Photo via Solar States Facebook page

Solar States, a Philadelphia-based solar energy company, organized a bike tour last Sunday of residential and commercial solar installations. The tour started at the Crane Arts Building in South Kensington and threaded its way through a large section of the city, including Kensington, South Philly and Center City, and finished up at the Standard Tap on 2nd Street, which has a solar array of its own.

The tour visited the following locations:

• Crane Arts Building — 1400 N. American St
• Finanta — 1301 N. 2nd St
• Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant — 25 Pattison Ave
• Friends Center — 1501 Cherry St
• Dominic Episcopo Studio — 1345 Susquehanna Ave
• Standard Tap — 901 N. 2nd St

Ashley Tryba, advertising, events and outreach coordinator for Solar States, explained that the tour was a natural fit for the organization, which considers education and community engagement key to its mission.

“Solar States works hard to make solar accessible to individuals with different socio-economic backgrounds and income levels.” Tryba said in an email.

She added that having people see solar arrays in person is a  “great way to get a grasp at the kind of technology currently used and opportunities for more solar  on commercial, residential, and public utility properties.”

Another tour is planned for October.

Rolling out the green carpet 

Solar State is also holding an event this Thursday at the Crane Arts Building to bring together people working toward sustainability so they can inform one another about their work.

More information and registration available here.