Greenlink Energy Solutions: How a third-generation energy expert helps clients save money in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin

Contact:

Jim Geisking

Geisking Public Relations

jim@geiskingpr.com

608.558.0693

ROCKFORD, IL – While the Covid pandemic was raging around the world, something unusual occurred to a local business owner: his company boomed.

Greenlink Energy Solutions, based in Rockford, IL with satellite locations in Chicago; Madison and Milwaukee, WI, needed to add eight additional members to its staff to keep up with the demand for their services. The company, now with over 50 employees, takes a “360° Approach” to examine the critical relationships between their clients’ energy systems and then develops a customized proposal to maximize a home’s and business’s health, comfort, and efficiency.

“With so many people staying in and working from home in the past few years, people have had time to really take a good look around and question whether or not they could improve their comfort and air quality and save money by using our services,” says Austin Carr, owner and founder of Greenlink. “We really didn’t anticipate an increase in business, but since 2020 we’ve been able to help a lot of people improve their indoor air quality along with their energy savings though comfort and indoor air quality have been more important than utility bill savings when it comes to energy efficient upgrades.”

Growing up in Rockford, Carr was introduced to energy efficiency methods of heating and cooling homes at a very early age. His dad owned Carr’s Refrigeration in Rockford, and both his father and grandfather are experienced HVAC-R contractors (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration).

Carr founded Greenlink Energy Solutions in 2010 after serving at Fort Hood as a Sargent in the U.S. Army for four years including a tour in Iraq. While serving, Carr noticed that the Army used some solar powered equipment. This led him to become interested in renewable energy sources. Greenlink added a solar division to the business in 2018, but renewable energy can also include biomass, geothermal and wind systems.

“As part of our 360° Approach, we’re interested in more than just the energy you consume,” Carr says. “As a solar company, we offer services to help customers in Northern Illinois and Southern Wisconsin produce power for themselves.”

Renewable energy has become more affordable over the years and there is a growing demand for it. Homeowners can apply for tax rebates and other incentives for switching to solar power, especially as it ties in to the Inflation Reduction Act. In most cases, Greenlink will apply for the incentives for their clients. But Carr says Greenlink’s first priority when taking on a client is to make energy-efficient repairs to a home before proposing upgrades to renewable sources of energy.

“This helps achieve the greatest cost savings,” he says.

The Greenlink website states that about 90 percent of all houses simply do not have enough insulation. In time, insulation settles and becomes less effective. By adding insulation, Greenlink can quickly and cost-effectively make a home more energy efficient and comfortable. Carr says some of the insulation Greenlink uses is “green,” made out of recycled paper.


As far as insulation is concerned, Carr says the biggest culprit in energy loss can be found where the owners seldom look: the attic. That’s where Greenlink generally begins their initial inspection of a property.

“The biggest and most hidden problems in homes are found in the attic because people don’t see what’s up there and are unaware,” Carr told Northwest Quarterly. “There can be inadequate insulation and ventilation problems that cause moisture and mold to collect. A lot of times, people don’t even realize they have a problem.”

Carr says Greenlink considers themselves to be a fiduciary for their customers when it comes to all things energy related.

“I felt a company that could offer energy-saving solutions to homeowners was not only viable, it was necessary,” he says. “As it turns out, I was right. People are genuinely interested in addressing their homes’ energy issues.”

About Greenlink Energy Solutions – Greenlink is owned by founder Austin Carr, who is trained and certified by the Building Performance Institute (BPI). The business has its headquarters in Rockford, IL with satellite offices in Chicago; Madison and Milwaukee, WI. Carr and his team of experienced field technicians complete hundreds of energy assessments and solar installations each year. The company is A+ Accredited by the Better Business Bureau®, Pearl Certified, and they hold 5-star reviews across multiple platforms. For more information, visit https://usgreenlink.com/.