MARQUETTE -- Marquette residents are being offered energy efficient improvements in their homes. One homeowner in south Marquette tried solar energy and found benefits for them and their power company.

Last year, Ginnie Killough decided it was time to try new home energy options.

"I knew I had a great roof for solar because it's south facing, directly, and it's pretty clear of any shade or anything," said Ginnie Killough, homeowner.

The Superior Watershed Partnership, a program that has teamed up with the city of Marquette, reached out to her.

"I had been interested in doing it for a long, long time, but this program made it affordable & accessible to me," said Killough.  With their Better Buildings For Michigan program, the partnership wants to make it easy for homeowners to implement energy efficient improvements.

"These are basically our tax dollars coming back to your home for your home energy improvements. So, it's really a pretty sweet deal," said Natasha Koss, Program Manager with the Superior Watershed Partnership.

It all started with a home evaluation to check for problems.

"One of the major things we always look at is efficiency levels of those furnaces, boilers, windows, & doors," said Michael Larson, U.P. Office Manager of MI Energy Options.

After that, it was time for the solar panels to be installed by a company that used Michigan-made products.

"People would really be surprised by the benefits and ease of installation with these systems," said Ian Olmsted, Owner/Operator for Peninsula Solar Contracting.

The renewable solar energy from each panel can be monitored from any mobile device or computer since it's uploaded to a mainframe on the internet. Being responsible for collecting energy has its benefits.

"My understanding is that, on some days, the solar collectors will collect more than I use. And so I have a two-way meter and it goes back to the electric company and I get credit for it," said Killough.

Killough says going green has saved her some green too.  "I'm thrilled to be having lower energy bills. I'm thrilled to be producing energy that may go back on the grid."

The program is closed for areas in Marquette south of U.S. 41, but will open in the next few weeks for North Marquette.