Utah residents can learn how to use the state's abundance of sunny days to their wallets' advantage today during the Utah Solar Tour.

About 30 business and residential owners will open their doors for others to learn about solar systems during a self-guided tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today.

The solar tour is part of a national effort to help educate consumers about solar energy and conservation, said Orrin Farnsworth, chairperson of the Utah Solar Energy Association.

"With the price of energy going up so fast, there is a tremendous increase in demand for alternative energy," Farnsworth said.

The St. George and Cedar City areas have about 14 homes in the self-guided tour.

Visitors can come look at the solar systems and ask owners questions about the installation and their satisfaction with the system, Farnsworth said.

"A cross of all types of people are putting solar systems in their homes," Farnsworth said.

Homes in Salt Lake County, Summit County, Orem, Logan, and Ogden will also be on display, according to a solar tour press release.

This is the second year that St. George buildings have participated in the solar tour, said Rene' Fleming, conservation coordinator for the city of St. George.

The Water and Energy Administration Building will be a part of the Solar Tour, Fleming said.