Solar-Powered Homes, Businesses Featured in Tour

Solar panels on the roof of the Malone Belton Abel architects building. (Photo by Pat Blair)

Jeanne Hackman says conversion to solar power has probably cut her MDU bill in half, every month.

The Hackman home on Wild Rose Lane was one of six area homes and businesses featured in a self-guided tour Saturday. All shared one feature on common: They were powered by the sun.

Jeanne and her husband, Hollis, had 16 solar panels installed on their roof about a year ago, and report that the system has functioned flawlessly.

Among the businesses on the tour was Malone Belton Abel Architects. Owner Tim Belton said the building, which was constructed in 1979, was designed to accommodate solar panels.

According to a brochure prepared for the tour, the architectural firm started generating electricity in March of this year and has already noticed a considerable energy savings.

Also on the tour were the Downtown Sheridan Association building, which started adding solar panels in 2009 and now has 10 panels on the south side of the roof, and the Powder River Basin Resource Council offices, which added the first solar panels in 1999.

The tour included the home of Bernie Barlow, which has a 14-panel grid-tied system installed this year, and the home of Val and Jerry Burgess, who built a two-story greenhouse in 1981 that produces passive heat for their home. The Burgesses a few months ago installed 22 solar panels on their garage roof.

View more photos below.

Tim Belton calls up information on the solar panels on his computer. (Photo by Pat Blair)

Jeanne Hackman checks the solar panel controls at her home. (Photo by Pat Blair)