For our valued customers, we have released a solar pool heating how-to video that we call our Solar 101 video. This video is applicable to all past and future customers. Note that the section on valves will be most relevant to installations performed after March 2018 when we started pre-manufacturing our valve manifolds. However, our installations prior to this date …
Stunning Views of Sanibel Photovoltaic System
Check out the stunning views of this home with solar panels on Sanibel Island.
Why You Need A Local Solar Contractor
I recently received a request from a friend of a friend to provide advice about installing solar panels at her new home in Denmark. I am a people-pleaser – always one to help. But solar contracting is so specific to the country, state, and even city in which you live. I was able to provide some general help, but ultimately …
Cape Coral Photovoltaic System Aerial Video
This 15kW solar electricity system was installed in Cape Coral under close management by Florida Solar Design Group. We are thrilled to have been a part of offsetting 100% of the owner’s annual utility electricity use. The system is comprised of:
PV Shopping Quick Tip: Ask The Right Question!
When shopping for solar electric panels (photovoltaic or PV), most clients first ask what brand of panel we offer. While it’s a legitimate question, it’s not the most important question they should be asking. Solar panels have become extremely reliable and purchasing from an established source should yield good results. Solar panels are solid state devices with no moving parts …
Solar Panels With Multiple Meters at Facility
Many businesses and some homes have multiple utility meters that record energy use in different buildings or groups of buildings. This presents a challenge for solar panel installations. The current Netmetering Rule in Florida treats each utility meter as a separate customer. Even though your business entity may be the same, the utility company bills you separately for usage on each …
How NOT to Use Solar Panels to Market Your Business
I love Kettle Brand Potato Chips. It’s the kind of love that let’s me empty a whole bag in one sitting. I picked up a bag of the Backyard Barbeque flavor today at Ada’s Natural Market in Fort Myers, and when I got home I noticed that they advertise their use of solar panels on the back of the bag. …
True 2 Inch Solar Panel Headers
Jump right to the bottom of this post if you just want the proof! We have been over flow rates on this blog ad nauseam, but for good reason. Flow is critical to solar pool heating performance. One of the most important factors affecting flow rates in solar panels is the header pipe and plumbing size. One of our competitors …
Florida Solar Co-op Information
Solar cooperatives, or co-ops, are organizations set up to empower neighbors to get the best prices and products when buying solar panels for homes and businesses. The concept is that pooled interest will result in lower prices, peace-of-mind in selecting a contractor, and pre-screened products. There are advantages to solar co-ops in Florida, but there are also serious potential drawbacks …
Solar Pool Heater Plumbing – Before or After Gas and Electric Heaters
There is a certain way that all solar pool heaters should be integrated into the plumbing of a new or existing pool. Solar panels are always installed after the pool filter and a series of vales controls operation. One of the questions we get is whether we plan to install the solar pool heater before or after an existing gas …
Fort Myers’ First All-Solar Community – Mirada by Lennar Homes
Mirada is the first all-solar community in Fort Myers. Lennar Homes‘ community is actually the first community in all of Southwest Florida where every home is getting solar panels installed at the time of new home construction. And it’s looking great! Lennar Homes Monte Carlo model at Mirada has Solar Panels Pre-Installed Lennar Homes Monte Carlo model at Mirada has Solar …
Enphase Microinverter Advantage: Fire Safety
Among the many advantages of microinverters, fire safety is a real selling point. And I recently had the opportunity to see first hand how a traditional, non-microinverter based solar energy system can result in a fire. High voltage DC wires found in traditional string inverter systems have the potential for high-intensity arc faults. Operating at voltages of up to 600 …
Solar Panels And The Added Pressure on Pool Pumps
A common belief is that solar panels add pressure to pool pumps, causing damage and premature failure. It simply is not a problem. This is an often-repeated myth perpetuated by pool service companies or dealers that sell traditional heaters (scare tactics). The thought process goes something like this: when using solar panels to heat a pool, you have to lift …
The Battery Backup Frenzy
The frenzy of interest in batteries for home solar energy systems continues. Amid constant news about large-scale utility battery projects and small-scale home battery innovation, everyone seems to want battery backup. It doesn’t hurt that we just had a hurricane barrel up the Florida peninsula. There are just a few problems. Consumers are woefully misinformed about what batteries do. They …
Putting The 30% Solar Panel Tariff Into Perspective
The sky is not falling. Sunlight is still shining. President Trump signed an order introducing a 30% tariff on imported solar panels. While it’s a boneheaded move in our opinion, and detrimental to the industry, what does it really mean for you as a consumer? The answer is… probably not much. Editorial Note: This article applies only to solar electricity …
Solar Pool Heating Manual
By popular demand, we have published a solar pool heating manual for our systems. This manual is supplemental to any manufacturer instructions you may have received. Since all systems are arranged and plumbed differently, it is very difficult to have a one-size-fits-all manual covering all scenarios. However, we believe our manual is general enough to cover most solar pool heating …
Glazed Solar Pool Heating Collectors in Florida?
Why don’t we use glazed solar pool heating collectors in Florida? It isn’t a common question, but it’s one that we get occasionally, especially from our northern friends. The idea behind a glazed collector is that the glazing creates a greenhouse effect that increases the temperature of the collector surface. The main problem is that the cost of the collector …
Collier County Reduces Permit Fees for Solar Pool Heaters
Collier County Building Department has recently reduced permit and inspection fees for solar pool heaters. Fees are now approximately 1/3rd less than previous rates! The jurisdiction previously had the highest permit fees in the Southwest Florida area. We never understood why the fees were so far out of line with other building departments, and it seems they have realized the same …
Do Heated Pools Cause More Evaporation and Water Use?
Heated pools do result in more evaporation, so more make-up water is required to refill heated pools than unheated pools. Whether using solar heating, heat pumps, or gas heaters, heated pools do require more water. But how much will the increase in water usage cost? We have heard just about every question imaginable when it comes to solar pool heating. …
Solar Panel Inspections with Drones
After Hurricane Irma, we found that it was very helpful to launch our Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), commonly known as a drone. For homes and businesses where solar panels are not easily seen from the ground, the drone was extremely valuable. Drones allow safe, quick, and effective visual observations on rooftops. While there are some limitations in terms of inspections, …