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Let the Sun Shine

Local Solar Contractor Simplifies the Process for Adopting Solar Energy

Article by Zach Witt & Michael Beightol

Photography by Zach Witt & Michael Beightol

Originally published in SW Lake Lifestyle

Zach Witt, owner of ilumen Solar, says renewable energy became a passion of his when he was a student at Montana State University. After moving back home, he was disappointed that solar wasn’t more prevalent, and committed to do something. In 2016 I attended a solar conference and began developing the business he launched in 2017.

SWL: How did you get started in solar?

Zach Witt (ZW): At first we offered a product called Smartflower, a system that looks like a giant sunflower and literally tracks the sun. The first U.S. system installed is in Lake Barrington. While it is an amazing technology, we couldn’t sustain ourselves on just that product. Soon after we dove heavily into the residential and small commercial rooftop space which is the majority of what we now do. The equipment we use is on the high end with a strong 25-30 year warranty. The technology is straightforward and reliable.    

SWL: What does it look like? 

ZW: Aesthetics are extremely important because a solar system should be an elegant and modern asset to any home. Triple water-sealed roof mounts are installed first. A rack system is then attached to the roof mounts, and then the solar panels. Since our goal is to make every install as seamless as possible, we always pass conduit through the attic, then bring it out the eave/soffit, and down to the equipment. This process eliminates any visible conduit on the roof, improving the appearance of the system.

SWL: What are the advantages for a local family to go solar? 

ZW: Financially, there are federal tax credits and often state incentives which help offset most of the cost. Once a homeowner has achieved the return on investment, the savings begin; typically, about $1,200 annually. After installation you have a value-added asset when it’s time to sell your home. With the integration of battery systems, we can make a home more resilient to power outages. The ecological benefits are perhaps the most rewarding of all, simply knowing that you are producing electricity free from carbon emissions. We’ve installed a lot of systems in homes with electric vehicles, and that is always an exciting experience for a homeowner. As a family, the children get a lot out of this experience, too. We know of students who do science projects on their system, and I’ve been told that going solar completely changes the demeanor of the household. 

Educating and explaining how this process works is about 90% of what I do every day. Luckily, it’s the favorite part of my job. The more understanding and awareness of solar we have as a community, the more adoption we will see overall.  

SWL: Talk about the role of tax credits. 

ZW: The solar tax credit is historically the most important financial benefit that’s yielded a 10,000% growth rate since inception. This year the tax credit was supposed to step down from 26% to 22%, however, the federal stimulus package extended the 26% tax credit for two more years. This means that homeowners and businesses gained an extra cushion of time for a quicker return on investment.

SWL: What can a homeowner expect when they call you? 

ZW: We are here to educate a client with all the information they need to make an informed decision, whether with us, another installer, or not going solar at all. As a small, family-owned business, we are more your local solar consultant vs. a corporate solar salesman. When you call you should expect a friendly, and hopefully, fun conversation on the subject. It’s as simple as that.

SWL: What differentiates you from other solar contractors? 

ZW: There are a lot of great solar companies out there and we all support the same cause. The way we differentiate ourselves is through system design and aesthetics. For instance, we want your system to look like a luxury car, not an inexpensive sub-compact. You can also expect prompt communication, as well as honest and transparent information.   

All we ask is that homeowners continue to educate themselves. Where does your electricity come from?  Where does your food come from? How much plastic are you using daily? Are we just taking from the environment or are we giving back as well?  How do our activities positively or negatively impact climate change and what can we do better? 

My belief is we can all do better by starting with the smallest of steps, and it’s never been more important to do so. Overall, it’s important that we analyze how we consume electricity and understand what we can do to reduce our consumption and make it more sustainable.

Learn more at ilumensolar.com or call Zach Witt at 847.852.3370.

How Solar Power Works 

1.       Sunshine (even on cloudy days) hits solar panels to produce direct current (DC) electricity. At the inverter, the electricity generated is converted to alternating current (AC) for use in a home. An inverter is essentially the brains of the operation.

2.       Solar generated electricity is used right away to power a home and can be considered a dual power source when “grid tied," or in conjunction with the utility. In our area “fully off grid” is not common because being connected to the grid is advantageous.

3.       A local utility, such as ComEd, continues to provide electricity for use at night and at times (such as winter) when the energy generated from solar panels is lower. The homeowner “Net Meters” excess generation in higher producing months (such as summer) which levels out the solar production throughout the year. 

4.       Put simply, a solar installation includes roof mounts, racks, solar panels, and conduit to bring power to an inverter that connects to a home’s main breaker panel.

“Once a homeowner has achieved the return on investment, the savings begin; typically, about $1,200 annually.”

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