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Solar Panels in Hurricane

How Do Solar Panels Hold Up in a Hurricane?

The state of Florida is at the most risk of damage from hurricanes in all of the United States. It also incurs the most cost in reconstruction after hurricane hits.

In many cases, hurricanes can cost Florida about 3 times as much as the second-most impacted state, Louisiana.

Hurricanes also leave a lasting impact. Besides the financial damage dealt, people are left without electricity for long periods of time. Electricity supply chains can even take months to get going.

Since Orlando is also a sunny city, the most logical solution to this problem is to invest in solar energy. 

Also, consider a study's findings that solar panels increase the value of a home by about $15,000.

There may still be many doubts before contacting a solar contractor in Orlando. We are here to clear them for you using real-world examples in the United States.

So, is a solar power investment safe in the state of Florida?

Solar panels installed by trusted solar energy companies in Orlando withstand elemental forces such as hurricanes astonishingly well. Contrary to intuitive thinking, solar panels from reliable solar power companies do not stop producing power in conditions such as hurricanes. They are also remarkably sturdy to the forces of nature.

A study finds that solar panels continue to generate power during hurricanes, even if direct sunlight is unavailable. Take the practical example of the VA hospital in San Juan, which continued to operate at 100 percent during a hurricane on solar power.

Solar power installation is vital as hurricanes, an uncontrollable force, leave large areas without power for extended periods. In many regions of the United States, cities hit by hurricanes go for months without power.

Does Wing Affect Solar Panels?

Since most solar panels are installed on rooftops to absorb unobstructed sunlight, one could conclude that they are also highly susceptible to wind.

So, how true is that assertion?

There is historic precedence for solar power in coastal regions to withstand strong winds. Solar power companies claim that their rooftop installations were unfazed by Hurricane Sandy. Hurricane Sandy, being a category-3 hurricane, had a maximum sustained wind speed of 110 mph!

What force puts the most pressure on rooftop-installed solar panels in the case of high winds? It is the Uplift Force.

However, if a reliable Solar contractor in Orlando has done your solar panel installation, there is little to fear. Uplift force is most damaging in cases of structural fragility, negligence or extreme hurricanes.

For most hurricane events, an excellent solar power company in Orlando would ensure that uplift forces have no effect.

So, the wind does not affect solar panels. The only worry might be of the wind tearing the panel from the very roof, but that can be minimized by only contacting a trusted solar contractor in Orlando.

Can Solar Panels Work During Raining?

The solar panels themselves are waterproof. Solar power companies take great care to test their products against heavy rain.

Solar energy continues to function in the rain as well as in any other weather condition – and is only concerned with the amount of horizontal irradiance, i.e., the amount of solar energy they can receive.

In fact, the rain may wash away dust and oil from the surface of the solar panels.

Solar energy companies ensure that solar panels are installed so that even heavy rainfall does not affect power production or the installation's life.

Can Hail Damage Solar Panels?

Hail is one of the most formidable forces of nature. Are solar panels well-equipped to deal with these conditions?

Take the example of a severe hailstorm in Denver. It completely shattered many car windows and left dents the size of golf balls.

However, there was an astonishing finding on the main campus of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. After the hail storm, only one out of more than 3,000 solar panels was destroyed.

Solar power companies in Orlando ensure that their products are guaranteed to withstand severe hailstorms. They are certified to stand up to even 1-inch hails falling at high speeds.

Can Solar Panels Withstand Hurricanes?

Hurricanes are extreme forces that put all man made structures to the test.

However, solar panels are wonderfully resistant. All tests that hurricane throw in their way, they pass astonishingly well.

When appropriately installed by great a good solar contractor in Orlando, solar panels withstand:

  • Uplift forces from severely strong winds
  • Unrelenting rainfall
  • Damage from small debris, such as hail

Your solar power company should also provide expert advice on where the solar panel installation must be done. An expert would look at your residence and advise you on topics such as:

  • Avoiding areas where a falling tree could destroy the solar panels
  • Selecting areas where the solar panels would provide the most energy output throughout the day

What Happens During a Hurricane?

Incredibly, solar power companies create a functional product in weather conditions without visible sun, such as hurricanes. How is that possible?

A study creates a quantitative analysis of 18 hurricane events. It concludes that power generation continues during events where direct sunlight does not happen. In fact, it finds that there is solar power available to be absorbed during daytime hours even though the sky is cloudy and raining. This energy is quantified as Horizontal Irradiance.

Due to the light diffusion in the sky, the horizontal irradiance never becomes zero. Hence, we can witness incredible cases like an entire hospital staying 100% functional without 11 months of power after hurricanes.

So, if solar energy companies can provide a reliable piece of machinery in such extreme conditions, solar power companies in Orlando will definitely be able to provide you with equipment that withstands hurricanes.

During hurricanes, energy is cut off abruptly and for long periods. The hospital mentioned earlier was a part of the most prolonged blackout in US history. Most other cases are not very reassuring either. Hence, solar energy installation in Orlando is vital.

Energy Issues in Orlando After Hurricanes

Let’s take the specific case of the state of Florida since it is also the most vulnerable to hurricanes.

A study shows that energy generation in the state of Florida can decrease beyond an astonishing 70% in large regions during a category-4 hurricane. This statistic even includes undamaged solar energy infrastructure in Florida.

The electricity grid may become fully offline in some cases. Solar energy companies in Orlando are vital in sustaining infrastructure not only during a hurricane but also during post-hurricane periods.

Reliable solar power equipment stays fully functional during hurricanes!

As an example, during hurricanes Camille and Laurie, two solar panels were operating without any drop in performance.

Testing and Real World Performance

Solar energy companies must perform extensive tests on their products before putting them on the market. This is especially true for states that are susceptible to extreme weather.

Solar energy companies in Orlando conduct exhaustive tests.

Standardized industry quality tests ensure that solar energy companies only sell products that survive harsh environmental conditions. For example, the International Photovoltaic Quality Assurance Task Force conducts tests that only allow resilient solar panels to be produced.

These tests check for:

  • Physical strength to mechanical stress. Good solar equipment would not only survive facing hail storms but also being walked on, crashing with small debris, etc.
  • Survivability of solar panels in harsh environmental conditions
  • Resilience to extremely high and low temperatures, humid or arid environments, etc.
  • Strength against exposure to ultraviolet radiation
  • Ability to handle electrical stress in unnatural conditions.
  • Winds of up to 140 mph, equivalent to a category-4 hurricane such as Hurricane Laura

These ensure that even during hurricanes, solar energy companies in Orlando can provide reliable sources of power during conditions such as lasting blackouts.

Time after time, real-life examples appear which attest to the assurances given by solar energy companies in Orlando.

What Happens After a Hurricane?

Expect long periods where energy production does not perform at 100%.

Traditional sources of energy face several issues after hurricanes.

  • The facilities may have incurred damages resulting in delay.
  • There are usually a lot of faults in the supply line. Important transformers malfunctioning would give a problem to vast areas.
  • Wires may have problems where they either completely stop circulating electricity or short in such a way that it may be dangerous.

Shorts in electricity, especially in flooded regions, can be lethal. People must ensure that all wires are in good condition after a hurricane.

  • All electric points must have a good grounding
  • All wires must have proper insulation

Do solar panels need to be taken care of after a hurricane? No, because the panels themselves are highly resistant to extreme weather.

In many cases, solar energy can become more efficient after heavy rainfalls. This is because the solar panels are now clear of dust and oil.

Contact the customer service of your solar power company in Orlando for inspection and assistance.

How to Prepare for Hurricanes to Keep Your Solar Panels in Place?

The best thing to ensure the safety of your solar installation is to contact an expert. Expert assistance and advice should be available from the solar contractor near you.

The expert will consult you on the following:

  • What is your return on the solar panel investment?
  • What type of solar panel installation best suits your needs?
  • How the installation must be made in order to minimize damage, for example by large debris crashes or tree-falls.

Occasionally inspect your solar panels. Clean them with microfiber clothing or water. Contact your solar power company in Orlando in case of irregularities.

The most important thing to consider around solar installations is the manufacturer and installer. Solar energy installations are surprisingly resilient to the most extreme of forces in nature and continue to generate power during and after hurricanes. Orlando is also blessed with sunny weather on most days and is ideal for solar power investment.

Click here to schedule an appointment with the most trusted solar power company in Orlando.

Solar Companies - 10/17/2022
How To Make Money With Solar Power Panels

How To Make Money With Solar Power Panels?

Our current sources of generating energy such as coal, petroleum gas, which are different types of fossil fuels, are gradually on the verge of eradication. In recent times, people all over the globe have realized the significant necessity of establishing renewable sources to generate energy, that not only are possibly staying with humankind for a long time but will also positively contribute to conventional energy generation footprints. That being said, solar power panels have gained mass recognition as they allow us to transform sunlight into usable energy via portable inverters. 

The sheer benefits of solar panels make them ideal for households as well as extensive building structures like corporate offices, malls, and so on. A solar panel company ensures that the solar panel owner benefits from the natural sunlight and together they contribute to the ecosystem. 

Over the years, solar panels have been majorly installed in extensive shapes, oftentimes on rooftops so they can absorb the maximum amount of sunlight. However, with advanced technology, many solar panel companies have come up with portable solar panels that can even be installed adjacently on home walls or can be put on the ground, vertically. 

This way more people who might not be getting optimum rooftop sunlight can get access to other types of solar panels and make the most of them! 

How Do Solar Panels Work? 

Solar panels are made up of photovoltaic cells that are shoved into the solar panel sheet and are responsible for transforming solar radiation into disposable energy. The basic concept behind a solar panel’s functionality is that when the rays of the sun hit the photovoltaic sheet, direct current is generated which then is converted into alternating current via an inverter that is placed inside the homeowner’s premise. That piece of equipment converts the alternating current into usable electricity which frees people from relying just on paid electricity supply.

Often, solar power inverters generate a quantum of energy (alternating current) which usually goes in excess. This excess quantity is further reversed to utility meters and electric grids which allows your home premise to be awarded for energy generation. Scientifically speaking, a solar panel sheet includes silicon cells. When photons from the sun rays meet with silicon cells, it sets the electrons into motion and this movement creates electricity. This succinctly describes the working of a solar panel. 

How Do They Generate Income? 

As we have talked about the excess energy which is generated from solar panels, it is highly profitable to earn from that excess lot, thus making your every penny count in the long run! Solar panel companies are the emerging option for convenience and generating profit for homeowners as well as businesses. Firstly, you get a basic subsidy from the government upon the successful installation of a solar panel. This price-relief is given especially to encourage people to switch to renewable energy resources over the prolonged fossil fuels consumption.

How Do They Generate Income

Next up, if you have a big roof that can account for multiple solar panel sheets, then it is feasible for you to generate power as well as money from them. The process requires you to obtain a verified license from the local power board to install them. Once you get the signed agreement, you can go on to generate and sell electricity. The rate per unit of electricity is priced by the electricity board and is usually enough to suffice your return on investment in a short time.

Are Solar Panels Profitable? 

Fortunately, yes! Solar power panels are extremely profitable and productive in providing cost benefits. Let’s explore a few of the benefits that you get after installing a solar panel in your home:

  • Cost-saving option - Installation of a solar panel in a commercial place is pocket-friendly, as opposed to installing it in an industrial space. In addition, selling electricity through solar panels offers maximum returns in the hot summers as the excess energy generated which is apart from the self-consumption lot is traded with electricity boards at fair prices. Thus, you can have a steady earning that continues to run throughout the year, with minimum maintenance requirements.
  • Tax credits - Filing taxes could be a tough job, but not when you get a feasible rebate on it. Homeowners who have solar panels installed are rewarded with a special annual tax rebate from the state government. Plus, additional credit is earned by trading electricity with local power boards. This cuts the overall investment in half and renders an amazing return rate.
  • Help the ecosystem - One of the major necessities of the present time is to do every possible bit to save the environment. Speaking of which, solar panels are an ideal approach to fight uncontrollable greenhouse gas emissions from industries and vehicles. It also discontinues most of your reliability on fossil fuels and eases your transformation to renewable resources.

Conclusion

With the current coal energy consumption of the world which soars high as 151.42 EJ, a transition to renewable resources like solar energy has become the need of the hour! They are a great contributing factor to our ecosystem as well as our income. We have seen how they affect our routine lives by encouraging us with cost-saving ways, tax rebates, etc, it is our inescapable duty to be a responsible citizen and create a convenient atmosphere for our upcoming generation. Solar power is and will be one of the most profitable, renewable resources that mankind can benefit from, so why not start today and support Mother Earth from the very moment!

Emerald Sun Energy brings you pocket-friendly prices on solar power panels and functions as your one-stop shop to cater to all your queries about your solar journey. We dedicatedly offer a free consultation regarding the best solar panel size that your property can be qualified for. You may also acquire insights into the powerful benefits that you will annually earn from solar panels. For more information, contact our support team today!

Solar Companies - 11/20/2021

Federal Solar Tax Credit Beyond 2019?…

Won’t be completely gone until 2022 but will be reduced!

2019 is the last year for the 30% Federal Tax Credit!  The tax credit allows you to write off 30% of the cost of your solar panel system from your annual Federal Income tax return.  An important distinction to understand is that tax credit if better than a tax deduction. A deduction lowers your annual income that is going to be taxed.  A Tax Credit goes against the amount of tax responsibility you have for the given year. It is dollar for dollar against what you owed or paid on your w2. Where a tax deduction you really only recognize a percentage of the reduction in actual dollars usually to the percentage of your tax bracket.  So if you are in a 25% tax bracket and you have a $4,000 deduction that will translate into a $1,000 of actual tax responsibility. Where with a tax credit, if it is $4,000 tax credit it will translate into a deduction $4,000 of your actual tax responsibility.

That makes this the absolute best year to incorporate solar into your energy portfolio.  However, if you have a circumstance that will preclude you from taking advantage of the Solar Tax Credit you will not be left out in the rain.  The Solar Tax Credit will have a two year deceleration period. In 2020 the Solar Federal Tax Credit will be lowered from 30% down to 26%. So it will still be a good deal but you will be leaving money on the table.  For example, If you purchased a solar panel system in 2019 for $28,000 your 30% tax credit will be $8,400 and your net system price will be $19,600. However, If you purchase the same system in 2020 for $28,000 your tax credit will be $7,280 and your net system cost will be $20,720.  So if you are able to make your purchase in 2019 you will save an additional $1,120.

The Federal Solar Tax Credit for 2021 will 22% which is an additional 4% reduction in the tax credit.  As for our above example, if you paid $28,000 your 30% Federal Tax Credit will be $6,160 and your net system cost will be $21,840.  Which means it will cost you $2,240 more than it would in 2019 and $1,120 more than it would in 2021. That is still a great deal when you consider if you wait until 2022 there will be no Residential Solar tax credit which means your $28,000 system will cost you $28,000 or $6,160 more than if you purchased the system in 2021.

Not to worry even without the tax credit solar is a tremendous value for long term energy savings over what you would have paid the power company without it.  As the Power Company as an industry raises there rates between 3-4% on average per year. Once you have solar you will have isolated yourself from those increases and essentially creating an annual return on investment that increases its yield be 3-4% a year.  However, taking advantage of the tax credit will allow you to make the most return on investment as you will not be leaving any money on the table.

For Commercial Businesses the Federal Tax Credit is a little different.  Like the residential tax credit in 2019, there will be a 30% Federal Tax Credit.  In 2020 just like the residential tax credit the commercial tax credit will be 26% and in 2021 it will be 22%.  However, in 2022 when the residential tax credit goes away the commercial tax credit will be 10%. There is no current expiration date for the 10% tax credit but that doesn’t mean it won’t go away on short notice.

The future for solar energy is bright!  Even as the sun begins to set on the 30% Federal Tax Credit the growth of solar is predicted to continue to be one of the fastest growing industries.  If you are considering solar energy then now will be the most profitable it will be so the time to act is now.

Solar Companies - 02/12/2019

Can I Really Get Solar Energy for $0 Down & $0 Out of Pocket

You Can Get Solar Energy For No Money Down and No Money Out of Pocket, but it’s not free.

In this article, we are going to dive into what exactly $0 Down $0 Out of Pocket means in regards to adding solar panels to your home.  If you are shopping for solar panels in Orlando or Florida then you have inevitably have heard the Phrase “Get Solar Energy for $0 Down and $0 Out of Pocket”.  This claim is designed to get you excited about adding an energy efficient product without any money involved. That might be where there begin to be some confusions. Here are some simple explanations to this statement as well as some guidelines to follow to get your best deal on solar panels.

Check out other great videos to help you understand more about solar energy and Solar Companies Youtube – Emerald Sun Energy Channel

What does $0 Down (NO Money Down) mean? First off it is NOT FREE.  You are buying something. However, if you are able to qualify for available financing then there is No Money Down as the entire purchase can be funded because many of the financing options available for solar companies do not require any money down.  Hence the entire solar project will be funded by the financing company.

What does $0 Out oF Pocket (No Money Out of Pocket) mean? This statement may be the one that causes the most confusion because it often leads people to believe that it is free.  Again it is NOT FREE, you are buying something. However, if you qualify for available funding it is true that you will have $0 Out of Pocket. The easiest way to understand this is to look at the example below.  What it points out is purchasing a solar panel system for your home will not affect your budget. Meaning you can use the money you already are paying the power company to instead pay for your solar power system that will improve your home’s value and convert a variable expense (power bill) into a profitable asset (solar panel system).  In most cases, you will actually be cash positive depending on which financing option you choose. So you can purchase your system with the money you already spend because your solar panel financing payment will be less than the amount of money you save on your power bill by switching to solar.

What do I need to do to qualify for this solar program?  Simply call Emerald Sun Energy a local Florida Solar Company located in Orlando and serving all of Central Florida, We will first do a customized energy consumption analysis to determine the size of the solar panels system you need.  We will then draw out a solar panel spec drawing so you can see how the panels will look on your roof. Then you can choose the financing option that best meets your needs and fill out the online instant approval application, we will have a decision within minutes of application.  The basic qualifiers are you will need a 680 credit score or greater to qualify. The financing company will also be looking at your debt to income ratio to determine if you are a good candidate for a solar energy system. Usually, a debt to income below 45% with a household income of $50,000 is able to be approved.

Example of how $0 Down $0 Out of pocket looks like:

With the advanced additions of Solar Energy Financing Florida Homeowners can get solar for No Money Down and No Money Out of Pocket

With the advanced additions of Solar Energy Financing Florida Homeowners can get solar for No Money Down and No Money Out of Pocket

First, we must figure out the amount of money you will be saving on your power bill every month to find out how much money you have available on a monthly basis to pay for the system.  In the above example of an actual solar customer, before they started using solar there power bill was $231 per month and after they switched to solar energy their power bill dropped to $29 per month.  Which is a monthly savings of $202 per month? So that means so long as we have a financing option that requires less than a $202 a month payment then we will be able to provide solar for $0 Out of Pocket because we are just redistributing money you are already spending to convert an expense into an asset.

Next, we will examine the financing options offered by the above Orlando Solar Company.

In the above example, you can see the available financing options for the customer where a 12 Year or 144 payments of $199 which is $3 less then they would pay the power company.  Or a 20 year (240 payment) option would be $162 per month essentially saving customer on average $40 over what they would have paid the power company. That is a yearly positive cash flow of nearly $500 plus they improved the value of their home and reduced their carbon footprint.  WOW!!

Please keep in mind in the above example we are using Net Sales Price which is the price of the Solar Panel System after you received your 30% Federal Tax Credit.  If you somehow do not qualify for the tax credit you will still be able to get the system for no money out of pocket but it would be only on the 20-year option that would accomplish this.  Either way, you are purchasing an asset using someone else’s money to pay for it. This is one of the biggest ways wealthy people keep and grow their wealth. You can see more about that is this video “Solar Energy is a Better Investment Than The Stock Market”

As you can see from the explanation and example provided $0 Down $0 Out of Pocket isn’t free but it is a tremendous opportunity for homeowners to be able to add Solar Energy to there home without affecting their monthly budget.  Please keep in mind that the 30% Federal Tax Credit expires at the end of 2019 so your window for taking advantage of such a great opportunity is closing. There will be a couple of years of reduced tax credits but you will have missed out on the biggest one, while you can do it without affecting your budget.

Solar Companies - 09/20/2018

Questions you should ask your solar company – part 5

Questions you should ask your solar contractor – part 4

29. What happens during the solar power installation process?

The Solar power installation process consists of engineered drawing that is submitted for permit approval.  After permit approval and installation, a date is scheduled. Most installations for homes will take 1-2 days. After installation, it will be submitted for a final inspection.  After the inspection is completed your local power company is notified with an interconnection agreement which they will come out and swap out your meter for a bidirectional meter that will be able to monitor the power your solar power system will produce for the power company.  The total installation process takes 4-8 weeks depending on permitting, interconnection agreement and weather.

30. Should I ask for a solar monitoring system for my solar panels?

Yes.  Most solar contractors will not include the monitoring.  You would be advised to ask for it. You can always get your energy output readings from the inverter if it is a string inverter system.   However, you will have to go to the inverter and familiarize yourself with its report settings in order to get your solar energy production readings. It is a microinverter system you will need monitoring or you will just have to rely on the power companies tracking numbers.  If you have a string inverter system by SolarEdge w/ power optimizers you need to have the cellular chip upgrade to your system. Then you will be able to track the energy production from your solar panel system through an app you can download onto your phone. You will be able to see the day to day energy production, weekly, monthly and yearly solar energy output.

31. Do I need to install solar batteries with my solar power system?

In Orlando Florida, you are able to tie the system into the power companies grid nullifying the need for the solar batteries.  You might want to consider a Tesla Powerwall as a backup generator system. Keep in mind when you use a Tesla Powerwall it will not back up your entire system but rather provide power to critical energy sources during a power outage.  Mainly your main loads are what you are backing up. Refrigerator and stove with an outlet for a light and fan. If you wanted to back up for the entire house you would probably need 3 Tesla Powerwalls. I typically do not recommend battery backups where grid access is available.  There are a few reasons for this. First, off I feel a traditional generator is a better power outage backup then solar batteries, because when the power goes out it is usually accompanied by bad weather that will reduce the systems overall production and leave you with intermittent power outages.  Secondly, Solar battery solutions only last 7-10 years, meaning you will have to replace the batteries 3 times during the life of your solar panel systems life, more than doubling the cost of the system. Finally, solar batteries put off a strong magnetic field that I do not like putting near the home.  If you had a shed that was 100 feet from the home then I might put the batteries there. There are some great whole home generators that you can install for the same price that will actually give you enough power to power your entire home for a week.

32. Can the local Homeowners Association (HOA) stop me from installing a solar power system on my building?

It is illegal for an HOA to prevent you from installing solar panels on your home.  Some will have requirements such as they need to face the back of the house but even those are speculative.  Meaning if the performance of the system mandates that the solar panels need to face the front of the house for peak performance then they can not stop you from placing them there.  I do recommend checking with the HOA for any guidelines they request and whenever possible adhere to those requests. In cases when you cannot adhere to their guidelines then your solar company can send them a letter explaining why we must break there suggested guidelines.

34. How will Solar Panels be mounted?

Solar panels will be mounted to a racking system and it is that racking system that will be mounted to the roof.  More specifically to your homes truss system when available. That means no solar panels will be mounted directly to your roof.  This method reduces and potential leaking factors that may arise if the panels were installed directly to the roof.  Ironridge solar mounts are the most durable mounts on the market and graded to withstand 140 mph winds.

For more Questions you should ask your solar company check out our ongoing series:

Questions You Should Ask Your Solar Company – Part 1

Questions You Should Ask Your Solar Company – Part 2

Questions You Should Ask Your Solar Company – Part 3

Questions You Should Ask Your Solar Contractor – Part 4

Solar Companies / Solar Installation Orlando - 09/04/2018

Questions you should ask your Solar Company – part 3

Questions you should ask your Solar Company – Part 3

16. Which is better – solar Energy loans or solar Energy leases?

Increased options available for solar energy loans have made them the optimal choice over a solar lease. Two distinct differences apply to solar energy financing, first you will receive a 30% federal tax credit and second it will increase the value of your home. Also, solar financing options now are available as low as 2.99% – 5.99%.  In Florida, Leasing a solar panel system is illegal and you have to tie the solar energy system to the electric companies electrical grid.  Leasing options are not as favorable because of the terms and that you do not receive tax credits or the increased value of your home. However, when leasing a solar panel system the leasing company is responsible for all of the maintenance of the system while when purchasing the homeowner is. Many solar companies will also include maintenance of the system but you will have to ask them to include it in most cases.

17. What is the difference between secured solar loans and unsecured solar loans?

A secured solar loan would usually entail an equity position on the home where an unsecured solar loan would operate more as straight credit. The advantages of a secured solar loan would be getting to write off the interest paid from the loan as well as getting a low rate without additional financing fees. The advantage of the unsecured solar loans is that there is no additional equity position/lean put on the home. There are also very attractive low rates available but you will usually have to pay upfront financing charges to get them

18. How do I choose the best solar loan?

To get the best solar loan you have to compare the total cost of the loan. Most people make the mistake of looking at the price of the solar panel system over factoring in the monthly rate and the term on the loan.  So when you look at the actual total of the loan it will calculate the total amount of money you will pay for the solar energy system including the interest.  To figure out the total cost of the loan you need to multiply the monthly payment by the number of payments(term) of the solar loan. That will give you your true system cost and allow you to compare your best deal.  Most Orlando Solar Companies will try to show you a lower cost of the system but have a higher monthly payment then a more expensive system because they are charging you a higher interest rate.  To get a lower interest rate the financing company will charge an additional financing charge which will increase the sticker price of the solar panel system.  However, because of the lower interest rate, your actual total cost of the system will be less.  This is important to understand and to get more information on this and other sales practices used by solar companies you can read “The Secret Guide to Buying Solar”.

19. Can I afford to go solar?

The better question is can you afford not to… The price of solar is now very attractive with the lowest rates ever (70% less than in 2009) combined with the current 30% tax credit and low financing options it is usually at least $50 a month cheaper than paying the power company and as time goes by the amount you save only increases.  Consumer Reports came out in 2016 and said there has never been a better time to go solar and that remains to be true.

20. Is my roof suitable for solar panels?

If your roof is less than 10 years old your roof is probably a good fit for a solar panel system. The best pitch that works for solar is 30 – 45% which includes over 90% of home roof pitches. Solar Energy will work with other pitches but you might sacrifice some efficiency in the process.

21. What size should the solar energy system I get?

The average system size that is purchased in the US is a 7KW solar power system. However, this differs from what size system you need. To determine the actual size that is needed you will need to know your monthly average kWh. In Orlando, Florida if you have $190 a month power bill you would require a 10KW solar panel system to produce enough energy to offset your electric power bill.  Emerald Sun Energy is an Orlando Solar Company that services the entire central Florida region Including Daytona, Orlando, Melbourne, Tampa, Vero, Sebation, Kissimmee, Lake County, Seminal County, Brevard County, Polk County and everywhere in between.

For additional Questions you should ask your solar company please see related posts:

The 7 Most Important Question to Ask Your Solar Company – part 1

Questions you should ask your Solar Company – part 2

Solar Companies - 08/19/2018

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