You might think of Scott and Kristin Carmack as sun worshippers, though they’re not sporting tans.
The Zillah couple own the first – and so far the only – solar-powered home in the Pacific Power district that serves their area.
Construction of their home, built by HiLine Homes, was just recently completed, with 2,248 sq. ft. of living space and an 805-sq. ft. garage.
Use of solar panels required that the structure be oriented in a particular way on the lot, with a roof built at a specific pitch and the portion of the roof where the panels are installed facing south.
The portion of the roof on which the panels are installed must also be completely free of shade.
Scott Carmack said the 22 solar panels were installed in two sets of 11 connected in series.
The panel array is connected to a system that converts the DC power the array produces to AC power and also monitors the output of the panels.
The cost of the panels and control system was $21,000, Carmack said.
The home also incorporates “Energy Star” energy-efficient appliances, extra ceiling insulation with an R-49 rating, double-paned windows, and an insulated garage door. 
He estimates the combined effects of the solar panels and other energy-efficiency upgrades will reduce his annual energy costs by 80 percent.
There are other financial benefits, as well.
A federal incentive program provides a tax credit of 30 percent of the cost of the panel system, and a state rebate program on energy usage will result in an annual check for nearly $1,000 a year for the next ten years.
The panels are essentially maintenance-free, Carmack said, and have a life expectancy of 30 years.
During the months of the year in which the power generated by the solar panels exceeds the power used in the Carmacks’ home, the excess flows into the electrical grid.
The amount of power that goes into the grid is tracked and recorded by Pacific Power as credits on the Carmack account.
During the months that the solar panels don’t provide sufficient power for the needs of the home, the credits pay for the additional power needed, until the credits are exhausted.
“We’re actually excited about getting our power bill,” Carmack said.
He said he will be able to monitor the output of the panels, individually, in real time over the Internet at any time.
Kristin Carmack, who works for the Washington Department of Ecology, said she has always been interested in solar power.
She and Scott began talking about building a new home about two years ago, and doing research about “green” alternatives.
“I was really excited about solar,” Kristin said.
She sees  their new home as a “blend of traditional construction with green elements.”
Both she and Scott are committed to a green lifestyle in other areas, as well.
The carpet they chose for their home incorporates fibers that are made from recycled plastic bottles.
When the light bulbs in their new home need replacing, they plan to switch to LED lighting.
Scott, who is a chiropractor practicing at Zillah Chiropractic, walks to work, and the two of them often walk to do local shopping.
Kristin, who is currently commuting to Yakima for her job, is hoping to get the go ahead to telecommute only one day a week.
When construction on their home was complete, they recycled all the leftover small pieces and scraps of building material and packaging. 
They have friends in Ellensburg who live completely off the grid, and Scott and Kristin both say they would welcome the opportunity to do the same. 
When they chose the tile work for their kitchen, they asked the builder to incorporate a sun emblem into the design, as an emblem of the way they have incorporated sun power into their home and their lives.
“We love the sun,” said Scott.