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Questions you should ask your solar company – part 4

Questions you should ask your solar company – part 4

22. Do I need to replace my roof before installing solar?

Depends.  If you are thinking about replacing the roof or you know it needs to be changed in the next 3 years I would seriously consider changing the roof before adding a rooftop solar panel system to your home.  The Solar Panels will actually help to extend the lifespan of your roof by protecting it from weather damage like wind and hail.  You should get a replacement roof option with your solar energy system.  Many Solar Companies will offer this for a small upsell that you can include in your system.  However, the downside of paying it upfront is if the solar company you contracted with goes out of business then you will have to pay someone else to reinstall your system.  Emerald Sun Energy includes a solar panel replacement if you utilize our recommended roofer to do the job.  This only applies to normal roof replacement.  If your roof is damaged during a storm then your insurance company can be billed for the additional charges incurred to reinstall your solar panel system.

23. How long will my solar power system last?

Your solar power system will come with a 25 year performance guarantee, it will actually last 40-50 years.  You will have to replace the inverter at 12 years but solaredge offers an extended warranty on their inverter up to 25 years.  It is a great investment to extend the life of the entire solar energy system to 25 years.

24. What happens if I sell my solar house?

This is one of the most important reasons why it is better to own the system over leasing a system.  When you sell your home you will sell it with the system and receive on average a $20,000 increase in the value of your home.  According to Forbes Magazine, the average home increases its value by over $20,000.  If you are leasing a system when you go to sell your home you will have to require the buyer to assume the lease as well as the leasing company will have to approve the buyer.

26. How do I compare solar quotes?

Comparing solar quotes is not an easy task.  There are many factors that you have to be able to weigh against one another.  Such as quality of Solar panels, inverter, racking systems and wiring used. You will also have to compare company performance, financing options offered by companies(unless you secure your own financing prior to shopping), then you will have to compare add ons like maintenance, roof replacements and others.  Using a third party solar consultant to compare quotes is a great investment. You can usually get someone to compare your quotes for under $400 not a bad investment to protect against a mistake in purchasing $20,000 – $30,000 solar investment.  To find out more on what to look out for when purchasing Solar Energy for your home, read “The Secret Guide to Buying Solar” the most comprehensive solar buying guide on the market.

27. What are the different types of solar panels?

There are many manufacturers of solar panels to choose from.  Make sure the solar manufacturer you are looking at offers at least a 10 year manufacturer warranty and a 25 year performance guarantee.

There are two types of solar panels.  Monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels.  Monocrystalline solar panels are more expensive but are more efficient and durable and worth the price difference.

28. What are the different types of power inverters?

There are three main types of inverter systems you can choose from.  First is a string inverter system, micro-inverter system and power optimizer systems.  String inverters are highly inefficient and require a perfect situation to utilize them.  However, they are the best option for large commercial jobs. Micro inverter systems for homeowners will increase the amount of efficiency the system can produce over a string inverter system.  There is a larger increase in maintenance with this system and for commercial use, this system is a virtual maintenance nightmare. The third system is the solaredge power optimizer system.  With this system, you can get the added efficiency of the micro inverter systems with a reduced long term maintenance on your system. This is the most prefered system to use for homes. For commercial it is also a good solution but in many cases, the straight string inverter is going to make the most sense.

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

Commercial Solar Company - 08/27/2018

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

Questions you should ask your Solar Company – part 2

Solar Energy In Orlando Florida is taking off & Here are some Questions you should ask your solar company – part 2

9. Can I go off grid with solar panels?

In the state of Florida, you are not legally able to go off-grid.  However, you can reduce your demand for electricity from the grid and offset all of the cost for electricity by producing electricity with solar energy.  In Orlando Florida as a Solar Company, we help homeowners go solar with no money down and no money out of pocket and they are able to reduce their power bill and energy consumption while improving the value of their home’s.

10. Will I still receive an electric bill if I have solar panels?

Yes.  You will still receive a power bill, however, your combined expense between power bill and solar will be less than what your current power bill is today.

11. Do solar panels work in a blackout?

Depends, there are two different ways to have power during a blackout.  First is to have an inverter that allows you to cut off the power to the electrical grid and will still power your home during daylight hours.  The second way is to blank your home with a battery backup system that your home will work off of during a blackout. It will provide power into the evenings until the batteries are drained.

12. How much will solar panel maintenance cost?

Very minimal, All of the equipment has long-term extended warranties so there is no production cost involved in maintenance.  Please make sure you know your warranties T & C’s. Many solar companies will include maintenance on warranty covered issues.

13. What solar energy rebates and incentives are available?

If Florida the biggest incentive is the Federal 30% Tax Credit that you are able to get in a dollar for dollar rebate from your upcoming tax seasons.  This rebate can range upwards of $10,000. It truly makes this the golden age of solar energy.  For a full list of all available rebates, you can visit DSIRE, it is a database that aggregates all available solar rebates for the entire country including state and local incentives.

  1. What are my solar financing options?

Solar Financing options have come full circle.  There are many great offers available today. You can own a system for no money down, no money out of pocket and a low fixed rate apr of 2.99% for 12 or 20.  In Florida, purchasing is the only option available for homeowners. For certain businesses leasing may be an option as well. In many other states, PPA’s are available (power purchase agreement), with this agreement solar company owns the system and you are buying your power from them instead of the power company.  It gives you moderate savings over the power company but not as much savings as owning a system yourself.  In many areas of central Florida PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) is available, PACE is a program that allows you to use your property tax as a payment vehicle for Solar Energy.  You are able to finance the project through your property tax and extend payments out for 25 years which lowers your monthly power bill rates.  The biggest benefit of PACE is that it is transferable when you sell the property.  To find out if your property qualifies for PACE, you can run a search at Renew Finance.

15. Should I buy or lease my solar panel system?

See above.  Except for specific cases for homeowners buying the system is your better deal.  Before the financing options became more competitive it may have made sense to go with a leased system.  Owning vs leasing you receive all of the tax incentives plus it increases the value of your home. For businesses, there may be reasons to lease over buying depending on business structure but more often than not it is still better to buy.

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

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

Questions you should ask your Solar Company – part 3

For a comprehensive solar buyers guide visit “The Secret Guide to Buying Solar”

commercial solar - 08/06/2018

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

Solar Energy In Orlando, Florida is on the rise and the 7 most Important Questions You Should Ask Your Orlando Solar Company

1. What are the financial benefits of solar energy?

The biggest financial benefit for solar energy in Orlando, Florida is it will continually lower your kWh rate over time. As your power company raises its rates, by 4% a year on average, you will be insulated from these rate increases. Over the life of the system, your savings can exceed $50,000 over the money you will already spend. The best part about the money you make on solar is that it is in savings of post-tax dollars which means the money you make is not taxable and makes your gross rate profit the same as your net rate profit. For example, if you were to earn this same money in the stock market then those earnings would be taxable under capital gains.

2. What are the environmental benefits of solar energy?

Solar Energy will reduce your carbon footprint. Solar Energy doesn’t need to be drilled, Doesn’t need to be processed at a facility, doesn’t need to be transported and most importantly doesn’t need to be burned. According to a recent article from CNN, they state that solar may be the one variable that can rescue us from global warming. See link in video description below

3. How do I find out how much I pay for electricity?

You can look at your power bill to determine your active kWh rate, but make sure you factor in many power company charge either increased rates over a designated monthly kWh usage or a premium rate for energy used during peak hours. The average kWh rate including taxes ranges from $.12 to $.16 per kWh in Orlando, Florida.

4. What is net metering?

Net Metering is the agreement in place with power companies that allow you to produce your own energy and sell your excess energy to the power company for energy credits to be used at a later time or date. During the day your solar power system will produce all of the energy you will need for the entire day and then at night, you will use your accumulated credits from the energy you produced during the day. The best part of net metering is that you are able to sell your power to the power company at the retail rate for the energy that you use.

5. How does solar impact my property values?

This is what makes solar energy the best investment in the market. According to Forbes Magazine, you recoup 97% of your investment the day you install the panels on your roof. This is what allows you to convert a variable expense into a profitable asset. Essentially you are converting your power bill into an asset that increases your property value as well as insulating yourself from future power rate hikes.

6. How do solar photovoltaic (PV) solar panels work?

Solar panels generate electricity through the photovoltaic process. This is where the silicon solar panels separate the electrons from the protons. The electrons are then funneled down into the inverter that will convert the dc electricity into ac electricity which is what your home and the grid work off of.

7. Do my solar panels produce power when the sun isn’t shining?

It will generate some electricity but it will be less than when it is clear weather and sunny.
Here in Orlando, there is a lot of Sun but there is also a lot of clouds, hence getting a solar power system with SolarEdge power optimizers maximizes your solar panel system energy production.

For More Questions you should ask your solar company visit our ongoing series:

Questions you should ask your Solar Company – part 2

Questions you should ask your Solar Company – part 3

For a comprehensive solar buyers guide visit “The Secret Guide to Buying Solar”

Solar Orlando - 08/01/2018

Commercial Solar Incentives makes Solar a great choice for businesses

The solar industry seems extremely focused on educating the residential homeowner on the benefits of switching to Solar Energy. Which by all means is a critically important segment of the solar industry and does need the education and attention. However, this should not be at the expense of the commercial market which in its own rights is an incredibly important segment of the solar industry.

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Comercial Solar Orlando
Solar Energy Orlando
Solar Power Orlando

The Commercial Solar Market in Orlando has an incredible opportunity to secure a return on investment even over a residential home. This is because they have additional incentives that they can implement over the residential market.

There is two main incentive for commercial solar customers.  The first one is the same for commercial customers as well as it is for residential customers and that’s the 30% federal tax credit.  However, with businesses they are almost always able to take advantage of the tax credit where the residential market sometimes needs to utilize it over a multiple year period.  Where businesses are able to utilize it within the first year.

The second main incentive really supercharges the investment portions of this opportunity. For businesses, they are able to depreciate the equipment over a 5 year period which gives them the equivalent of an additional 30% discount. That means the potential net system cost for a commercial solar panel system would be 40%.

With a payback period of fewer than 5 years and attractive financing options available, all commercial solar customers energy expense is less than what they pay the power company. In addition to that, an smart business is always looking for ways to decrease their expenses or increase their profitability. Solar does exactly this because it converts a variable/fixed expenses into a profitable asset.

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Solar Power Installation for Commercial businesses

A couple of things to consider for Commercial Solar Customers is that the 30% Federal Tax Credit is due to expire at the end of 2019.  That means for the next couple of years will be the golden age of buying solar panels.  The other thing to consider is understanding what you need to do to get the best solar panel system for your money.  Many solar companies use a laundry list of tricks to sell their products but knowing the difference is critical to getting the return on investment.  To get a better understanding you need to read The Secret Guide To Buying Solar.  This guide will give you all of the information to protect yourself from dishonest contractors.

Emerald Sun Energy is an Orlando Solar Energy Company servicing all of Central Florida.  They Specialize in Residential and Commercial Solar Installations.  They have been featured in Solar Industry Magazine as well as SolarPro Magazine as a best practice solar installer who protects the rights of their customers.

Commercial Solar Company - 10/13/2017

Three steps to getting an accurate appraisal for home’s solar power system

Solar panels are a great investment for your home.  Not wanting to sound bias, I believe it is not only the single best home improvement investment but the best investment available in the market.  A better investment than the stock market.  I am making that claim in the face of a surging stock market that keeps beating it's all time highs.  Over a 20 year period, the stock market has historically produced a 10-12% return on investment.  With periods of high volatility and insecurity.  Conversely, a solar investment will return a 15% ROI over 25 years with a high degree of security.  In this article, we will review the security factors that make solar power a great investment and break down the home value appraisal process that produces Solar’s great investment security. Even though your solar investment is secure it is important to understand how that security works, how the real estate market responds to solar, how to avoid misconceptions about the appraisal process and understand what you need to do to get the best value for your solar panel system. First, let's look at how the real estate market views solar power.  The real estate market looks very favourably on solar energy as a great enhancement to your home. The real estate’s value on solar fluctuates depending on realtor solar experience, are of the country and available examples of homes that are sold with solar panels vs similar homes that do not have solar panels.  A very important point to make is if you get into the market to sell your home make sure you use an appraisal service and realtor that has solar experience.  There have been cases where an inexperienced solar realtor/appraiser may not know how to accurately value the price of solar.  A good way to look at this is if you go to the doctor and your doctor realizes you need an oncologist your doctor will not diagnose your situation but rather refer you to a specialist that can make an accurate diagnosis.  Real Estate is the same, except some realtors without experience attempt to value the home without a specialist and might miss value/diagnose your home. As great of a secure investment solar is, it is also important to get a realistic value of solar appraising.  You need to protect yourself from dishonest solar contractors who will overestimate the value of your solar panel system.  An example that I see used a bunch is taking the amount of estimated savings in a year and times it by 20.  So if you save $2000 on your rooftop solar panels system your home will appreciate by $40,000.  This was accurate back in 2009 when solar prices were more than double what they are today.  So the cost of the system in 2009 was $60,000.  The $40,000 appreciation makes sense when compared to the total cost of the system.  Today that same system will cost $30,000 and the most important thing to consider is that your home will not appreciate more the cost of the system you install.  Hence the appreciation in this example to day would be adjusted down to about $20,000.  Which is still great in terms of securing your investment.  Especially when you factor in the 30% federal tax credit of $9000.  Hence your system appreciated by $20,000 which means all by $1,000 is secured in the value of your home.  Again in this example, you can see that you will save $2,000 over the course of the year which will make you net positive on your investment year 1.  That is not even taking into account that you have transformed an expense that you pay every month into a profitable asset. Just don’t be oversold into believing that installing solar panels will improve the value of your home more than the purchase price.  According to Forbes Magazine they have concluded that 97% of your investment is secured upon installation of solar energy system. Here is what you need to do to ensure that you get the best solar appraisal value for your home.  The first thing to do is locate a solar appraisal specialist.  You can use the directory from http://www.appraisalinstitute.org/ to locate an appraiser that know how to properly appraise a home with solar.  You can also learn more about what to expect from this 6 state study on solar home appreciation values.  I found this study to be highly reliable and accurate in terms of what is needed to be done to get an accurate appraisal. You may also familiarize yourself with PV Value which is the recommended tool of the appraisal institute.  The tool was developed by actual appraisers and can give you an accurate expectation of your home's value with solar. Following the information in the article will help you get the best value for your solar home with reliable accurate expectations.  Keep in mind your investment with solar is highly secure, to maximize your return make sure you use the tools described here as well as contact an experienced solar appraiser.  Even though it is a great and secure investment keep your expectations realistic and don’t expect your home to appreciate more than the value of the system.
Solar Orlando - 08/09/2017

Solar Water Heaters Worth the Investment? What you need to know before you buy one

Are Solar Hot Water Heaters worth the Investment?

Discover what contractors arent telling you about Solar Water Heaters.

Follow this tips in this article to purchase the right solar panel solution.

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Solar hot water heaters are the most common solar panel purchased in the Orlando Florida market.  The question is should they be.  The answer is a resounding depends.  However how they are being sold to consumers leaves a lot to be desired.  Solar hot water heaters are also the most over exaggerated performance product, they are often claimed to reduce your power bill by excess of 30%.  In reality you are lucky if the solar hot water heater will reduce your power bill by 10%-15%.  We will get to why this miss representation is so important.

For some people the savings might even be less than that.  The reality is they can not accurately measure the amount of hot water you are consuming per month which makes it impossible to accurately predict how much you will save on your power bill.  A family of 5 who doesn’t like hot showers and washes their clothes in cold water may use less hot water than a family of two who likes long hot showers and hot water for their clothes.

The next issue with solar hot water heaters is there is built in maintenance that is needed to be done.  Like cleaning out the collectors so they don’t clog and back up.  This point is often never brought up to the consumer which then leads to the system not being maintained properly and reducing the lifespan of the system by 10 years.  If the system is adequately maintained it can last up to 20 years.  Other common issues that affect solar water heaters in Orlando are the heat that they encounter sometimes wears out the pvc piping and causes them to leak.  I am sure you have noticed those homes with the water stains on their roof right under where the solar water heater is.

The biggest issue against solar hot water heaters are the pricing and how dishonest contractors fool homeowners into believing the system is worth the over inflated price they are selling them at.  According to Home Advisor the average price for an installed solar water heater is $3289 nationally and hear in Orlando its $4371.  This price represents an average of people who are shopping and buying solar hot water heaters.  I have often seen them sold for as much as $12,000 but often for $10,000. This is the difference between when they are sold verse when when are shopped for.  

Contractors trick homeowners with creative math.  Let's take a look at an example.  Let's say you have a $250 electric bill.  Said contractor will say that your hot water portion of your bill represents $75 of your electric bill.  What he/she has done here is free up $75 to put towards the purchase of the hot water heater.   Now the contractor will show them that with a 20yr 5.99% loan they can have the solar hot water heater for $72 per month.  Saving $3  a month right away on their electric bill.

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In reality they are only saving 10-15% on their power bill.  Let’s say that they will save $25 per month because of the solar hot water heater.  With an expense of $72 per month the homeowner is really coming out to pocket $47 and have to pay that for 20 years.  For more information on how to spot dishonest contractors read our Solar Buyer's Guide  “The Secret Guide To Buying Solar”

 

However, If you are able to purchase a system at a reasonable rate like $3500 then a solar water heater system can be a cost effective investment.  Ultimately the price of PV Solar Panels in Orlando have come down so much that I recommend a pv solar panel system to power the entire home and save close to your entire power bill and use those funds to finance the full solar panel system.  When you power the whole home it will power your hot water heater plus all of your appliances, AC and electrical equipment.  The long term saving are tremendous and then you don’t have to worry about the maintenance issues with the solar hot water heaters.  I will also often recommend a hybrid or tankless water heater over the solar water heater because they rival them in efficiency and are even more economical financially.  You can get a Hybrid water heater installed for under $2000.  Same is true for a Tankless Water Heater.

If you are shopping conscientiously you can find a good deal for a solar hot water heater.  Although if you are shopping for a good deal I believe you will always find yourself going for the PV Solar panel system for your home.  Use other efficiency hot water heaters at a much cheaper price and save on your entire home power bill with an in home solar panel system.

Solar Installation Orlando - 07/03/2017

Trump Pulls out of Paris Accord – What Does That Mean For The Solar Industry?

What does President Trump Pulling out of the Paris Accord mean for the solar industry?

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The immediate reaction Solar Power Company Orlandois to panic into a state of hysteria. As President Trump's resistance to clean energy is truly baffling. For someone who is so concerned about jobs the fact that he is not considering how robust of a job market renewable energy has been in recent years is remarkably short sited. It is the largest segment of new jobs being created in the energy sector. According to Fortune.com renewable energy is creating jobs 12 times faster than the rest of the economy.
  In his speech, President Trump referred to his reasoning for making this monumental decision was looking at future projected reductions in energy productions from environmentally hazardous sectors like coal which he stated would be reduced 83% by 2040.  He further went on to say that there are new coal plants opening in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The future ramifications of this decision can put America irreversibly behind the industrialized world when it comes to modernization and an eco-friendly environment.  The impact could potentially be catastrophic as I believed we were on the verge of being the world's clean energy leader.  As a world leader, we would be able to dictate and develop an industry that would create way more jobs than trying to hang onto archaic jobs that harm the workers' health and damages our environment.  The long-term economic ramifications may be felt for generations.
Being an industry leader in Clean Energy would position the United States in the enviable position of leading the way in new technology development and research into renewable energy.  It is the difference between playing checkers and playing chess.  President Trump is playing checkers.  He thinks by jumping the red piece on the board is securing America’s future.  What he doesn’t realize is he is playing chess and he just exposed his queen.
Concept of climate change.
  It is almost like he would have to have a secret agenda to pump up our reliance on coal and oil for this decision to make sense to me.  Then again it does fit into the billionaire club that he has as a cabinet and the 50 billion dollar tax break he is giving to his billionaire friends.  Can this just be another box checked to the elite oligarchy? To be fair President Trump did say he wants to re-enter the Paris Accord with an agreement that will put America on an even playing field with the rest of the world.  This does sound fair in the sense that China and India do not have the coal restrictions that we have and would be able to produce coal at an even cheaper rate than the US can.  Further driving down energy costs for their countries but making the United States more vulnerable to energy embargoes and supply issues. For all of the baggage, issues and unqualified experience to perform as President I did feel that President Trump’s only positive characteristic was his business prowess to determine when a deal has room to be reworked in our favor.  Hopefully, that is the case here.
Clean energy concept illustration
However, the fact that he takes this stance after repeatedly denying that global warming is an issue that man is contributing to, calling it a scam to hurt American businesses is just misguided and dangerous.  That's like saying it is a hoax that water boils at 212 degrees.  The science is overwhelming and verified by independent scientist that are not being compensated by either side of the isle.  We have a responsibility to survive today and preserve a fruitful environment for our future generations.
  How does this impact the solar industry in the United States?  That is up to us.  According to the NY Times, 57% of Floridians do believe we are causing Global Warming which is below the National average of 69% of Adults believe we are contributing to Global Warming and need to restrict our carbon emissions. The fact that in most states energy costs are on the rise and the price of solar has dropped by 60% since 2010 leads me to believe we are on the cusp of a Solar Revolution that will move us closer to energy independence and a cleaner environment. When we couple that with advancements in solar panel efficiencies and financial lending options most Americans today can go solar at a lower cost than to continue to purchase energy from their local power companies. That makes now the best time ever to Install Solar Panels while the Federal Tax Credit is still available until the end of 2019.  Home & business owners will still receive a 30% Tax credit for the purchase of a solar panel system.
We have to be diligent in our efforts and homeowners need to be properly informed of all of the benefits that they will receive by converting to Orlando Solar Power and how to purchase the most profitable solar panel system that they can.  In Florida, there are many avenues of miss information being passed out by opportunistic Solar contractors.  To protect yourself in buying process you need to read “The Secret Guide to Buying Solar”.  Discover everything you need to know and how to purchase a solar panel system with a solar production guarantee.  That will protect your system and guarantee its profitability.
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  President Trump may deny climate change but Americans overwhelmingly support clean energy efforts.  The Bottom line is Solar Energy is more cost effective for homeowners than to continue to pay the power companies escalating energy costs. In conclusion, I believe this will have little impact on the Solar Industry and the long term outcome is up to us to take action and convert to solar energy.
Residential Solar Company - 06/02/2017

Reduce Your Power Bill by 20 percent in 1 Month

Electric bills are often the most expensive bill of the month.  During the summer months, they can be downright frightening.  Looking at alternative power sources like solar energy is a great long term solution that all Orlando Florida homeowners should implement.  However, for immediate relief here are some great free energy saving tips you can take advantage of.  If you employ all six of these energy saving tips you will be able to lower your power bill by 20% in as little as one month.  Making your home more energy efficient will lower power bills, reduce the strain on appliances and reduce your energy consumption,  This is a great first step towards using solar energy to power your home.  By reducing your overall consumption you will be able to install a smaller solar panel system and increase your overall savings.

Refrigerator Settings

Your refrigerator’s Settings should be between 38-40.  Higher temperatures may lead to bacteria growth and lower temperatures is just wasting energy.  Your freezer temperature should be 5 degrees to keep your food properly frozen.  Don’t set your refrigerator to low.  It is your homes most energy used appearance and can represent up to 10% of your electric bill.

Hot Water Heater

Hot water heaters represent 12- 15% of your electric bill.  So here are a couple of tips to reduce this cost.  First set your hot water to 120 degrees this is the temperature the department of energy suggests to get hot water and keep your costs as minimal as possible.  You may also benefit from a hot water heater sleeve.  Your hot water tank turns on every 2 hours to reheat the water by utilizing a hot water sleeve you can reduce that to every 6-8 hours and reap the rewards in energy savings.

Outlet Covers

In almost all homes, small amounts of outside air constantly leak in through your electrical outlets.  Since you probably have dozens of these this leakage can add up.  Simply upgrading to insulated outlet covers will solve this problem

Weather Stripping & Window Caulking

Another easy and simple way to reduce air leakage into your house is to make sure your weather stripping and window caulking are updated.

Smart Thermostat

Upgrade to a smart thermostat can save you up to 10% on your A/C & Heating consumption.  Auto schedule remembers the temperatures you set and programs a personalized schedule for your home.  So it allow homeowners to have a properly programmed thermostat without actually having to program it

LED Lighting

The US Department of energy says that LED’s are a highly efficient lighting technology that uses 85% less energy, and lasts 25 times longer than incandescent.  It is also using 60% less energy than fluorescent lighting and last 5-10 times longer and the filaments in the fluorescent bulbs are toxic when they break and they do.

In conclusion, these six energy saving tips can save you 20% off of your power bill in as little as 1 month.  After you have made your home more energy efficient and reduced your overall energy consumption you might also like to look at alternative energy sources like solar power to reduce your power bill to pennies.

Solar Contractor Florida - 03/21/2017

Solar Energy Revolution Is Now

Solar Energy Revolution

Solar Panels Orlando

Solar Panel Installation Revolution

Solar Power is a safe and abundant energy source in Orlando Florida that can reduce pollution and solve our energy crisis for the future.  There are so many positive reasons for the expansion of solar energy that many people find it hard to believe.  Because if that was the case we would be using it already.  Unfortunately, because of special interest groups and oil monopolies, the expansion of solar has been repressed.  However, in recent years the expansion of solar has begun due to a variety of reasons that we will explore here. First off our Government back in 2006 realized the need for us to become more environmentally responsible and decided to pass an incredible financial incentive to add solar to homes and businesses.  That was the introduction of the 30% federal tax credit.  What this means, so long as you have enough taxable income you will receive a tax credit for 30% of the cost of your solar panel system.  If your home solar panel installation cost $30,000, you would receive $9,000 back from the Government.  Effectively lowering the net price of your solar energy cost to $21,000.  This credit is available through 2019 so now is the time to take advantage of this while you can. Next, the cost of solar panels for your home have dropped by 70% since 2008.  This is due to the laws of supply and demand.  After the tax credit came into existence the demand for solar began to increase which started to drive down the manufacturing cost of solar panels.  As the demand continued to rise more contractors entered the solar industry and created even more competition which drove the price down even more.  The prices have now plateaued and according to consumer reports in June of 2016 “now is the best time ever to buy solar”. With Federal Tax Credit still available and prices at their lowest point has now created an atmosphere for a solar energy revolution.  If you wait much longer you will lose 30% discount.  Most experts agree that prices are at their lowest and will slowly creep up from here.  So for all of the people who were waiting for cheaper pricing the time has arrived. The biggest reason for the dawn of the solar energy revolution in Orlando Florida is you can now purchase a system using the money you pay the power company and actually save money from day one.  Because of no money down financing options and 20 year terms as low as 5% you can add solar to your home today and lower you energy expense immediately.  For example, if you are paying $200 per month to the power company, you can now have a situation where you are paying $160 to finance your solar power system and $30 to the power company.  Effectively saving $10 per month in year one.  Please keep in mind this is an example and results can vary but not by much. I typically recommend a shorter payoff period which will give you a better long-term return on investment but it is clear that the above example creates an atmosphere for people to take advantage of owning their own power instead of renting it. In conclusion, it will be exciting to see over the next few years how the solar energy revolution explodes and people start to take control of their energy needs for themselves.  Now that solar has passed the 1,000,000 home mark the expansion should be exponential and the benefits shared by all
Solar Energy Orlando - 03/01/2017

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