Clean Energy Durham is out to make that case today, in the form of a "Green Building and Solar Tour" ranging from Bahama to Chatham County.

"To let people be aware that they can have more efficient homes, and homes with solar features, at a cost that's very comparable to just regular homes," said tour organizer Ed Cox. "And in the process they can save on their energy bills."

As for the making money part -- if a building's sun-power system generates more electricity than it uses, the owners can get green by selling the excess, Cox said. Moreover, if events such as the tour stir homeowners' and buyers' interest in green construction, green builders see green as well.

"I hope we make the point that with green building and energy efficiency we benefit everyone," said McCayne Miller of the N.C. Sustainable Energy Association, which is coordinating tours in 12 areas around the state today.

Durham's tour starts with a 9 to 11 a.m. presentation at the new, eco-friendly East Regional public library at 211 Lick Creek Lane. (See box for directions.) Paying tourgoers get directions to guide themselves to eight properties that, one way or another, represent the cutting edges of green building.

"It's quite a portfolio of different ideas," said Cox, a former oncologist who is spending his retirement promoting renewable energy.

The East Regional library itself is one of the stops. Opened last June, the library's design incorporates natural lighting, high-efficiency heating and air conditioning and passive-solar techniques to reduce heat in hot weather.

Other places on show are four private homes (two belong to Clean Energy members), an under-construction Habitat for Humanity residence, an inner-city residential development and Durham County's new wastewater-treatment plant on N.C. 55.

"All have features that show various degrees of energy conservation and environmentally friendly building design," said Deborah McGiffin of the Durham County Cooperative Extension Service.

The extension service was involved in creating Clean Energy Durham in 2002. The group, at first called "Durham Initiative for Renewable Energy Community Taskforce," is the local agency for the U.S. Department of Energy's Million Solar Roofs Initiative, a promotion established in 1997. Clean Energy Durham promotes home-energy conservation and solar-energy building and retrofitting techniques.

"It helps your pocketbooks in the long run," McGiffin said.

For example: According to Clean Energy Durham, a family of four switching from electric to solar hot-water heating would save $291 a year; gas to solar, $435. (See www.cleanenergydurham.org for calculations.)

Or: U.S. and state tax breaks cut the net cost of a $5,100 solar hot-water system to $2,600, while raising the homeowner's property value by $2,800.

Times are right for sending that kind of message, Miller and Cox said.

"Energy [cost] is moving green building toward the mainstream," Miller said. "Consumers become interested when it directly affects them."

Sun, wind, water and other non-fossilized sources of power, along with energy efficiency, enjoyed a surge of interest and public support a generation ago, Cox said, but fell off as costs stabilized and even dropped.

Now, with prices up and their future uncertain, with oil production approaching its permanent peak, public interest is coming back, Cox said.

"It's still nowhere near the level of 25 years ago," he said, "but it's getting there and we're seeing a perfect storm."

Green for a day

WHAT? Green Building and Solar Tour

WHEN? Today, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

WHO'S INVOLVED? Clean Energy Durham, Durham County Cooperative Extension, N.C. Sustainable Energy Association

WHERE? East Regional Branch, Durham Public Library, 211 Lick Creek Lane

WHERE'S THAT? Take N.C. 98 (Wake Forest Highway) 3.1 miles east from U.S. 70. Turn right onto Lick Creek and go past the firehouse.

WHAT'S THERE? Lotta books.

GET SERIOUS. OK. Registration and opening presentation, 9-11, followed by take-it-yourself tour of eight sun-powered or otherwise eco-friendly buildings in and near Durham.

HOW MUCH? $10 per person or $15 per carload; $5 for students or members of the N.C. Sustainable Energy Association. Price also covers admission to Raleigh and Chapel Hill solar tours today.

TO FIND OUT MORE: Visit www.cleanenergydurham.org, or www.ncsustainableenergy.org.