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Illinois Solar Tour - Central Sites




The 2023 Solar Tour is available in a hybrid format, offering both in-person and video tours. Please check individual sites to see which types of tours are offered.

Types of Tours:

  • In-Person: The home or business owner will be there to talk about their installation and answer questions; may or may not include going inside to see equipment
  • Video: The home or business owner filmed a video tour of their system, which is viewable online
  • Walk-By Solar Home: The home or business owner will not be available to greet visitors; visitors can view the system from outside


    Champaign

    Andy Robinson

    Site Type: Residential

    Tour Type: Video

    Link to Video

    System: 36 roof-mounted panels

    Annual Production: 8600kWh

    Why I went solar: I’ve wanted solar for years, but it had to become an affordable investment for my wife. My kids were old enough to understand that our house and car “don’t make smoke” now.

    Chillicothe


    Chillicothe Public Library District

    Site Type: Non-Profit

    Tour Type: In-Person

    System: 289 roof-mounted panels

    Annual Production: 115 MWh

    Why I went solar: The decision to install a renewable energy system was based on our desire to be good stewards of our environment, and the public funds we receive to operate. The opportunity to serve as an educational hub for renewable energy was equally appealing, and further supports the library's strategic plan goals.

    Decatur


    Jason Butterick

    Site Type: Residential

    Tour Type: Video

    Link to Video

    System: 22 roof-mounted panels

    Annual Production: 9100kWh

    Why I went solar: I was concerned about environmental costs through utility providers and power plants. I also liked the idea of using sunshine to power my home, and utility use only when needed rather than always. It is great to be a customer with choice rather than at the mercy of utility providers.

    Fithian


    Ron Feltes

    Site Type: Residential

    Tour Type: In-Person & Video

    Link to Video

    System: 24 ground-mounted panels, earth-sheltered home

    Annual Production: 8911kWh

    Why I went solar: The 8.3% return on investment clinched it. I taught HS Biology and it bugs me that the carbon dioxide I release as I consume electricity lasts hundreds of years in the atmosphere. If I can reduce the trapping of the sun's heat on our little planet, I have to do it.

    Kankakee


    Kankakee Community College

    Site Type: Non-Profit

    Tour Type: In-Person

    System: We have three PV systems here at KCC that are accessible on a walkout lab rooftop. System #1. 16 - Panasonic 325W modules and a Outback ProHarvest inverter, 5.2 kW total. System #2 32 - Mission Solar 310 W modules, Generac Inverter, 9.9 kW total, System #3 32 - Jinko Solar 310 W modules, 14K SolarEdge Inverter 9.9 kW total 

    Annual Production: 35 MWh collectively

    Why I went solar: KCC has one of the oldest renewable energy training programs in the state. The PV systems located at KCC are designed, built and maintained by KCC Electrical Engineering Technology/Renewable Energy students. It is the only class on campus that saves campus money. All energy production is integrated into the campus electrical infrastructure.

    Metamora


    Peter Koedijk

    Site Type: Residential

    Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home

    System: 50 roof-mounted panels

    Annual Production: 17 MWh

    Why I went solar: Always been interested in solar energy and self sufficiency. We are now a net zero home. I believe it was the right thing to do, to be a Steward of God's creation. We are also in the process of researching the purchase of a air heat pump to replace our HVAC and water heater to maximize the use of the power our panels generate.

    Minooka


    Rich Robinette

    Site Type: Residential

    Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home

    System: 42 roof-mounted panels

    Annual Production: TBD

    Why I went solar: I wanted to eliminate my electric bill. For my usage and installation the large initial investment will pay off.

    Springfield

    Tung Nguyen

    Site Type: Residential

    Tour Type: In-Person

    System: 29 roof-mounted panels

    Annual Production: 8000kWh

    Why I went solar: I went solar because I wanted to support renewable energy and a better environment.

    Urbana


    Marya Ryan and Pete Resnick

    Site Type: Residential

    Tour Type: Video

    Link to Video

    System: 27 roof-mounted panels, back up battery

    Annual Production: 7500kWh

    Why I went solar: We installed our system not only to "do the right thing" for renewable energy, but also to provide backup power for a home office, and to play with the latest technology. It had the added bonus of providing some shading, and therefore reducing the heat load, on a south facing roof right over the home office. Our final installation of panels were put in to take advantage of the Grow Solar / Solar Urbana-Champaign program.


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