Wrong document context!

System: 11 roof-mounted panels, designated native plant Habitat Corridor

Annual Production: 4505 kWh

Why I went solar: It has always been of interest to us.

Aurora

Kris Murphy

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home

System: 29 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 14.5 MWh

Why I went solar: Best way to access renewable energy, reduce our household's largest portion of our carbon footprint, electricity bill cost savings, and take advantage of a backyard roof facing S-SW.

Best viewed from cul de sac behind our house.

Bartlett

Marc Santoro

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 15 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 6539 kWh

Why I went solar: We wanted to save on energy costs in the future as a part of retirement planning. We liked the fact that the added home value itself would offset the cost of our system. Although saving money in the long run was an incentive for us, the environmental benefit was the number one deciding factor for us to going solar.

Bolingbrook

Linda Trujano

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 26 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 13.4 MWh

Why I went solar: My husband and I wanted to diversify our investment portfolio and realized that with incentives, we could get an ROI of 7 years with the installation of solar panels.

Brookfield

Compassion United Methodist Church

9210 Broadway Ave

Site Type: Non-Profit

Tour Type: In-Person & Video

System: 50 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 15 MWh

Why I went solar: Because we believe houses of worship have a moral responsibility to be leaders in the drive to net-zero carbon emissions: to get as much energy as possible from renewable energy - solar and wind. When our congregation bought and remodeled an old dry cleaner building as an art gallery/studio and worship space, we were thrilled to be able to donate a PV system that produces 100% of its electricity. (When we install the pottery kiln we dream of for the studio, there's room on the roof to expand the system!)

Buffalo Grove

Jeff Slepak

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person & Video

System: 32 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 11.5MWh

Why I went solar: To lower our carbon footprint on the planet. The fact that we've paid $0 in electricity usage since the system started up has been great, too! Our home is fortunate to have the best azimuth. Though we have many trees in the back yard, we get full sun on the panels in the summer with no tree shade; in the winter, when the sun is lower, the trees have no leaves, and we get plenty of sun then, too. We added 5 more panels this year to account for our EV.

Buffalo Grove

David Weidenfeld

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 19 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 9511 kWh

Why I went solar: We believe that this is the most effective way to combat degradation of the environment that can be done in a home. This is our second home with solar panels.

Note: This home is on a cul de sac and parking may be limited

Carol Stream

Wendy Vernon

819 Thunderbird Trl

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person & Video

System: 19 roof-mounted panels, backup battery, EV

Annual Production: 7829kWh

Why I went solar: We installed solar because we wanted to help the environment with clean, renewable energy and also wanted to save money on our electric bills. We also installed a battery backup because we wanted some off grid capability in case of a power outage. We felt like the time was right to install solar because of the availability of the federal and state tax incentives.

Cary

James Chen

385 Oakmont Dr.

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person & Video

System: 36 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 13 MWh

Why I went solar: It is the right thing to do for the environment while making sense financially. Best investment I have done in my life. Factor in the the reduction on electrical bill and no need for gasoline, the return on investment is within couple of years.

Deerfield

Chris Goodsnyder

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 33 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 11 MWh

Why I went solar: To reduce my carbon footprint and set a good example for my children and neighbors.

Deerfield

Christopher Call

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 27 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 15 MWh

Why I went solar: To reduce our carbon footprint and to provide long-term energy savings.

Deerfield

John Bartok

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home

System: 25 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 7600 kWh

Why I went solar: To help reduced climate change

Deerfield

Michael Taitel

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 28 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 9100 kWh

Why I went solar: We wanted to reduce our carbon footprint and had begun exploring solar. After our roof was severely damaged by hail and needed to be replaced, we decided it would be the perfect time to go solar. Also, the SREC and Illinois incentives made it affordable.

Deerfield

Chuck Wathen

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 26 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: Too early to tell!

Why I went solar: Very interested in using renewable energy.

Deerfield

Perrin Davis

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 31 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 10 MWh

Why I went solar: We installed our system to add value to our home and save money on electricity.

Deerfield

Lake County Forest Preserves

Site Type: Government/Public Building

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar

System: The Welcome Center has 98 roof-mounted panels & the Education Center has 68 roof-mounted panels, geothermal

Annual Production: 31,388 MWh

Why I went solar: The Forest Preserve has a goal of net-zero energy for all new construction. It is part of our mission to be care-takers of the environment, including energy. There is an interpretive panel on the Welcome Center.

Deer Park

Peter Gorr

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person & Video

System: 21 roof-mounted panels, community solar subscription, EV

Annual Production: 8500 kWh

Why I went solar: This is my second home with a solar PV system. It is one of the best choices I can make to reduce my carbon footprint - the benefits of pollution free energy, energy independence, and financial gain are just too great to ignore. Over 8 years of data speak for itself. It is the most economical option for electricity available to a homeowner and serves as my source for electricity for charging my EV. I save $2300 per year as a result. As a parent and grandparent, I realize the responsibility I have to contribute to the mitigation of climate change in any way I can. The biggest individual impact I can have is transitioning my energy use to clean renewables and then let people know how I am benefitting.

Downers Grove

Paul Swanson

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 19 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 5875 kWh

Why I went solar: To reduce our monthly energy cost, to reduce environmental hazards from fossil fuels. We also had solar hot water panels on our previous home for water and house heating and 10 panels in a local solar park though our electric cooperative.

Downers Grove

Dennis Holyn

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Video

System: 40 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 14.5 MWh

Why I went solar: I decided to install solar to take advantage of all the incentives. It's great to keep my energy cost fixed for the next 20 years, vs. paying the monopoly ComEd with increasing rates.

Elburn

Gordon Hoffman

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home

System: 15 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 8680 kWh

Why I went solar: We were early adopters, buying a hybrid car back in 2010 and wanted to continue to limit our use of fossil fuels. Being a climate scientist, our son did extensive research on solar, installed it on his home and was very pleased with the results he was experiencing. When we learned that there was a way to do it with no out-of-pocket expense, we thought it was a no-brainer to install a solar system and take advantage of our location with a large south-facing expanse of roof.

Elgin

Andrew Brainard

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 18 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 9357 kWh

Why I went solar: I have had solar in my last 2 houses and wanted my new house to be as efficient as possible

Elizabeth

Joe Ambrosia

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Video

System: 24 ground-mounted panels

Annual Production: 11.23MWh

Why I went solar: It was both ecologically and financially feasible. I figured a 4 year break-even based on electricity rates along with tax and financial incentives at the time, not accounting for the increases we have seen since then. Also, photovoltaic is a proven technology. The process of installing solar panels was simple. Our installer handled all of the permits, site recommendations, energy assessments and installation.

Elmhurst

Dan Virgil

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 22 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 10 MWh

Why I went solar: I was always intrigued by the idea of producing my own electricity. In 2015 we decided to take the plunge and had the system installed.

Elmhurst

Lisa Gerhold & Eric Dirks

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person & Video

System: 13 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 4200 kWh

Why I went solar: Our primary motivation for adding solar panels was to reduce our fossil fuel use for the benefit of the planet and future generations. Reducing electric bills was another motivator. With the financial incentives available in 2019, the time was right for us to make the investment.

Elmhurst

Carol Bracken-Tilley

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 22 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 9885 kWh

Why I went solar: Want to get to net zero on energy. Just purchased EV car to continue to support this goal. Had house HERS certified which helped to achieve a tight envelop for the house.

Elmhurst

Geri Sorrentino

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home

System: 10 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 4510kWh

Why I went solar: I wanted some renewable energy. I didn't want panels all over my roof, so have a rectangular set of 10. Enough for our house.

Elmhurst

Sid Chhabra

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Video

System: 14 roof-mounted panels, backup battery

Annual Production: 4349kWh

Why I went solar: I have been fascinated by the potential of solar power as a clean energy source for a while. This resulted in the DIY project for solar charged battery backup system. Success of that project, coupled with the federal and state incentives for solar, made it a very easy decision to build the larger grid tied system.

Evanston

Carl Brownell

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 19 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 7787 kWh

Why I went solar: We installed solar because we wanted to produce energy that would not be polluting the atmosphere or creating nuclear waste. We also were happy to reduce our long-term electrical costs and payments to ComEd.

Evanston

Brad Sageman

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 15 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 6979 kWh

Why I went solar: As a co-director of Northwestern's Institute for Sustainability and Energy, and an earth scientist who studies the impacts of climate change, I am deeply committed to the energy transition. In 2021-22 we completely renovated our +100 year-old farm house, replacing all windows, enhancing insulation, changing the heating system, and adding solar. We are now set-up for EV charging, which we will install as soon as our 2009 Prius is replaced with an EV.

Evanston

Chuck Carrington

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person & Video

System: 26 roof-mounted PV panels, 2 Thermal collectors with 80 gal tank, EV

Annual Production: 10.83MWh

Why I went solar: For the health of our planet and for future generations. I have long thought it important to do what we can to reduce the use of fossil fuels. My old house had a few thermal panels, but it was too shaded for PV. By the time I bought my present home, I realized that solar PV is a good investment financially also.

Evanston

Jeff Balch

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person & Video

System: 21 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 9000 kWh

Why I went solar: We bought the place in 1997 partly because rooftop solar thermal panels caught our eye—hats off to previous owner. Our kids grew up in a home warmed by friendly technology as well as love. In 2021—after a hailstorm forced re-roofing—we replaced the solar thermals with PVs, and the old thermals went to a neighbor’s place. The new PVs meet most of our electricity needs, though in winter we still buy dirty ComEd power. More work remains! (Note: the video link is from a previous Solar Tour, with the wrong date at the end. Still fun, though.)

Evanston

Robert Grosshandler

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 31 flat roof-mounted panels, backup batteries

Annual Production: 12.68 MWh

Why I went solar: First, ability to handle a power outage in winter for an adequate amount of time - protect the house from freezing. Second, summer power outages. Third, being greener.

Evanston

Michael Moran

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person & Video

Part of the Glen Ellyn Community Tour!

System: 2 solar thermal collectors with 80 gal storage tank

Why I went solar: We knew with a growing family that this system would pay for itself before too long. It may have paid for itself 3 times over by now, with almost no maintenance. Solar heated showers feel better!

Forest PArk

Scott & Stacey White

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home

System: 31 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 12.4 MWh

Why I went solar: I have worked in and around renewable energy for the past 20 years and our family is committed to sustainability. With the federal investment tax credit (ITC) increasing from 26% to 30% in 2022 and with the generous state incentives in Illinois, the financial incentives to going solar were not an obstacle to our environmental goals. Our system has performed as well as I both expected and hoped it would.

Galena

Mike Koeller

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 26 ground-mounted panels, geothermal

Annual Production: 13 MWh

Why I went solar: To save on electrical costs over time, payback in 8.5 years, more savings after that. With the geothermal, can cool the house for almost nothing due to 55 degree earth temp and saving about 400 gallons of LP gas per year.

Glencoe

Chicago Botanic Garden

Site Type: Non-Profit

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Site

System: 83 roof-mounted panels on Learning Center, smaller number of panels on Grunsfeld Children's Growing Garden toolshed/potting shed

Annual Production: 39.6 MWh

Why I went solar: Chicago Botanic Garden's Regenstein Learning Campus features the Learning Center and the Grunsfeld Children's Growing Garden. The Learning Center has Platinum LEED certification so, sustainable building features were part of the building's plans when constructed.

Usual Chicago Botanic Garden parking fees apply. Admission fees are not required to see the solar panels at the Regenstein Learning Campus but, admission fees are required to enter the Visitor Center and see additional parts of the Garden. See chicagobotanic.org for more information about hours, and parking and admission fees.

Glen Ellyn

Jamie Carr

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 31 roof-mounted panels, EV, heat pump, all-electric home

Annual Production: 13.9 MWh

Why I went solar: As part of a recent deep energy retrofit and addition, we knew we wanted to design our home to be all electric and net zero. The power used by our electric vehicle means that we are not quite net zero, but solar PV offsets the vast majority of our annual household electrical consumption.

Glen Ellyn

Jim Breeser

Part of the Glen Ellyn Community Tour!

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 31 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 9990 kWh

Why I went solar: My wife and I wanted a cleaner energy source, we chose solar. We were also impressed with amount of cost savings potential over time. The incentives covered about half of the cost of entire system.

Glen Ellyn

Billy Joe Mills

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Video

System: 14 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 6250 kWh

Why I went solar: I wanted my family’s home to produce at least a sizable portion of what we consume. I believe in distributed, decentralized technologies.

Glen Ellyn

Richard Whitney

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Video

Part of the Glenview/Northbrook Community Tour!

System: 16 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 4000kWh

Why I went solar: Concerned about climate change, we made a philosophical choice to live our values and reduce our carbon footprint. I did not believe in 2010 that PV would be purely justifiable on a cost-benefit basis, but felt that everyone must do what they can to reduce their impact on the earth. As it turned out, the move to solar has paid for itself, not even counting any additional increase in home value.

Glenview

Shinji Kondo

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 36 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 13.4 MWh

Why I went solar: Having always been environmentally conscious, putting up PVs was one of the first things I wanted to do when I got a home. I love that I am producing enough of my own energy to power my home and car. It's also nice knowing that this investment will pay itself off and continue to pay me well into the future.

Glenview

Cary Jacobs

Part of the Glenview/Northbrook Community Tour!

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 40 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 12 MWh

Why I went solar: I wanted to embrace solar technology to save money from my ComEd bills and help put this planet on a more sustainable path.

Glenview

Mary Munday and Richard Clark

Part of the Glenview/Northbrook Community Tour!

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 27 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 7000 kWh

Why I went solar: We wanted to reduce our carbon emissions by charging our EV with solar-generated electricity. We also wanted to contribute solar-powered energy to Illinois' electric grid. We believe that going solar and converting to electric appliances contributes to a clean energy future and a more livable planet for those who come after us. Plus, our arrays began reducing our utility bills from the day the systems were connected.

Glenview

Lisa Pavic

Part of the Glenview/Northbrook Community Tour!

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home

System: 17 roof-mounted panels, 2 backup batteries

Annual Production: 7165 kWh

Why I went solar: We were remodeling our house and trying to incorporate as much green technology as possible with the update. As an environmental science teacher, it is really exciting to be able to implement something I teach about!

Valerie Kilman

Part of the Glenview/Northbrook Community Tour!

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 21 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 6000 kWh

Why I went solar: Solar energy seemed both socially responsible and a worthwhile long-term investment personally. Of course, I like generating the environmental benefits. However, my electricity bill is next to nothing because I generate more than I use 8 months a year, the panels increase the value of my home, and the substantial rebates helped reduce the up-front cost. An unexpected benefit is that curious, like-minded people walking by ask about the panels, so I get to know my good neighbors.

Glenview

Brett Paynter

Part of the Glenview/Northbrook Community Tour!

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home

System: 15 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 5500 kWh

Why I went solar: Took advantage of tax credits. Wanted to be more in control of my system. My only regret was putting in a system that met my current needs and not future needs.

Grayslake

Colin Kelly Thacker

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 13 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: TBD

Why I went solar: To save money and the environment

Grayslake

College of Lake County & ISEA Solar House

Site Type: Non-Profit

Tour Type: Video & Walk-By Solar Building

CLC is also the host of ISEA's Solar House! It is in Lot #2 on the south end of the Grayslake Campus. Lot #2 is located between Lancer Lane and Rotunda Way, with Brae Loch Road to the south.

System:

CLC hosts about 2 MW of solar PV on its Grayslake Campus, along with solar thermal on 7 buildings, enough to produce 520,000 BTUs a day. The College also has nearly 150 geothermal wells, each running 150 ft deep underground in a closed loop system. It is estimated that the solar PV will produce 17% of the campus' electricity needs.

Why I went solar: The College has set a goal of reaching carbon neutrality by the year 2042. Installing solar PV, solar thermal and geothermal heat exchange will help CLC get a great start in pursuing this goal. As important to clean energy is on its face value, it is very important to be able to demonstrate energy innovation for our students in their educational and career pursuits.

Gurnee

Nitin Jain

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home

System: 15 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 6723 kWh

Why I went solar: Reduce energy bill with one time investment that will last for 25 years with 5 years of pay-back, environment friendly.

Hawthorn Woods

Howard and Jody Futterman

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 12 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 6345 kWh

Why I went solar: We installed to do our part on limiting climate change and to save money on electricity costs.

Highland Park

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home

System: 44 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 21.24 MWh

Why I went solar: I installed a solar system because I wanted to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels, power my EV and show other residents in the area that solar is possible in Illinois (not just in California).

Highland Park

Gabby Losch

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home

System: 46 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 9909 kWh

Why I went solar: We are environmentally conscious and believe in the need for renewable energy. With the federal incentives, the cost to finance made it very reasonable.

Highland Park

Kunal Pujara and Jill Goldstein

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home

System: 23 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 4000 kWh

Why I went solar: I’m an environmentalist and our system will pay for itself in about 10 years. I purchased a used (1yr old) affordable EV Leaf in 2018. I built a 36 cubic ft compost in my yard from discarded wood pallets and we do our part to recycle and Freebox items to reduce landfill waste. I use data from my Solar Edge app in my high school physics classes to talk about power consumption.

Highland Park

Jay Futterman

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person & Video

System: 24 roof-mounted panels, EV, heat pump water heater, heat pump HVAC

Annual Production: 7400kWh

Why I went solar: We're doing our part to help the planet and save money in the process. We're 7 years in and still amazed how those panels on the roof are able to make pretty much all of the electricity needed to power my house and car. I'm always happy to chat with people and help spread solar.

Se Habla Espanol!

Highland Park

Michael Klee

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 50 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 14 MWh

Why I went solar: As part of creating a more sustainable residence, we aimed to convert gas appliances and gas powered vehicles to electric. We wanted a solar system maintained and insured by others, preferably with a guarantee that would hedge for poor sun conditions in a changing climate as well as one with predictable costs.

Highland Park

Michael Leaf

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home

System: 20 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 5000 kWh

Why I went solar: Increased use of renewable energy is the primary solution to minimize the catastrophic effects of climate change. Installation of our solar PV system was the first step in my decades long quest to electrify everything in our house by eliminating the consumption of all fossil fuels.

Highland Park

Jeff Hoobler

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home

System: 34 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: ~10.5 MWh

Why I went solar: As a Real Estate professional with a degree in Engineering, I truly believe Solar is the best investment anyone can make for their home and the environment. In my case, they calculated a 13% rate of return on my investment for 25 years with a full 25 year warranty, and the bonus - it's great for the environment! After 5.5 years my ROR and production estimates have exceeded their initial predictions!

Highland Park

David Schoeneman

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home

System: 57 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 18.3 MWh

Why I went solar: We wanted to do something that would be better for the environment and it was a way to lock in our energy rate while reducing our monthly costs.

Highland Park

Chadd Berkun

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Video

System: 14 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 7500 kWh

Why I went solar: To reduce carbon emissions.

Amy Hartsough

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 22 roof-mounted panels, 3 backup batteries

Annual Production: 7016 kWh

Why I went solar: I considered our winters, plus full shade on southern side of house, to be an obstacle until my installer used their software to factor in shade, sun position, roof tilt etc. to show that panels on northeast and west sides of roof could at least break even over a year's time on energy produced vs. imported. Also, I had been motivated after paying attention to our roof's sun exposure myself, and viewing the Citizen Utility Board's presentation on solar posted on my village's website then attending the Grow Solar Chicago program's "Power Hour" with the installer.

Hoffman Estates

Mandar Kulkarni

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 13 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 4500 kWh

Why I went solar: I want to offset my carbon footprint and also be able to harness the free solar power!

Huntley

Joshua Busch

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 29 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 11 MWh

Why I went solar: The main reason I installed solar is because I love advancements in technology, and I want to be a part of that. The financial incentives from Federal to the State of Illinois make that feasible. In about 5 years or so, the system will have paid for itself. Additionally, cars are going electric, which will put a strain on the infrastructure. This is my contribution to alleviate that new burden.

Joliet

Tom Hannah

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person & Video

System: 24 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 14.5 MWh

Why I went solar: I'm concerned about the environment and I think this is a way to reduce my carbon footprint. In the near future I plan on buying an EV, so I built a system big enough to power both my home and the EV when I get one.

La Grange Park

Jonathan Almer

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person & Video

System: 23 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 7200 kWh

Why I went solar: We installed solar panels to provide sustainable energy for our house, which has a good roof for solar, and to give the energy back to the grid when we don't need it. This reduces our carbon footprint appreciably, and we feel we should take every step possible to reduce climate change for future generations. With both Illinois and federal incentives, it is also very attractive financially.

La Grange Park

Gary Stevens

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 19 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 8750 kWh

Why I went solar: We wanted to reduce our carbon footprint and reduce any oil usage. We bought an electric car and can now power the car without adding to environmental degradation. We have reduced our ComEd cost to $15 a month as we produce more energy than we use.

Lake Villa

Andrew Bond

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home & Video

System: 27 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: TBD

Why I went solar: We just installed a new roof and wanted to take advantage of the solar incentives to purchase a system to decrease our power bill. When I ran the numbers, my ROI was just over 7 years and the system is guaranteed for 25. The system has been dependable and is still one of the best decisions I have made for my family and the environment.

Lakewood

John Kavalunas

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 22 roof-mounted panels, EV, heat pump HVAC

Annual Production: 5800 kWh

Why I went solar: First, I wanted to do my part in preserving the environment and reducing my family's carbon footprint. Secondly, we wanted it to be financially manageable and the federal tax credit along with the Illinois SRECs allowed this to happen (about 8 year payback).

Libertyville

Carol McKinny

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 20 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 7660 kWh

Why I went solar: I am very concerned about the future of the planet and want to do my small part. I like knowing that on hot summer days with my AC running and my EV car charging, I am providing energy to the grid instead of taking.

Lisle

Thomas Rich

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 16 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 5700 kWh

Why I went solar: We wanted to be energy conscious and help the environment. We were advised that the rebates would greatly lower the cost as well as our monthly bill. We also expect a better price and quicker sale if/when we sell our home. Happy on all counts.

Morton Grove

Andrew Hoffman

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 17 roof-mounted panels (some flat and some pitched), EV

Annual Production: ~7000 kWh

Why I went solar: We wanted to be as environmentally sustainable as possible. We added the second set after we bought our first electric car, to help offset the energy use the car used.

Morton Grove

Kim Moldofsky

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 24 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 9000 kWh

Why I went solar: Frustration and feeling helpless with the state of the world and a desire to be able to do something about it led me to look into solar panels. After meeting with a panel leasing company, my wife decided she would rather own than rent. The federal and state incentives made it more appealing, and now I feel like it's the best money I've ever spent.

Morton Grove

Kent Brooks & Rick Incorvati

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 14 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 5501 kWh

Why I went solar: After learning about the federal and state incentive programs for solar panels, we decided near the beginning of the year to consider renewable energy, and our system was installed in May. Our primary motivation is environmental, but we were pleased to find that even with our modest energy bills, our system is on track to pay itself off in 15 years or so. It's too early to tell how our generating capacity will be affected by seasonal changes, but our initial impressions with our roof-mounted system are positive.

Morton Grove

Jermaine Lindsay

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home

System: 21 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 6000 kWh

Why I went solar: To generate clean energy and reduce dependence on hydrocarbons. Should also be cheaper in the long run.

Leon Zar

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home

System: 34 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 15.5 MWh

Why I went solar: To reduce our carbon footprint, lower our electricity costs, protect against rate increases.

Northbrook

Bob Israel

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Video

Read Derek's full story story on his blog linked here!

System: 30 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: Too early to tell!

Why I went solar: To reduce my carbon footprint and help make the world a slightly better place.

Northbrook

Northbrook Court

Site Type: Business

Tour Type: Video

Link to Drone Footage

System: 3095 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 1300MWh

Why I went solar: Northbrook Court is committed to sustainability! Part of that commitment is generating 1.2M kWh of carbon-free electricity each year through our investment in Solar.

Oak Park

Ryan Thompson

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 19 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 10 MWh

Why I went solar: We installed our PV system because we care deeply about mitigating the cascading effects of the climate crisis and solar is a great way to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. It makes sense from a budget standpoint too. Even without the local incentives, our $10,000 investment would have broken even within 6 or 7 years! We're encouraging everyone who will listen to think seriously about a PV system.

Oak Park

Derek Eder

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 24 roof-mounted panels, community solar subscription, EV

Annual Production: 9500 kWh

Why I went solar: As a homeowner, there are significant steps I can take to do my part in eliminating my own personal climate pollution: replace our appliances with electric ones and generate free, clean energy with rooftop solar panels. We are in the process of doing just that: electrifying our Oak Park home and completely eliminating all our household emissions. We don’t need to wait for some new technology to be invented, or some new program to make this transition. We can start now, and do our part to save the planet, improve our quality of life, and save money in the long run.

Oak Park

Vicki Bielanski

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 16 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 6000 kWh

Why I went solar: We installed a solar system to reduce our CO2 emissions and to do our part towards slowing climate change.

Park City

Micheal Bransky

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 25 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 8710 kWh

Why I went solar: We decided to go solar because of the high electric bill. Illinois and the Federal Government offer big $ incentives. ComEd's Net Metering has served us well.

Park Ridge

Kenneth Doody

Part of the Park Ridge Community Tour!

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 12 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 5353 kWh

Why I went solar: Environmental concerns and reduce personal cost of electricity. I plan on buying an electric car so solar panels will offset increased use of electricity.

Park Ridge

David Ziegenhorn

Part of the Park Ridge Community Tour!

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 34 roof-mounted panels, backup batteries, EV, heat pump

Annual Production: 17 MWh

Why I went solar: Along with the usual benefits of going solar, saving money, saving the planet, etc. I've always been a big fan of being self-sufficient and being able to create and store my own energy at the house is a huge peace of mind. No matter what happens to the world I can power my family and our car to do what we need to do. I'm moving towards electrifying my whole life and only have a gas stove and dryer left.

Riverside

Bob and Judy Finn

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Video

Part of the Warrenville Community Tour!

System: 12 roof-mounted panels, community solar

Annual Production: 4208 kWh

Why I went solar: I was interested in solar because our house had plenty of roof with southern exposure and no shade. We felt we needed to do something to help the environment and reduce our use of fossil fuels. I found out about a webinar from Citizens Utility Board called Solar Power Hour which was informative and provided resources for questions.

Rockford

Steven Hall

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home

System: 16 roof-mounted panels, heat pump water heater, near future: whole house heat pump

Annual Production: 5400 kWh

Why I went solar: To make my world a better place to live and save some money. It was a no brainer. We were lucky that we had the money to purchase the system. That is how you can really save money for the next 25+ years. My investment has an internal rate of return of 14.4% based on 100 year sun patterns. Good luck getting that on your IRA/401k.

Round Lake

Corey McCarter

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 33 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 15 MWh

Why I went solar: Mostly to reduce my power bills, but the side effect of cooler attic spaces and able to charge my EV are nice. It adds value to the house and looks great on the roof.

Saint Charles

Tom Zimmerman

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 12 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 4800 kWh

Why I went solar: I've always been environmentally minded, and my roof gets nearly all day sun. It's a no-brainer -- instead of heating my roof, the sun powers my house!

Stickney

Tim Gruskovak

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 20 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 8700 kWh

Why I went solar: I knew I would save a lot of money.

Warrenville

Connie and Michael Schmidt

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 13 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 4350 kWh

Why I went solar: We believe that it is essential that a transition is made away from fossil fuels in order to have a healthy planet. We also knew that with solar we decrease our electricity costs drastically. This provided us a "win-win" for our personal finances and our ethical beliefs.

West Chicago

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

Site Type: Government/Public Building

Tour Type: Video

System: 532 roof-mounted panels, EV charging stations

Annual Production: 324 MWh

Why I went solar: The Forest Preserve District of DuPage County is committed to a sustainable future for all living things and has been a leader in promoting green technology in use of alternative fuels for its award winning "Green Fleet" or renewable energy systems for many years. Under current leadership, the District's Board has committed to a clean energy sustainability and resiliency plan to make sure our organization is doing its part to help fight climate change globally and locally to ensure there are healthy ecosystems and wildlife which contribute to healthy communities. The Blackwell Fleet Management Photovoltaic project was the District's 4th solar project and largest to date at 260.2 kW supporting 100% of the energy demand for the facility including several internal and an external Level 2 EV charging stations. However, we are not done. Next year, the District will also complete a 603.2 kW solar array at the Willowbrook Wildlife Center which is intended to be our first net zero designed facility.

West Chicago

Mike Bullock

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person & Video

System: 41 roof-mounted panels, air-based heat pump

Annual Production: 11.4MWh

Why I went solar: We installed Solar PV to reduce our carbon footprint and because it is the best financial investment we can make in our home. We are on a path to electrify everything and meet our energy needs with the sun. With other efficiency improvements, we expect to meet almost 100% of our electricity needs this year from the sun. This includes driving the Volt and providing heat for the house (except for the coldest days).

Wheaton

Jeff Gahris

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Video

System: 8 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 3700kWh

Why I went solar: We were excited to join the clean energy revolution for both financial and environmental reasons. We have enjoyed sharing our solar lifestyle with others who are interested in going solar.

Wilmette

Avraham Mor

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 32 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 9357 kWh

Why I went solar: We installed solar to reduce our carbon footprint, and to reduce our overall cost for electricity. We lease our system from Sunrun for $89 per month. We worked with Sunrun to put all conduit inside our home, so the system was seamless on our roof. Our system points east, north, and west. There are no south facing panels. The panels are minimally viewable from the front of our home. The system is 11.52 kW DC with (32) LONGi Green LR4-60HPH-360M panels and (32) Enphase Energy IQ7Plus-72-x-US inverters. The system has been operational since February 2022. Based on $0.15 per KWH from ComEd, we have saved $1,188.24 through August 2023.

Wilmette

Paul Doughty & Kim Rode

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 20 flat roof-mounted panels, rooftop garden, EV

Annual Production: 5500 kWh

Why I went solar: Our daughter Quin (now in college) reports that the first time she heard about solar panels was in 4th grade at Harper Elementary School. She took a field trip next door to Beth and Harry Drucker's home, where students learned about solar power. She found it really interesting and after school told us about it. A month later, we went to a solar panel presentation at the Wilmette Village Hall, explaining all about solar panels. We learned that our flat-roofed garage would be great for solar panels and so we went ahead and purchased the panels. And now we help charge our electric car by adding clean solar energy to the grid. The most satisfying part about installing the solar panels has been our increased involvement in promoting and educating our community, friends and neighbors about the benefits of renewable energy. We created the “Meet Your Wilmette Solar Neighbors” booth for Go Green Wilmette’s environmental fair and Paul now works for Certasun, a locally-owned solar company. Adding solar panels to our house was the next logical step in the greening of our home.

Wilmette

Lisa and Rob Crowe

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 33 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 9598kWh

Why I went solar: We decided to go solar in order to support clean, renewable energy, rather than fossil fuels. We also wanted to support solar jobs and the solar industry, encourage others in our community to go solar, and increase our home value! We decided to lease, not buy, as the southern-facing portion of our roof is small, and it made more financial sense to lease. We learned about Sunrun through Costco. We trust Costco affiliates as we have had very good experiences with their services, such as home and auto insurance, carpet installation, etc.

TIPS: 1. Be patient with waiting for municipal permits. The pandemic caused a much longer wait than usual for us. 2. Although we didn't get quotes from three different companies, everyone says this is a good idea. 3. When you get your system, talk about it with your friends and family! Many people are not yet aware of solar. Once you get it, you'll want to spread the word!

Wilmette

Rob Dann

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 26 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 11 MWh

Why I went solar: The Earth as we know it is facing an existential environmental threat. I wanted to do my share to help protect the planet. I also wanted to temper the effects of rising energy costs.

Wilmette

Seth Tanenbaum

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 35 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 12.97 MWh

Why I went solar: Most say we do these things to save the planet. The planet doesn’t need to be saved. But if we want it to be habitable for flora and fauna (including humans), we need to step up.

Wilmette

Andrea & Michael Strening

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 22 roof-mounted panels, community solar subscription, EV

Annual Production: Too early to tell!

Why I went solar: It’s important to us to help the environment. After getting an electric car we realized the incentives available for installing solar, coupled with cost savings associated with charging our car at home, made solar affordable for us. It also feels great to see our carbon off-set numbers and savings on our electric bill!

Wilmette

Ray Ng

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 23 roof-mounted panels, backup batteries

Annual Production: Too early to tell!

Why I went solar: There were two drivers behind this project. 1) Protecting the environment by reducing my carbon footprint. This is perhaps the most common driver for people installing solar power systems. 2) Energy security. Being in the cybersecurity industry, I am acutely aware of the threat of nation-sponsored cyber espionage activities designed to cripple a country's infrastructure, such as the electric grid. Having my own PV system with battery backup allows me to survive off the grid if required for as long as there is sunlight.

Wilmette

Faith Bugel

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 22 roof-mounted panels, EVs

Annual Production: ~8000 kWh

Why I went solar: I have been interested in environmental issues since college when I took an environmental class. When we moved to Wilmette 7 years ago and there was a state solar incentive, we discovered that installing solar might be a viable option for us. The process took a full year and unfortunately, there was a change in governors and the Rauner administration raided the funding for residential renewable energy. Our contractor was great and tried to make up for the loss of that money through the renewable energy credit (REC) auction. In this time of climate change and the IPCC’s report that we are “Code Red,” it is more important than ever to switch from fossil fuels to renewable energy like residential solar.

Wilmette

Noah Rothschild

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person & Video

System: 25 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 10 MWh

Why I went solar: I’m a little bit of a tree hugger, fluent in frugal and good at math. Going solar makes sense financially and ecologically as this is a home I plan to be in for at least 10 years. Also, I have been in the solar industry for the last six years and it’s about time I put my money where my mouth is.

Wilmette

Jeffrey Sirota

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person (May only be available until 2 PM)

System: 19 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 6000 kWh

Why I went solar: We installed solar panels because we believe it is important to do our part to help the environment. Wilmette and CUB identified GRNE as our installer by promoting a Village sign up period at a group rate and that made permitting a snap as well. Since we installed our system, the energy produced has been consistent with the amount promised!

Wilmette

Andrew Van Til

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 26 roof-mounted panels, community solar subscription, EV

Annual Production: 10.6 MWh

Why I went solar: If your roof can support it, PV is a fantastic way to generate clean, local energy with a reasonable ROI. Given the numbers, it made sense for us to put on panels and reduce our footprint.

Wilmette

Beth Drucker

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home & Video

System: 12 roof-mounted panels, solar thermal, EVs, backup batteries

Annual Production: 5000kWh

Why I went solar: When we had to reroof the house, we had to remove the eight year old solar panels. Efficiency has improved so much that we were able to replace the old panels with a similarly-sized system and make twice the energy.

Wilmette

Mara Dinsmoor

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home & Video

System: 25 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 9859 kWh

Why I went solar: I really wanted to invest in renewable energy and solar energy is such a no-brainer. I am also committed to doing what I can to leave the planet in the best shape possible for future generations. Even though I may not see a personal return on my investment in solar panels, it seemed like the "right thing" to do!

Wilmette

Ben Tolsky

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home & Video

System: 50 roof-mounted panels, EV

Annual Production: 23 MWh

Why I went solar: This is our second time installing solar. My primary motivation is for the environment, but of course it’s nice that it pays for itself as well. I opted to go with a max fit, which meant 50 panels on my roof, because I wanted to future proof my house. We already own one EV and when we replace our other car, it will be with an EV. I also plan on installing heat pumps down the line when it’s time for a new furnace.

Wilmette

Nancy and Andre Pavkovic

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home & Video

System: 24 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 4871 kWh

Why I went solar: The main reason for installing our solar panels was to cut our carbon footprint. We had just installed a new metal roof and the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) was trying to get homeowners to buy into the Solarize Chicago Program so the timing seemed perfect. Our south facing panels far outperform our east and west facing panels, but panels do not have to face south to be productive.

Wilmette

Vytas Kasniunas

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home & Video

System: 30 roof-mounted panels, backup batteries

Annual Production: Too early to tell!

Why I went solar: After some unexpected delays, my system went live on July 12, 2023. I am very happy with the Enphase system, the battery, and the overall design. I plan on getting an Enphase EV charger when get our EV. It is too early to judge the finances as I have only received one ComEd bill since the system has gone live. Regardless of the financial outcome, the primary motivation for me to get the system was energy independence and resiliency given the vulnerabilities of our electrical grid.

Wilmette

Thomas Fester

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home

System: 48 roof-mounted panels, backup batteries

Annual Production: 15 MWh

Why I went solar: We are a house of teachers and wished to lead by example for our students.

Wilmette

Elizabeth Gordon

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home

System: 23 roof-mounted panels, EV, backup batteries

Annual Production: 10.4 MWh

Why I went solar: We were motivated by long term savings, energy independence and a reduced environmental footprint. We also wanted a way to charge our EV and to have an emergency power supply in the event the grid goes down. We chose the Tesla system because it was most cost-effective, and it has worked flawlessly since installation.

Wilmette

Sara and David Lapidus

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Walk-By Solar Home

System: 22 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 14.4 MWh

Why I went solar: We plan to purchase an electric car within the year and began to research solar panels to provide power to charge the car. After researching, we realized our home was a perfect candidate for solar panels due to the amount of sunlight we receive. We are excited to do our part to be more environmentally friendly.

Winfield

Nancy and Bob Wrobel

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 18 roof-mounted panels

Annual Production: 7000 kWh

Why I went solar: Solar panels were a long-standing project on our to-do list. An informational session from MREA was the impetus necessary to start the project. Initially, utility bill savings loomed large. However, once the panels were installed, there was a sense of pride that we were “promoters” of renewable energy.

Winnetka

Ted Wynnychenko

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: In-Person

System: 45 roof-mounted panels, geothermal, rain water collection, native garden

Annual Production: 11 MWh

Why I went solar: We had been concerned about the environment and our legacy to our planet for some time. When we had the opportunity to build our home, we decided to incorporate as many energy saving/environmentally friendly systems as we could.

Woodridge

James and Beth Galbreath

Site Type: Residential

Tour Type: Video