The Colorado Yurt Company is sponsoring The Solar Living Institute and SolFest in Hopland, California. The sponsorship includes a fully loaded thirty-foot yurt that will be placed in the middle of the Solar Living Institute’s Solar Living Center. The yurt will be used as a classroom and seminar space for the 200,000 annual visitors to the Solar Living Center and the SolFest, a festival of sustainable living technologies. The combination of location and events makes for a perfect setting to showcase the benefits of low impact yurt living.

Chip Meneley, Director of Sales and Marketing for the Colorado Yurt Company, states, “We are very excited about our partnership with the Solar Living Institute and SolFest. This is one of those rare relationships that combines support of a great non-profit with tangible sales and marketing opportunities.” Meneley continues, “The Solar Living Institute is a leader in the sustainability movement and we are honored to working with them.”

Since 1995, over half a million people have visited the Solar Living Center’s 12-acre demonstration center. The site is powered entirely by working renewable energy systems, and features a 5,000 sq. foot strawbale building that utilizes innovative passive solar design and the creative use of recycled materials. The gorgeous landscape features a permaculture design with a wide selection of organically grown edible and ornamental plant varieties.

Doron Amiran, Programs Director of Solar Living Institute, states, “The SLI has long been known as the place to view the latest in green technologies. Being able to see, touch, and feel such a quality product will inspire our 200,000 annual visitors. The yurt will be used as an ongoing display, as well as serve as a classroom for our year-round sustainable living workshop series.”

Sol Fest, an annual weekend educational celebration, has hosted over 35,000 people and featured such inspirational speakers as Ralph Nader, Dr. Helen Caldicott, Amory Lovins and Winona La Duke. Numerous workshops, outstanding entertainment, electric vehicles and the latest in renewable energy and sustainable living technologies have all helped to make SolFest Northern California's premier environmental festival.