By By ERIN VER BERKMOES / Dowagiac Daily News
NILES - The Michigan Solar Tour will be taking place in southwest Michigan on Saturday, Oct. 1, and Niles has its own stop on the tour.
The home of City Councilman Dan VandenHeede and his wife Jodie and their three children, Elizabeth, Sam and Kate, will be featured on this year's tour.
VandenHeede teaches at Dowagiac Union High School.
The Michigan Solar Tour is part of the American Solar Energy Society's National Solar Tour.
It offers those in 43 states who attend a chance to look at successful uses of renewable energy and energy efficiency in buildings across the country.
VandenHeede chose to install solar water into his home as the state was giving a 50- percent rebate on the cost and he could justify the cost of the program.
VandenHeede added that he knows of three homes in his neighborhood which have installed some type of solar energy.
As you pass by the VandenHeede home and many others who have installed solar components you are likely to not even notice them.
VandenHeede suggests before installing anything solar make sure you are to conserve as much as possible and be as efficient as you can.
As VandenHeede is on the Niles City Council he talked to Utilities Manager Jim Lehmkuhl about the city getting involved in some sort of green power program.
For those who would like more information on the Michigan Solar Tour or how to incorporate solar components into their home, go to www.glrea.org.