It’s hard to believe, but Autumn is already nearly upon us, and as the heat finally subsides, it’s a great time of year to get out and tour our beautiful region. Folks from Southern Illinois know all about crawling the scenic Wine Trail, and have probably spent a serene weekend or two exploring the gorgeous Shawnee National Forest and watching the leaves turn. But there is another local excursion coming up in October that you will not want to miss.

When you think about the sun, what is the first thing that pops into your head? Sunny Summer barbecues? Getting out onto the water and catching a tan? The scorching center of our solar system? Whatever it is, getting cool is probably not at the top of the list. However, the sun is the most versatile, constant source of power we have, and that means it can power much more than a lazy afternoon in the hammock. It can actually keep you cool!

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.