2018 Fall Home

Page 30 2018 Fall Home & Garden Lincoln Daily News Sept. 26, 2018 Continued nn In a recent presentation to Logan County residents, Patrick McElroy and Jason Mullholland of Tick Tock Energy, an Effingham based company, said solar is “hot” in Illinois and a good financial investment due to incentive money. Among the reasons McElroy touted for using solar are • It is simple and easy • It saves a lot of money. • It lasts between 30 and 40 years. • It provides protection from electricity inflation. • It is more affordable than ever. • It is easy to finance because banks consider it a safe investment. • Low maintenance panels can be installed almost anywhere with clear southern exposure. • Washington and Springfield want to give people energy credits. • There is a good return on investment. One major reason some are using solar energy is the energy savings it provides. Some months, it produces more power than used, but even in when it does not exceed energy needs, it still provides a return on investment. Ameren pays back based on the solar credits, so solar panel users earn credits during the summer to pay for winter. Ameren tries to balance it so there is no extra left. Typical installation costs are $12,000 to $16,000. However, Solar Renewable Energy Credits and an Illinois Incentive can help repay 30 to 40 percent of the system installation costs, which can add up to several thousand dollars over a five-year period. Solar energy can be monitored through web- based monitoring hourly, daily, or by each panel These are just some reasons for having a solar energy system installed. Before having solar panels installed, you must consider where to mount them. panels and prevents water from getting inside. D ue to its abundancy, consistency, and energy cost savings, solar energy is becoming increasingly popular. Solar power is the most abundant renewable energy on earth and its technology has been field tested and improved on in recent years. By Angela Reiners Upgrade your home to solar energy