Solarize Newtown — an effort to encourage solar home energy use — will celebrate its first residential solar panel installation at 9 Grand Place, home of Nina and David Stout, on Saturday, November 9, from 11 am to 1 pm. Official installer Astrum Solar will host the event. The Newtown Sustainable Energy Commission will provide refreshments.

Guests can see a home solar system installation and learn more about Solarize Newtown, a state- and town-run program.

According to its website, “Solarize Newtown is a unique discount buying program that uses a tiered-pricing structure, town-supported education and outreach and one competitively selected installer to dramatically reduce the cost of solar. The more residents sign up for Solarize, the more the cost comes down.”

If Newtown reaches 100 installations, Astrum Solar will donate $25,000 worth of solar panels for a Newtown municipal building.

All contracts must be signed by February 11, 2014, to qualify.

More than 39 homeowners are already enjoying the benefits of solar power, including Jodi and Ron French, who say: “What’s not to like about solar? It saves money, it’s silent, reliable and positive for the environment. We have installed both solar electric and solar hot water systems on our home and couldn’t be more pleased.” To view the French’s system and other Newtown solar stories, visit http://solarizect.com/our-towns/newtown.

The more residents who participate in the program, the more the price drops, with all residents receiving the lowest possible price for their installation no matter when they sign up for the program.

In addition, the first ten homeowners to take advantage of the program will also receive signing bonuses of $1,000, provided by Astrum Solar.

For more information about Solarize Newtown, visit www.solarizect.com/Newtown. To contact Astrum Solar directly at 800-903-6130 or send email to Chris.Memmelaar@astrumsolar.com.

In addition to the open house, upcoming workshops are scheduled for Sunday, November 17, from 2 to 4 pm, at Newtown Congregational Church, 14 West Street; and Wednesday, December 4, from 6 to 8 pm, at C.H. Booth Library, 25 Main Street. Residents will have the opportunity to meet the Astrum Solar team and learn more about Solarize Newtown during the workshops.