Illinois Solar Tour goes virtual: Carol Stream featured in showcase of solar homes, businesses Sept. 26

Carol Stream will be featured among more than 30 solar homes and businesses across the state participating in this year's Illinois Solar Tour, which will give thousands of residents an up-close virtual look at the world's fastest growing source of energy.

The Solar Tour, hosted by the Illinois Solar Education Association, is a free experience, including live virtual events on Saturday, Sept. 26.

The tour allows the public to view real-life examples of nearby businesses and residents, including those in Carol Stream, who have decided to cut their utility bills by going solar.

Structured in past years as a statewide series of open houses, the tour has been reimagined for a socially distanced, all-digital audience. Photos and videos of solar homes and businesses in communities throughout the state are available now on the tour website, where visitors can also sign up for the live Zoom tours scheduled for 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26.

With 10 options available, the tours will offer the public a chance to engage and ask questions of solar owners and other enthusiasts.

Wendy and Roger Vernon's home in Carol Stream is featured. They have a 5.7 kWp PV System along with a LG Chem 9.8 kWh battery which was installed in May of 2019 and produces 100 percent of their yearly electricity use. The combined benefits of solar on the environment and the cost savings made installing solar an easy decision for the couple.

The virtual tours are expected to give thousands of people across Illinois a better understanding of renewable energy. Participants will gain valuable insight on the costs, processes, as well as the economic and environmental benefits of going solar. Illinois is in the middle of a solar energy boom thanks to the implementation of new legislation, making the Solar Tour a great way to learn about the opportunities the technology affords.

To find sites to explore near you, visit www.illinoissolar.org/Illinois-Solar-Tour.

Participating towns and cities in the Solar Tour include but are not limited to: Arlington Heights, Batavia, Brookfield, Buffalo Grove, Carol Stream, Cary, Caseyville, Champaign, Chicago, Deer Park, Elmhurst, Evanston, Forest Park, Glen Carbon, Glen Ellyn, Goreville, Grayslake, Highland Park, LaGrange Park, Naperville, Northbrook, Palatine, Plainfield, Riverside, Schaumburg, Troy, West Chicago, Wheaton, Wilmette, Woodridge and Woodstock.

The Illinois Solar Education Association is two sister nonprofit organizations - the Illinois Solar Energy Association and the Illinois Solar Education Association - that promote the widespread application of solar and other forms of renewable energy through our mission of advocacy and education.

Founded in 1975 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, the organization was focused on public education for the majority of its history. In the last decade, ISEA expanded its efforts to include working to ensure stable policies and regulations for solar development in Illinois. In order to do this work, ISEA founded its sister 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade organization.

The Illinois Solar Education Association is the Illinois chapter of the American Solar Energy Society, and is the state resource for renewable energy-related policy developments, educational classes, events, news, and access to local renewable energy businesses. www.illinoissolar.org