- Listed by western U.S. State, and globally

-  Accommodations, green travel resources, tourist sites, science centers and other interesting attractions that use solar and renewable energy

Western United States* (listed alphabetically)

Arizona

California

The Pacific Wheel

Santa Monica, CA 90401

Tel., (310) 260-8744 or visit www.pacpark.com

Photo courtesy Pacific Park

 Big Bear, CA

World's first solar-powered ferris wheel at Pacific Park,

 Santa Monica Pier (California)

Facts:  The Pacific Wheel, touted as the world's first solar-powered Ferris wheel (1998), reaches nine-stories high to offer extraordinary views of the Pacific Ocean from its location on the internationally popular Santa Monica Pier.

This feature attraction at the two-acre oceanfront amusement park, generates more than 71,000-kilowatt hours of renewable photovoltaic (PV) power from the sun's rays. On cloudy days the Pacific Wheel is powered by conventional energy sources.  More than 650 PV modules had to be mounted on top of the Park's loading area for its roller coaster, West Coaster, and its Midway games building (see picture at left).  The PV modules generate the electricity needed to power the wheel.  

Cienega Creek Ranch Mountain

Cottage in Big Bear, near Los Angeles, is a hotel that relies 100% on solar energy (it's located far from power lines)

Facts:  Open all 4 seasons... The hotel supplies all of its power via solar panels, pictured to left.  Located in Big Bear, outside of Los Angeles, California
  

Website: www.mountaincottage.com

Address:  43630 Rainbow Lane

Big Bear City, California 92314

Call for more info: (888) 336 - 2891

Colorado

Touring the NREL Solar/RE* Laboratory

National Renewable
Energy Laboratory
NREL Visitors Center
15013 Denver West Pkwy
Golden, CO 80401-3393

Tour Info: (303) 384-6565

http://www.nrel.gov/visitors_center

* Renewable Energy

Photos courtesy NREL

Visitors of all ages can take a self-guided tour through the interactive exhibit hall and learn about power from the sun, wind, biomass and other sources of renewable energy.  Take in a demonstration of the sun's power (and don't forget the buildings that have been designed with passive-solar; true "green design").

Zion Nat'l Park

Info: (303) 384-6565

http://www.zionnatlpark.gov

The Cottage Restaurant
2915 Row River Rd
Cottage Grove, OR 97424
541-942-3091

Size: 2,700 square feet
Architect: G.Z. Brown and John Reynolds,
Equinox Design, Eugene
Date Completed: 1981
Solar and Energy Conservation Features:
Passive solar heating, passive cooling,
daylighting, automatic roll-down insulating
shades, insulating shutters at
clerestory, fixed and seasonal shading,
backup woodstove.

Size: 2,700 square feet
Architect: G.Z. Brown and John Reynolds,
Equinox Design, Eugene
Date Completed: 1981
Solar and Energy Conservation Features:
Passive solar heating, passive cooling,
daylighting, automatic roll-down insulating
shades, insulating shutters at
clerestory, fixed and seasonal shading,
backup woodstove.  In progress 7/14/06

www.thenewts.org.uk/ - or click here NEWT.

The Eco Wild Team poses inbetween their tasks of the renewable energy working Cottage Farm.