You’ve been saving for your kids’ college since before they were born. But, the price of a college education is skyrocketing so your well-intentioned savings may not be enough to cut it. While your child may be incredibly smart, scholarships and financial aid are hard to earn today. If you’re looking for an extra boost to help you sock away a little more (aren’t we all?), then look no further.

Electricity costs are rising as fast college tuition rates. Every month you are paying $200-$300 to power your home. We aren’t advising that you let the lights go out and let your kids study for their SAT by candlelight.  Wouldn’t it be nice if you could store that money monthly in a 529 for your child? That way, if your child does receive a scholarship, you can be proud of them and not worry about that saved money not be accessible.

When switching to solar power, you can choose if you would rather save a couple hundred dollars monthly or even become completely energy independent—depending on how much you want to plan to save for your kids’ future. (Or hey, if saving for college isn’t one of your financial needs, maybe you’d rather put an addition on the house or globetrot instead. Solar can help you do that too.)

Sure, college loans are an option, but students can find themselves crippled by tens of thousands of dollars in debt when they graduate. Plus, your child could be forced to shoulder more than the original cost of college due to super high interest rates. By installing solar power when your kids are young, you are using affordable financing options. Your house will churn out the money you need and help stave off debt from post-college years.

Show your children the importance of financially-wise decisions by planning ahead and considering your options.

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Dear Wanda,

 OK, what is the deal with solar panels? I’ve heard you can save money with them, and they can help the environment, but I don’t know anyone who has them. Do you? 

Sure, I get that! Solar panels aren’t new, but they are becoming more common. In fact, over the next five years, Ohio alone is expected to install hundreds of kilowatts (kw) of solar power, which is more than six times the amount installed in the past five years. Although solar might not be new, you may not spot any in your neighborhood. This leaves open the opportunity for you to be a trendsetter.

If your neighbors don’t have solar power, look to the stars for inspiration. By that I don’t mean pay closer to your horoscope—also don’t look at the sun for too long—check out some of the biggest trendsetters of all, celebrities! Chances are, some of your favorite celebs have already invested.

No surprise, Leonardo DiCaprio powers his environmental conquests partly with his solar powered home. Look at those pretty panels soaking up the sun by the basketball court.

Tom Brady’s mansion runs on solar power!

Emily Blunt and John Krasinksi listed solar power as one of the mansion’s top amenities when selling their home!

The only bad part about solar panels being so inconspicuous nowadays is that they’re hard to spot on celeb’s houses. I spy Julia Roberts’ panels, do you?

Bill Gates has panels on panels on panels!

I’m really just scratching the surface with these examples. Will Ferrell, Johnny Depp, Rachel McAdams, Jack Johnson, Jim Carrey, Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt and many more have discovered this treasure trove.

While these folks are already perceived as wealthy, you don’t have to be a millionaire to afford solar power. In fact, most of Icon Solar’s customers are a part of the middle class. Savings can be exciting for anyone—celebrities, they’re just like you!

Call Icon Solar for the star treatment today!

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Not only does solar power provide enough energy to power your house, it also frequently overproduces energy. “Net metering” provides a way for solar power users to bottle up their excess energy and sell it back to their utility companies for a credit! The credit can in turn be used to power your home at night or simply to further reduce your monthly utility bill.

Indiana recently passed Senate Bill 309, which can be unfortunate news for solar panel owners. Senate Bill 309 eliminated the requirement to “net meter” residential solar systems for publicly owned utilities. In other words, starting in the not-too-distant future, the excess energy generated by your Indiana home’s solar system will no longer mean money in your pocket. It will be given to the electric company instead, and they can sell it.

Fortunately, if solar systems are installed and operational by December 31, 2017, customers are grandfathered into the current net metering policy for the next 30 years!

Indiana homeowners, the time to act is NOW!

Icon Solar has received a timeline from the Indiana Distributed Generation Alliance indicating that people who are interested must have their interconnection application submitted by October 19, 2017 at the very latest. The whole timeline is copied below. But not to worry: with Icon Solar’s turnkey service, we take care of all of the details in the timeline.

If you are interested, be sure to contact us as soon as possible to take advantage of this tremendous benefit.

Timeline                                               Steps

October 19, 2017                              Application submitted

November 2, 2017                            Notice that application is complete (10 business days after submission)

November 28, 2017                         Notice re whether facility is approved (15 business days after notice)

December 12, 2017                          Notice re inspection; agreement sent (10 business days after approval)

December 14, 2017                          Customer signs and returns agreement sent (10 business days after approval)

December 31, 2017                          Installation complete

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The Icon Solar Pledge

A pledge is a promise. Icon Solar has composed a pledge detailing the services we guarantee to provide to our customers. Here we further explain what each facet of our promise means to you.

We will:

1. Put in the time to understand your objectives.

Whether your solar power pursuit is driven by environmental consciousness, energy independence, savings, or your love of technology, we are here to help you reach those goals. Icon Solar is passionate about every reason to go solar, so we are more than happy to meet with you to strategize a plan to accomplish what you want.

2. Clearly explain choices to help you make a good decision.

After understanding your objectives, we are happy to explain your options so that we can arrive at the perfect solar solution for you. Whether you want to test a few panels or you want to be completely off the grid, we survey each unique home and inform you of your best options. Collaborating with our customers is a key to our success.

3. Thoroughly explain all steps to make sure we answer your questions.

Although Icon offers a complete turnkey service, we still ensure you are aware of each of the steps we are taking. Education is incredibly important to us—we want to share the wealth of both knowledge and money! We take the time to answer all your questions and teach you about the entire solar process.

4. Use our experience to finish the work to your complete satisfaction.

Our work is not complete until you are satisfied with your investment and our service. We take pride in our hundreds of satisfied customers.

5. Provide industry-leading warranties on all work.

Solar power is a big investment. We are so confident in solar power that we offer warranties to alleviate any hesitation for you. To make the leap easier, Icon Solar offers top of the line equipment with a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty on your solar panels and inverters plus flexible financing options to help you achieve the benefits of solar energy within your budget.

6. Keep you informed and stay on schedule.

Icon Solar establishes itself as a thought leader in the industry by providing up-to-date information about solar energy. We inform our customers about changes in policies and reach out to them to make sure they are aware of how anything could affect them.

7. Continue to be loyal to you and provide great service after the sale.

Our service is far from done after installation. As mentioned, we make sure you are aware of any changes but also, we are here to celebrate with you as you receive your incredibly low energy bills.

We look forward to working with you and sharing our services and solar expertise.

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Doing something different can be nerve-wracking. In fact, only about 2.5 percent of the population are made up of “Innovators.” Innovators, the title bestowed upon the sect of the population most willing to adapt technology, aren’t hard to identify. Their natural habitat is camping outside Apple waiting itching to get their hands on the latest iPhone release. Innovators and Early Adopters – the brave group following the innovators who compose 13.5 percent of the public – are risk-takers, but they usually stand to reap most of the rewards. Solar panels aren’t brand new technology, but you may still be concerned about being the first of your family and friends to test the benefits.  

Over the course of our years as a company, we’ve heard many fears surrounding solar panels. To name a few: 

• The fear of losing money 

Without your friends or neighbors to pave the way, you may be unsure if the savings really are as much as a company claims. We can break down for you just how much you can predict to benefit on your energy bill, home value, and resale value. Don’t just take it from us, we have a community of pleased customers who share their bills as proof and can tell you about their experience.  

• The fear no one else will like it 

We know “the Joneses” can be tough to keep up with. According to Investopedia, you should stop competing with families who flaunt their wealth because they’re barely getting by! With solar panels, not only do you have the cutting-edge, eco-friendly technology—you are saving money! It’s only a matter of time after you install that everyone notices your financially-savvy decision.  

• The fear that your HOA won’t approve of solar panels 

What could be worse than investing in solar panels only to have your HOA halt the fun before it even starts. No need to worry, in nearly half of the states there are laws protecting solar panels called “solar access rights.” HOAs fear that panels could lower the worth of homes without understanding that they raise home value. We do all of the legwork to get necessary local permits before installation even starts. 

• The fear it will look ugly  

When people imagine solar panels, they tend to have flashbacks of the blue and silver monstrosities of the 80s and 90s. But think about all the other styles of that era we also cringe over(neon sweaters with shoulder pads, we’re looking at you). Thankfully, that style has phased out. Icon Solar installs modern and sleek black-on-black panels that will enhance your home. 

We hear many more concerns, like, “will I receive the full benefits if I move?” “this sounds too good to be true,” or “I’d like to ask someone about their solar panels, but I don’t know anyone who has them.” We’re happy to talk about any individual concerns you may have. We work to educate our customers so that they are comfortable every step of the way and overcome their concerns. 

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Dear Wanda: I’ve heard solar panels can save me money and even help the environment. But are they good for anything else?  

 Loads! What do you want them to be? Take your pick: roof protection, environmental conservation, insulation, independence? 

 Who wants to spend money on roofing? BOR-ING! Take it from me, solar panels are a lot more fun and responsible—who knew you could have it both ways?! Solar panels are the equivalent of adding another layer of shingles to your roof. If your shingles are exposed to the elements, they are a lot less likely to last. Panels not only protect your roof from the beating sun (which it converts to cold, hard cash) it also can protect your shingles from being swept away by a raging storm.  

 On top of that, panels produce zero greenhouse gases. So, you can sleep soundly while effortlessly saving the planet. Speaking of sleeping soundly, did you know solar panels help insulate your house? No more sleepless, uncomfortable summer nights being suffocated by the heat. 

 Take charge of your energy (I sound like a yogi)! Energy independence can be one of the most gratifying rewards of solar power. The U.S. is dependent on imports for its energy, but you don’t have to be! Saving the best for last, you can have all this with nearly no effort on your part. Give Icon Solar a call and let them handle all the hard parts while you kick back and relish all the benefits.  

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Concerned about the state of our planet? Words like “greenhouse gases,” “holes in the ozone layer,” “climate change” and “melting ice caps” can make us fear what state the planet will be in for future generations.  How can we be better citizens of this earth? What role can we play in preserving our one and only planet?

Being aware of the risks our decisions pose for the planet and making a conscientious effort to minimize those risks is referred to as our environmental responsibility. Unfortunately, Americans are notorious for being among the least responsible citizens of Earth. According to a study done by MIT, on average, even the Americans with the lowest energy consumption – homeless people for example – still double the international average energy usage.

Our culture makes it incredibly difficult to be energy efficient. Our commute to work in our family-safe SUVs, our energy-consuming household appliances, even our occasional, juicy burger may all seem like the norm, yet they tax our planet. Eliminating these things that we have integrated into our lives sounds like a tough, nearly impossible, lifestyle upheaval.

Solar power is one of the most impactful and easiest ways to clean up your carbon footprint. Not only does it produce zero greenhouse gases while powering your home, it also requires nearly zero effort on your part.  Even if you made conservation your primary focus, solar benefits may still beat you. Installing solar panels can be as beneficial as not driving your car (and a friend’s!) for a year or planting and growing 185 trees for ten years!

Take action, and feel better about how you’re saving the planet. Maybe build a compost with some of the money you saved from your panels. Now, you’re unbeatable.

“May the relationship between man and nature not be driven by greed, to manipulate and exploit, but may the divine harmony between beings and creation be conserved in the logic of respect and care.” – Pope Francis

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Dear Wanda, 

I’ve been doing some heavy-duty research on solar panels recently, and I feel like I know all I need to about the benefits of panels, but how do I know when I’m ready to take the plunge and buy?
Indecisive Buyer

Dear Indecisive Buyer,

Props to you for doing your research. Solar panels are a large investment, but a wise one too! By now you probably know that solar panels save you thousands, improve the value of your home, and look good doing it. The benefits of solar power are huge ones, but we understand that officially signing off on a big purchase can be nerve racking. Luckily, our team of experts is here to guide you to a solar solution to fit your budget. And in case you weren’t already convinced, here are a few more reasons to go solar sooner than later:

Prices are at an all-time low (for now). The price of solar panels is dependent on a lot of factors, primarily the cost to produce the raw materials. Markets can be unpredictable, and we don’t know if or when other cost variables will increase. Since a consistent price on panels isn’t guaranteed, it’s best to buy before the cost drives up.

Installing in 2017 will get you a credit on your 2017 taxes.  You can get up to a 30 percent solar investment tax credit. Folks who installed solar panels on their homes last year received 30 percent of the cost of their solar panel system, in addition to any other refund they were owed. For some, this added up to around $10,000. On top of all the money you save with solar, the panels pay for themselves.

The longer you wait, the more money you’re handing over to the utility company. For every month you don’t install solar, that’s just another monthly utility bill. Try as you might to reduce your energy usage, those efforts normally don’t make a huge dent in your final bill. And trying to survive the Midwestern summers and winters without your AC or heat? Yikes. Electrical companies continue to raise their rates, but with solar power, your energy bill can cost less than a cup of coffee. Every. Single. Month.

Just like starting to save for your retirement when you’re young, installing solar power now gives you the opportunity to maximize your savings for years to come. So, what are you waiting for? Give Icon Solar a call today to set up a free onsite visit and start your savings now.

See you on the solar flip side!
Wanda, Your Wealth Warrior

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Many of us are on the lookout for steps we can take to help the environment, from driving a more fuel-efficient car to composting and recycling. But what can you do to make your house more earth friendly? According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average American home uses 10,182 kilowatts of electricity every year. It can be tough to envision exactly what that means in terms of environmental impact. So let’s look at it in terms of how much pollution a home produces.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tells us that your home’s electricity for a year is equivalent to:

• Greenhouse gas emissions from driving 17,150 miles per year. (That’s a lot further than most people drive annually.)
• Carbon monoxide emissions from burning 7,636 pounds of coal. (Ouch.)
• Carbon monoxide emissions from 293 home propane tanks. (That’s a lot of cookouts!)

What if you replaced your electricity usage with solar power? Not only would it be like not driving your car (and half of someone else’s) for a year, but it’s also equivalent to:

• Saving 805 gallons of gasoline.
• Keeping 16.6 barrels of oil from being used.
• Growing 185 tree seedlings for 10 years, so they can sequester carbon.
• The carbon sequestered by 6.8 acres of trees in a year.

Wondering what carbon sequestration is? It’s “the long-term storage of carbon dioxide or other forms of carbon to either mitigate or defer global warming and avoid dangerous climate change.” It’s been proposed as a way to slow the accumulation of greenhouse gases, which are released by burning fossil fuels. In other words, it’s one way trees help the planet.

Long words aside, our houses contribute to pollution. But the good news is that solar power can cut that down significantly, and save you money to boot.

In the Midwest, the average cost of a kilowatt hour of electricity is about 13.5 cents (and rising). It doesn’t sound like much, until you calculate that it’s almost $1,400 a year. And for many of us, our average monthly electric bill is much higher than $100 a month. Solar power can make your electric bill dwindle until it’s nearly disappeared, saving you thousands.

Give us a call to talk about how solar panels can help both the earth and your wallet.

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As your Wealth Warrior, I have been trying to get through to you about how beneficial solar can be. Not all of you seem entirely convinced, so I decided to bring someone in with a little more notoriety. Let me introduce you all to, the one, the only, Mother Nature. Say hi, Mama Nat!

Mother Nature: Hello there, dears.

Wanda: Would you mind if I asked you a few questions, Nat?

Mother Nature: Go right ahead. I’m always looking to be heard.

Wanda: Firstly, is it okay if I call you Nat?

Mother Nature: Of course, Wanda. We go way back.

Wanda: Hear that, everyone? Mother Nature and I are tight. How exactly did you get your name?

Mother Nature: It’s been so long since I heard the story that I’m not certain on the particulars. Legend has it, it’s because y’all are so dependent on me! Like all mothers, I care for every one of my children. It would be nice to get some of that affection back or you know, a call back occasionally…

Wanda: Ahhh the constant battle of all mothers.  You, of all mothers, aren’t exempt from that?

Mother Nature: You wouldn’t believe it! The things my babies put me through…

Wanda: Like what?

Mother Nature: Ugh, where to start? I’m still not over the margarine scandal. As if mama couldn’t tell the difference between butter and fake butter. Of the things I put up with, that would have to be one of the most minor. The most consistent and pressing issue I’m facing is the lack of appreciation for my work. I work to provide this lush planet for my babies and it’s like they don’t even notice.

Wanda: I can’t even imagine.

Mother Nature: The noxious gases. My precious ozone layer…

Wanda: Well, what’s something we can do to show our gratitude?

Mother Nature: I can think of something that unifies both of our lines of work Wanda. Ever since you’ve been yacking my ear off about solar panels, I’ve been paying close attention. You’re right, they do alleviate some of my burdens. An average residential solar system can prevent hundreds of tons of noxious emissions. As a gift, it’s like one of those chore coupon booklets you made for your mom as a kid—it saves you money too!

Wanda: That’s what I’ve been trying to tell them! It’s a win-win.

Mother Nature: Now tell them to sort out their trash from their recycling and we’ll be set for Earth Day too. Mama will be happy.

Wanda: Alright, I’ll tell ‘em! I owe you one.

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