PV Systems with Battery Backup Tour of Homes
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the tour?
The tour is intended to be purely educational in nature. Maui Tomorrow and the Office of Economic Development believe the Maui solar industry is at the leading edge of installing energy storage. This is a good way to learn about options and to meet some experts in the field who can explain the systems.
When and where is the tour taking place ?
The tour will be on Saturday, December 5th from 10AM – 4PM. The tour will feature properties that are within easy driving distance of Central Maui, but will likely include some properties that are located where there is no power grid. Participants will be sent an email with a map and directions to the homes prior to the day of the tour.
What does putting my home on the tour involve?
If you would like to be considered for the tour the first step is contacting us so we can do a quick visit to make sure it is a suitable location. We are looking for pv systems connected to battery storage, whether on or off grid. Your property should have an accessible driveway and some room for guests to park. We are not asking people to open their entire home for a tour, just to allow viewing of the batteries, pv panels, and the controls system/inverter. Contact Doug McLeod at wailukupower@hawaii.rr.com if you are interested.
What about safety concerns for visitors coming to my property?
Please check with your insurance agent. You should be covered by your Homeowner’s Policy. If this is an issue that would prevent you from showcasing your property, please let us know and we will find a way to take care of it.
Any cost to participate?
Tickets are available for a $10 donation. The $10 covers viewing all of the homes and will be shared by Maui Tomorrow and the Sustainable Living Institute of Maui (SLIM) at UH Maui College.
What if I want to go on the tour?
You can obtain a ticket by sending a $10 donation via PayPal to director@maui-tomorrow.org or sending a check to the Maui Tomorrow office at Maui Tomorrow 55 Church St, Wailuku, HI 96793. Be sure to mention it is for the PV Tour and include your email address if you send a check. Maps to the homes on the tour will be emailed the day before the tour. The morning of the tour you can just guide yourself to the homes using the map, or drop by a central location (TBD) to meet a Maui Tomorrow representative and to consider carpooling with others. Extra maps will be available as well, and tickets can be purchased with cash or a check that morning.
Who is supervising the event, and who is Maui Tomorrow?
Maui Tomorrow is an environmental advocacy group whose goals include promoting the concept of ecologically sound development. Information about Maui Tomorrow is available at www.maui-tomorrow.org. The Chair of the Energy Committee for Maui Tomorrow is Doug McLeod, former Energy Commissioner for Maui County and Chair of the Maui Energy Conference.
How Many People would be coming to my house?
We will be able to tell you in advance how many people are registered. It is likely that not all registrants will tour all the homes.
What if we have a house that would be available only part of the time?
We will try to work around the schedules of all of the homeowners. It may be possible to have some homes open for less than 6 hours
What is the involvement of the County of Maui?
The Mayor’s Office of Economic Development (OED) supports the growth of Maui-based renewable energy companies. OED is assisting with promotion of the event.
I want to put my property on the tour. What is the next step?
You (or your solar contractor) should email wailukupower@hawaii.rr.com with your contact information.
