Join the Citizens’ Environmental Coalition (CEC) and Houston Renewable Energy Group (HREG) at IKEA Houston for a rooftop solar tour, plug-in solar show and tell, and conversation about plug-in solar, an emerging technology coming to home energy.
Special thanks to the Consulate General of Germany in Houston for generously supporting this event!
Unlike traditional rooftop solar, plug-in solar systems are designed to offer a smaller-scale and potentially more accessible way to generate electricity at home, including for renters and households where rooftop solar may not be an option. With Houstonians facing rising energy costs and more power outages, could plug-in solar be part of a brighter future?
Whether you’re a renter curious about your solar options, a renewable energy professional, or simply interested in how Houston can expand access to affordable clean energy, we invite you to join the conversation.
What to Expect
We’ll start with tours of IKEA Houston’s 1,193 kWh rooftop solar installation with 1,913 panels, followed by a show and tell of plug-in solar equipment and a panel discussion focused on the opportunities, state of the art, and policy considerations.
Three guided rooftop solar tours will depart at 11:00, 11:15 and 11:30 a.m. Select your preferred tour time when registering. Space is limited to maximum 10 persons at a time and tour times are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Rooftop tours are weather permitting and will only take place if conditions are safe.
Starting at noon, the expert panel will explore questions such as: Who may benefit from installing plug-in solar? What barriers currently limit its use? What can we learn from other states and countries? And what policy changes could help make plug-in solar more accessible in Houston, Texas?
Panelists
- Daniel Cohan, Ph.D. Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University
- Patrice Parsons, Executive Director, Texas Solar Energy Society
- Stephan Scherer, CEO, Craftstrom Solar
Moderator
- Adriana Penabad-Galva, HREG
Door prizes & Giveaways
Come early! The first 15 eligible, pre-registered attendees to check in will receive a $15 coupon to use toward lunch at the IKEA Restaurant during the event. Attendees must be 18 or older, and advance registration is required. Limit one coupon per person. See the FAQ below for full details and restrictions.
Attendees will also have a chance to win door prizes, autographed copies of Here Comes the Sun by Bill McKibben and IKEA products.
Schedule
10:45–11:30 a.m. — Rooftop Solar Tour Check-In
Please check in for your scheduled rooftop solar tour 5 minutes in advance of the start time. Each tour is limited to a maximum 10 participants.
11:00–11:40 a.m. — Rooftop Solar Tours
Guided rooftop solar tours will depart at 11:00, 11:15 and 11:30 a.m. During the 10-minute tour, you’ll get an up-close look at IKEA’s rooftop solar installation and learn about the solar panels and their climate impact.
Before or after your scheduled tour, you can:
- Get an up-close look at Craftstrom’s plug-in solar equipment
- Visit the IKEA Sustainable Living Shop
- Purchase lunch at the IKEA Restaurant
- Network with other attendees
11:40 a.m.–12:00 p.m. — Lunch & Learn Check-In
Check in for the Lunch & Learn and purchase your lunch. Get settled for the panel discussion.
12:00–12:40 p.m. — Plug-In Solar Panel Discussion
Hear from our panel of experts how plug-in solar works, its potential benefits for Houston households, and the opportunities and challenges for expanding access in Texas.
12:40–12:50 p.m. — Audience Q&A
12:50–12:55 p.m. — Door Prize Drawing
12:55–1:00 p.m. — Wrap-Up
Registration
This event is FREE.
When registering, choose how you would like to participate:
- Rooftop Solar Tour: Select your preferred rooftop tour times—11:00, 11:15 or 11:30 a.m. Tour space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Selecting a tour time during registration does not guarantee a spot on the rooftop tour.
- Panel Discussion Only: Join us for the Lunch & Learn beginning at 12:00 p.m.
Please register for a rooftop tour only if you plan to participate so that the limited tour spaces remain available to others.
Attendees are responsible for purchasing their own lunch. Food and beverages will be available for purchase from the IKEA Restaurant and IKEA Bistro.
Want a $15 lunch coupon? Advance registration is required to be eligible. Coupons will be provided to the first 15 eligible, pre-registered attendees who check in at the event.