Illinois Solar Tour

Welcome to the 2024 Summer of Solar Tours!

Tour solar homes and businesses throughout the summer

The Summer of Solar Tours is a series of FREE events that feature homes, businesses, and nonprofits throughout the state that have installed solar on their property. Many sites have also integrated other technologies, such as batteries and EVs. During each Tour, hosts open their doors to their community and invite their neighbors in to learn about how to go solar from someone who has already been through the process! Each event includes a short presentation on the host's solar story, a tour of their system, and plenty of time for questions and socializing.

Traditionally, the Solar Tour has had numerous host sites around the state open on the same day. This year, ISEA is changing it up! Instead, we are curating more intimate and targeted events held throughout the whole summer.

Attend a Solar Tour to:

Learn how home and business owners are utilizing solar and other clean energies to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and to become energy independent
Meet people who have renewable energy installations, learn why they did it, the process, what they love about it and lessons learned
Learn about the different technologies and see how they are installed
Hear how different renewable energy technologies work together
Find out all of the ways you can use clean energy to power your life

Visit the ISEA Calendar to find an upcoming Solar Tour near you!

Be sure to check back regularly - new events will be added all summer!

Upcoming Solar Tours include:

Rockford

Steven Hall

September 15th, 2 PM

Click here to register!

System: 16 roof-mounted panels, heat pump water heater, near 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.

Gorham

Mike & Joyce Hickey

September 18th, 6 PM

Click here to register!

System: 21 roof-mounted panels, EV, heat pumps

Annual Production: 9 MWh

Why I went solar: We went solar because we knew that Ameren would be raising there rates and we took advantage of the Illinois Shines program that gave us a $9000 incentive. We are both retired and have limited income. Joyce is a retired public school teacher and Mike retired as a maintenance plant manager from the Catholic Diocese of Springfield Illinois. We hope to add more solar in the future!

Mike can also speak about the solar installation at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Murphysboro!

Wilmette

Andrea & Michael Strening

September 29th, 2 PM

Click here to register!

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

Annual Production: TBD

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!

On Deck:

October 12th: Bronzeville, City of Chicago

This FREE event offers the opportunity to tour innovative green homes and buildings, and see how solar energy can be used efficiently. The tour hopes to inspire people across the state to make sustainable energy choices that reduce costs, support energy independence, protect against power outages, and reduce carbon emissions.

This is a chance to see affordable and practical technologies in your neighborhood that benefit the environment and are part of the solution to our nation’s energy problems. If you are considering solar energy, please check out a site near you, or browse through the Solar Tour videos and Zoom Solar Tour recordings to learn more.

161 Solar Sites Participated in 2023!

View their photos, stories, and videos at the links below:

City of Chicago Sites

Central Sites

Northern Sites

Southern Sites

Southwestern Sites