brick elevations
and black roofed subdivisions famous for restricting rooftop solar.
Their five-star home is a classroom for the community. Take a look at Dan's blog.

Join us June 5, from 10am to 6 pm, and see what creative
designs and innovative minds are offering in the name of energy
efficiency and healthy living. An online version of the Tour guidebook
will be posted on this site in late April so you may begin to map your
journey. The actual hardcopy guidebooks (your ticket to the tour) will
be  available for purchase at:

Both Austin Central Markets for $17 ($15 +$2 Central Market handling charge)

Online here for $15+ $2.50 shipping and handling/book. Online sales end at noon 5/27.

At the houses for $15 on the day of tour

We realize folks in
Round Rock may not want to travel down to Austin, so we are offering a
one time visit to 1804 Johnson Way on tour day for $5, paid at the door.
This does not include a guidebook, but there is plenty to be learned at
this home that is well worth the visit.

For those who wish to share a guidebook, companion tickets ($15) will also be for sale at each home.

Can you see them all? Probably not, and we don’t want you to rush.
Choose what fits your interests and your schedule, bring your water
bottle and enjoy the wealth of conscious design that Austin is famous
for.

Where does the money go? This is TXSES’s largest fundraiser, and
Austin Energy Green Building so generously makes this possible by
recruiting professionals and homeowners who have been rated in the
program. TXSES in turn provides educational opportunities for citizens,
and grants and scholarships for high school and college students around
the state. Our chapters
are-  Solar Austin, Solar San Antonio, El Paso Renewable Energy
Association, Houston Renewable Energy Group and North Texas Renewable
Energy Group. Download.