Homeowners are starting to go solar in the Quad Cities area encompassing parts of Illinois and Iowa across the Mississippi River from each other.

The Quad-City Times recently profiled a Campbell’s Island couple who just added solar to their home. They expect it to cut their electricity bills by 25 percent. The Quad Cities include Davenport, Iowa; Moline, Ill.; Rock Island, Ill.; Bettendorf, Iowa; and East Moline, Ill. The name Quad Cities has stuck even though five cities are included.

Solar panel incentives in both states can cut the cost of a solar panel installation in half, when combined with generous federal solar tax credits.

Solar systems will soon be possible for more Illinois homeowners, thanks to a bill awaiting Governor Pat Quinn's signature. The bill--the Homeowners' Solar Rights Act--will make it easier to add solar to your home if you are subject to the rules of a homeowners' association (HOA), because it will require HOAs to adopt acceptable design standards for solar systems in buildings up to three stories tall.

Before you turn to solar power, however, it's wise to consider energy efficiency. The Campbell's Island couple, for example, had first made their home more energy efficient by tightening it up and adding more insulation.

If you want to save on energy costs, a good first step is a home energy audit. Our local contractors can perform and energy audit for you and advise you on the most cost-effective ways to reduce your energy bills.

The next step might be going solar. If you’re considering an Illinois solar panel installation or Iowa solar panel installation, click to have one of our local certified solar installers give you a free estimate on a solar electric or solar hot water system.

Solar energy can save you money in the long term and solar thermal (hot water) systems pay for themselves even sooner. So tap into solar energy and contact DASolar today!

(Photo from Genessa Charlet's photostream)