By way of KAG, the American Solar Energy Society has organized National Solar Tour day, Oct. 4th 2008. There are several East Tennessee stops on the tour. This is a great opportunity to learn more about solar energy and see real-life examples.

Courtesy of David Bolt at Sustainable Future (whose "zero energy home" is on the tour), here's a map of the featured stops on the East Tennessee Tour. Here's more info about Mr. Bolt's open house during the tour.

And here is the ASES list of other East Tennessee participants.

UPDATE: Mary Speight at the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy forwarded more info on the Knoxville tour.

The Morning Workshop is from 9AM to 10AM at Ijams Nature Center, and the self-guided tour of solar homes and businesses is from 10AM to 2PM throughout Knoxville and nearby TN locations. Green Mountain Coffee will be served at all of the tour sites and tour maps can be found on Mellow Mushroom pizza boxes. The public will get a chance to meet local solar technology installers at the morning workshop.

Here is more detailed info on the morning workshop and the homes and businesses on the tour with directions and contact info. And here's another site hosting the tour map.