Many Long Island residents spent the Saturday checking out the benefits of solar power. Families across the Island opened their homes to share an inside look at what it's like to go solar.

About 3,000 people registered for the local leg of the National Solar Tour. The Axelrods are one of the families that showed others the benefits of a solar home. They suited up with their backyard grid in February. The economic benefits are right on the bill. Their typical bill from LIPA is now about $80. The Axelrods? home has 48 solar panels that generate enough electricity to power the entire house and more. In fact, they sell that extra electricity right back to LIPA. Theirs is one of 750 homes on the Island that's gone solar

As for cost, the family paid $17,000. However, that?s only a third of the actual price. LIPA rebates and tax credits picked up the rest of the tab. LIPA says it has now rebated about $20 million for solar installations on Long Island.