From Markleeville to Palomino Valley, homes and businesses powered by the sun and wind will open their doors this weekend on a tour sponsored by the American Solar Energy Society.
Tickets for the local edition of the fourth National Solar Home Tour are available in Carson City at Kennedy Book Store, both Java Joe's and Carl's Blueprint. The Edible Earth in Gardnerville also is selling tickets.
Tickets for the tour are $10 for an individual or $15 for a couple or family.
Saturday's tours include homes and businesses in Washoe County. Sunday's features homes scattered from the hills of California just south of Minden to the eastern-most edge of Silver City on the Comstock.
After each tour, the visitors will gather to view a solar-powered car, learn about the latest in hydrogen energy cells and sample sun-cooked lasagna.
Proceeds from the tour will benefit the Animal Ark, the wild animal center in Washoe County that was ravaged by wild fire last summer. For more information, contact Tom Wilson at 841-3220 or Marion Barritt at 782-7363.