Solar energy on tour
The attraction could be a geodesic dome house with solar heat, a home in Naperville that makes its own electricity, suburban residences with geothermal heating and cooling or even a windmill in Lisle.
Or it could be the chance to discuss photovoltaics and other techniques with enthusiastic supporters of renewable energy.
The Illinois Solar Energy Association offers a chance to find out Saturday, Oct. 4, with its annual tour.
Across the state, more than 100 homes and businesses will show off how they harness heat and electricity.
The free tour is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., with the homes and addresses listed online at illinoissolar.org.
Barb Sutton bought the 31-year-old dome home last year in McHenry County's picturesque Bull Valley just because she liked the idea of living in a round house. And earlier this year the nurse practitioner had a solar thermal system installed on the roof of the attached garage to enhance her green lifestyle.
She will welcome people who are on the tour inside to see the house. The main floor is built around a central kitchen with two, 2-story bedrooms on one side. Most of the main level is an open family room with a reading alcove in front of a large star-shaped window. A spiral staircase goes up to a loft bedroom, and the home also has a full, round, walkout basement.
Sutton's four solar panels provide hot water for showers and laundry and this winter will also heat air to cut the gas needed for her forced-air furnace.
In Naperville, Jim and Kath Camasto have installed two types of solar panels on their home. One set generates electricity, the other heats water and helps heat the house.
Their motivation is to save money on utilities.
They bought the thermal water-heating panels more than two years ago and were so happy with them that they decided to purchase photovoltaic panels to produce electricity.
Jim Camasto installed the photovoltaic panels himself, saving about $5,000. The projects totaled about $40,000, but the couple received considerable government rebates and tax credits.
Camasto said their gas use has been cut about 50 percent and the amount of the electricity they purchase even more than that.
The electricity that is not used goes to the utility, while the meter runs backward, reducing their bill.
"Energy costs are going up and not down," said the painting contractor, adding that he considers the installations a good investment.
Lisa Albrecht, chairwoman of the tour, designs and builds solar systems with Solar Service Inc. of Niles.
"Our primary goal is education," said Albrecht, "to dispel myths, such as you can't use solar in Illinois."
Some of the homes are not open but visitors can see the outside part of the system. Albrecht said this is important because aesthetics is an important issue for some homeowners considering solar.
Today's solar panels are only 10 to 15 percent efficient at collecting solar energy and converting it to homeowners' use. New panels in research are more than 40 percent efficient, she said.
A solar system that heats water for domestic use such as showers costs between $11,000 and $14,000, she said, while one that also helps heat the house would be $21,000 to $25,000. An electric system that produces about one-twelfth of a typical family's electric needs would cost $18,000.
Illinois rebates for solar systems are in question because a bill on Gov. Blagojevich's desk would allow tax money collected for that to be used elsewhere in balancing the budget, she said. The U.S. Congress is expected to act soon on an energy bill that could continue and expand tax credits.
Other homes on the tour include James Robinson's home in Lisle whose several energy-collecting systems include a windmill; an Evanston house that shows solar panels that look more like regular roofing materials; an Elgin home heated and cooled by a geothermal system; and a house in Roselle with evacuated tube solar collectors, a different and more expensive technology.
The Illinois Solar Energy Association has 500 members, and Albrecht is hoping that 1,500 people visit the homes and businesses this year, double last year's attendance.
"We are seeing more and more interest and more and more solar system purchases because people realize we need to be more independent as far as energy is concerned," said Albrecht.
2008 Illinois Solar Tour
When: 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 4
Where: At total of 115 homes and businesses around the state, including many in Chicago and suburbs. Brochures and maps are free online at Illinoissolar.org.