The 2009 Austin Cool House Tour
brought to you by
TXSES and Austin Energy Green Building
Sunday June 28, 2009 10:00a.m.-6:00p.m.

                  View the projects online and map your route

                        View Jim Swift's KXAN Tour Preview                      

        4220 Threadgill will not be on the tour due to an illness.

 Dear TXSES Friends and Members,

We are delighted to announce that twelve projects have been chosen for this year’s Austin Cool House Tour. Our selection process was made smooth by twelve generous volunteers trekking across town and back again to visit, photograph and chose the homes that offered the best opportunity to extol the values and benefits of green building. On behalf of TXSES, I wish to thank each of the selection committee members for ensuring this year’s tour is our best ever.

I’d also like to extend a warm thank you to all those builders, architects and home owners that submitted applications. Nowhere is Austin’s uniqueness as a populous more apparent to me than in this expression of openness and generosity. At a time when uncertainty is at an all-time high nationally, our community still shows up strong and willing to open its doors to the public for the greater good of education and learning.

For the first time ever, solar installers reported to us that some of the homeowners they asked to submit applications told them “Not this year… it’s not a good time, etc.” This gave us pause, but then we received more than 25 applications and realized we still had many willing participants offering to be a part of this open house tour. This is just another reason why the quality of life in Austin is so treasured.

As always, we welcome hearing from you. Please email us with your questions and comments at info@txses.org. I try to respond to your emails within 2 business days, however, during the Guidebook’s preparation, there might be some longer delays. Please bear with me. Since we are staffed mostly with volunteer support, our priority to the tour and its Guidebook may cause a delay in our response to you. Please know that we are working diligently to get answers to you and that we value hearing from you.

Cheers,

Natalie Marquis
Executive Director

How you will take the tour:

You must purchase a ticket. The $15 guidebook to the locations serves as your ticket and provides directions. They may be purchased at the Customer Service Desk at both Austin Central Markets up to and including  the day of the tour. A limited number of tickets will be available at the homes. If you are traveling the tour with others, you might want to purchase one guidebook to share and then companion tickets (also $15) at any of the projects.

Each project has a  full page devoted to its significant features and sustainable highlights, along with photos, so you can choose what you want to see and go at your own pace. Plot your personal tour from the map and directions in the guidebook.

We are proud to produce the Cool House Tour with award winning Austin Energy Green Building. Please visit their websitefor up to date information on green construction, energy efficient housing and sustainable living.