Allan Bloom is famous for saying, “Education is the movement from darkness to light,” and I have found that to be true all my life. I have been educating myself about solar power and sustainable living since I was 15, when I moved into a camper in my parent’s driveway to see if I could live off-grid. Even my name, “Aur,” is Hebrew for “light” or “to enlighten.” These days, as founder and lead installer at AES Solar, I am working to educate others, and to help bring the light of knowledge and empowerment to Southern Illinois.

The concept of energy independence first entered the national consciousness in the early 1970’s, when the unstable nature of reliance on foreign oil was made all too obvious by a series of embargoes and price hikes at the hands of politically opposed Arab nations.

Have you ever wondered about all the different incentives (besides your immediate bottom line) there are for energy efficiency and renewables?

Aur Beck, owner of Advanced Energy Solutions (AES Solar), has built a reputation as a go-to local expert in solar installations and technology. He recently returned from a trip to Grand Cayman, where he taught a two-week solar course at the University College of the Cayman Islands. The idea of equipping your home or business with solar panels, generators and other technology has indeed gone global, he says.