Deb and Todd Burrus once lived in a drafty farmhouse where they froze in the winter and baked in the summer. In 1987, with energy conservation in mind, they decided to build a super insulated home with a passive solar design which allows warm air to circulate around the house between two sets of walls – a double building envelope.
After the home was built, they continued to live sustainably. They invested in energy efficient technologies such as high efficiency appliances. Deb also planted 50 White Pines and 50 deciduous trees along the perimeter of the property. The windbreak trees are now over 50 feet tall and provide shade and protection from the wind.
They also operate a very small, purebred pork farm that sells animals to youth in 4-H & Future Famers of America (FFA) members. These programs cultivate understanding and appreciation for agriculture and sustainable food systems.
The move to sustainability continued even further when Deb and Todd participated in a solar tour where they met solar homeowner and sustainability advocate, Ed Anderson. Built in 2017, Ed’s solar array offsets 100% of his power consumption and generates clean energy certificates under the 2017 Distributed Generation Procurement Program.
In 2016, the Illinois legislature passed the most important climate bill in Illinois history- the Future Energy Jobs Bill (SB2814). The bill fixed flaws in the policy of the existing Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and ensured stable and predictable funding for renewable development.
The new law increases funding for energy efficiency from $250M to $400M per year by 2030, setting the stage to grow enough solar and wind energy to power one million homes and create thousands of new clean jobs. It also created the Adjustable Block Program which allocates at least 25% of the funds to small solar systems for homes and small businesses.
Inspired by seeing a solar array in operation and excited about the incentives from the clean energy certificates, the Burrus family decided it’s time they switched to solar power. Deb called a couple of solar contractors and ultimately picked IM Sustainable.
First, the location of the array was determined. The house has a south-facing roof segment. About 150 feet from the house sits a Morton building with east- west roof clear from shade. The property also has plenty of available ground space which would allow for perfect positioning of the solar panels. Ultimately, they chose the south side of their prairie restoration for the location of the solar array.
The system was built winter last year. Deb and Todd were pleased with both the work and the workers. “They were efficient, very professional, thorough, tidy, polite and pleasant,” Deb said.
Illinois Electric Cooperative inspected the system for interconnection and approved it for net metering which credits Deb and Todd for the solar production.
Even with the excessive rains this year, the system has already produced over 7,000 kilowatt hours of electricity from the sun. It is also producing clean energy certificates under the Adjustable Block Program also known as Illinois Shines. The program provides payments in exchange for 15 years of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs).
“The incentives made it attractive.” Deb said. In addition to the solar REC earnings, under the Investment Tax Credit, 30% of the project cost is recovered through a dollar for dollar tax credit on their federal taxes.
The huge advancements in solar technology made it possible for Deb and Todd to switch to solar power. Deb, who signs her emails with ‘Onward’, and Todd, third generation owner of Burrus Seed Farms, have become part of the forward thinking group that is the solar community.
“With the financial benefits, it’s a no brainer. Why would you not do this? It is just sitting out there producing electricity,” Deb said.
