GORDONVILLE, PA — Belmont Solar owner Ben Zook will open his net-zero Lancaster County home to the public Oct. 3 as part of the American Solar Energy Society’s National Solar Tour, giving visitors a firsthand look at how solar generation, battery storage and electric systems can be combined to offset a home’s energy consumption.
The free open house will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Visitors can tour the property, examine its energy systems and ask Zook about solar power, battery storage, net-zero living and considerations involved in adding renewable-energy technology to a home.
The all-electric home has no propane or natural gas connection and generates enough renewable energy to offset its energy use, according to Belmont Solar. Its systems include rooftop, pergola and awning solar installations, battery backup, electric-vehicle charging, three heat pumps, daylighting features and air-quality monitoring.
“We hope visitors leave with a better understanding of what goes into a net-zero home and how all the different systems and technologies work together,” Zook stated. “More than anything, we want people to feel comfortable asking questions and exploring what may be possible for their own homes.”
The American Solar Energy Society’s National Solar Tour runs Oct. 2-4 with in-person and virtual stops around the country. The annual event gives participants access to operating solar installations and discussions covering topics including installers, financing, regulations and electric vehicles.
The local tour stop coincides with Belmont Solar’s 25th anniversary. Zook founded the company in 2001 after combining solar panels and batteries for an off-grid power supply, and the business has since expanded into grid-connected solar, battery storage, EV charging and agricultural solar projects across the Mid-Atlantic.
“When we started, there was still so much about solar that we had to learn,” Zook stated. “Over the past 25 years, it has been exciting to see our team grow, take on new technologies, and help more people understand what solar can do.”
Additional location and attendance information for the open house is available at https://www.belmontsolar.com/.
Support the local news that supports Chester County. MyChesCo delivers reliable, fact-based reporting and essential community resources—free for everyone. If you value that, click here to become a patron today.