There’s something extra noteworthy about a green festival breathing renewed life into a long-empty building.
After sitting unused for five years, the nearly 100-year-old former Aurora Post Office in the city’s downtown will be buzzing again from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday when Aurora GreenFest brings together over 90 vendors all focused on environmental sustainability, innovation and everyday choices that can make a difference in our lives and on our good Earth.
Among those choices is a growing interest in solar energy and just when, where and how it can be a smart investment for homeowners.
For people like Kane County Board member Mavis Bates, who also chairs the Sustainability Aurora Advisory Board and is founder of this annual festival, there’s no question solar panels can go a long way in saving energy and cutting rising electric bills.
In fact, Aurora Mayor John Laesch recently sent out a letter to all residents encouraging them to get involved in a national “group buying program” called Switch Together, which offers homeowners a “hassle free way to install reliable solar panels at a competitive price.”
This program is a partnership with two nonprofits – Midwest Renewable Energy Association and Citizens Utility Board (CUB) – both of which work with communities to help people adopt clean energy more easily.
The letter goes on to explain benefits of Switch Together, which include using vetted installers competing in a bidding process to secure a low base price, with savings that average $6,358 on a typical solar installation. In addition, it says that incentives through the Illinois Shines Program could provide an additional 30% in savings and residents could also qualify for up to $1,000 through Aurora Ald. Will White’s Solar and EV Charging Rebate program.
Not everyone is sold on solar, however. Several Realtors I spoke with say reselling a home is more difficult if the property comes with an extended lease on these panels, and warned of sales people taking advantage of homeowners who don’t understand the long-term financial and contractual obligations tied to these leases.
“I don’t hate solar panels,” points out Realtor Kathy Brothers, but she does believe people don’t understand the impact on salability, and that they should have a conversation with a trusted professional about how major changes to your property can affect its resale value.
All the more reason, insist solar energy proponents, to check out the Switch Together program, which offers three options for solar panels: Purchase, lease (at a predetermined fixed amount, usually monthly) or entering into a power purchase agreement (PPA), where residents are charged for the energy the panels produce each month at a predetermined per kilowatt-hour rate.
In addition to working with reputable and vetted solar companies, a big component of Switch Together is providing education to consumers so they understand all the options clearly and “don’t get taken advantage of by door-to-door sales reps and high-pressure sales techniques,” said Jim Chilsen, director of communications for CUB.
The Switch Together program comes with an offer tailored to each homeowner and based on registration details including questions about the roof and energy usage. Personal recommendations include estimated costs, savings and expected electricity generation. If an offer is accepted, homeowners would pay a $150 deposit, refundable if they decide not to move forward with solar installation.
According to Chilsen, in recent years Switch Together – which works with Cook, DuPage, Lake and Kane counties but is also available to Kendall, McHenry and Will residents – has completed 673 solar installations and, as a newer part to the program, 65 battery installs and 35 EV charger installs.
The goal is to have more people explore solar as an option, especially now as energy costs continue to rise with no end in sight.
“Data centers are killing us,” said Bates, describing the controversial server facilities requiring high energy and water usage as “Trojan horses” that present something beneficial but carry hidden consequences inside.
Certainly all these details can get confusing, which is why CUB representatives will be among the experts available at Saturday’s GreenFest to answer questions, she said, noting this year’s event is shaping up to be the biggest yet for this festival, which began in 2010.
Certainly its location at the historic former post office downtown is generating plenty of enthusiasm.
“We really are breathing new life into this beautiful, priceless building,” said Bates, referring in part to “lots of interesting things to see and do for kids” that revolve around solar energy.
“Like the old bumper sticker said, ‘Think globally, act locally,'” she added. “The Aurora GreenFest is our best chance to live greener and more sustainably.”
dcrosby@tribpuub.com
