Solar Village

New Mexico Solar Energy Association (NMSEA) proudly hosts the 10th Annual Solar Village at the Taos Solar Music Festival. This colorful village of exhibits has on going demonstrations of solar energy use, freshly baked sun oven cookies, solar race cars, water to hydrogen fuel cell demonstration, kids activities and lots of adult learning opportunities and literature from organizations including non profit renewable energy organizations, environmental and wildlife protection groups, green builders, solar and wind technicians and installers, and more!

A Message From NM Solar Energy Association, Taos Chapter

In many ways, New Mexico is both the birthplace and proving grounds of solar energy, from the ancient pueblo indian cliff dwellings that consciously used southern exposure to the winter sunshine, to the many architects who pioneered passive solar design here, to the space age scientific study of solar energy at Los Alamos and Sandia National Laboratories. Even the phrase `passive solar design' was coined in New Mexico. The New Mexico Solar Energy Association, perhaps the oldest continuously existing solar association in the US, preserves the memory of these events and the knowledge which was acquired. Its only fitting that a solar music festival, which explicitly combines an awareness of environmental responsibility with the emotional power and excitement of music, should find its genesis in Taos, New Mexico, as well.

We are now rapidly moving into the solar age. Future generations will look back and see that this was the time when the human race really learned how to mimic and live in harmony with nature, instead of simply exploiting her. The Taos Solar Music Festival is one of the beacons emerging now to help bring this transition about quickly, before too much of our precious environmental legacy is lost. This innovative festival draws on the tremendous solar energy knowledge base in the area, represented by the now three decades old New Mexico Solar Energy Association, with its many solar enthusiasts, architects, and scientists, the Taos Earthship Community, one of the most self-sufficient and eco friendly communities in the world, KTAO, the world's most powerful solar powered radio station, the progressive Kit Carson Electric Cooperative selling green power and making plans for producing clean renewable energy , and the many local green builders and specialists who are dedicated to the creation of sustainable and eco friendly communities and developments.

The Solar Village Is Always A Blast!

Here is a sampling of the activities and participants we typically have at the Taos Solar Village:

• Kids get to check out remote control cars running on solar power - no batteries to buy - its like magic!
• Or for the kid in us, jumping in front of a large PV module stopping the directly wired water fountain because of your shadow! See up close a working photovoltaic system with batteries and inverter. Heard a lot about fuel cells? What really is it? The village has a great Fuel cell display that works all day long from clean hydrogen fuel made on site from the sun!
• Feel how hot that water can get from the sun with a full scale solar hot water setup. Learn about other hot water uses such as heating your radiant floor and more.
• Learn about energy efficiency programs, buying green power from your utility, national forest, wilderness and waterway protection and creating land trusts to preserve open space via many different exhibits.
• Visit with volunteers to learn how you too can help put a smile on people's faces by helping on a Habitat for Humanity home.
• Gather information and visit with green builders and solar designers as you plan your next home or renovation.
• Catch that rainwater off of your roof for later use! See what cisterns are available and how these systems can benefit your garden or even provide household water.
• Speaking of gardens, the Village has educational exhibits on organic soil improvements and organic farming.
• Sun Ovens are cooking samplings everyday all day long so don't forget to enjoy a solar baked cookie or croissant!
• And check out the latest in one of the latest technological breakthroughs in transportation at several electric bicycles and trikes displays. Or check out the Linear City concept - could be your next town!

This year's solar village will be as big as ever with all of the above and more being generously offered to you by many volunteers and over 30 exhibitors!

Sign up today at our website to be an exhibitor at the 10th Anniversary Solar Village in Kit Carson Park.