One of my favorite activities is taking existing architectural drawings for projects under development and rendering solar panels on the plans. These renderings can be simple two dimensional layouts showing available space for solar panels, or rich three dimensional drawings and visualizations. Either way, visualizing solar panels and sizing systems is an important part of any new construction solar project. …
Comparing Solar Pool Heating Panels Types
Solar pool heating panels sold by professionals in Florida are not all the same. Panels fall into three basic categories: Welded Tube Tube-On-Fin Separated Tube Each type of solar panel has advantages and disadvantage. Each type will heat your pool, performing at varying levels depending on the conditions. Some of the differences are high-tech, and some are common sense. Adding …
Solar Pool Heating Panels on a Tile Roof – Design to Reality
We have a lot of tile roofs in Florida. Sometimes known as barrel tile, S-tile, Roman tile, Spanish tile, or Mediterranean tile (among other names), these roofs are popular, especially in gated communities. Installing solar pool heating panels presents challenges on tile roofs, and we like the aluminum rack method. This method uses structural aluminum channels to act as a …
My Solar Electric System, One Year After Installation
I just got a $54 electric bill for my 3,000 square foot home. Pretty good, right? I’m walking the walk! Well, it’s not what I had hoped when I installed my solar electric system, but that’s because I’m wildly wasteful now (not that I’m proud of it). I was spoiled by the low electric bills that started coming after I …
Beware of Shady Solar Installers
It would be great to work in an industry that is self-policing and largely above any major ethical breaches. While most solar dealers are good people, driven by ideals of a better world, there are shady solar companies out there, and you need to stay away from them. Why is it so important in this industry, and how do you …
It Rains a Lot in Florida. What Does That Mean for Solar Energy?
One of my favorite Seinfeld clips is this one where Newman proclaims that he does not work in the rain. Well, neither do we, but for good reason! Installing solar panels in the rain has it’s obvious dangers. Slippery roofs, visibility, potential roof leaks, and lightning are all problems that prevent work during rainy conditions. There are, however, somethings we …
Electric Heat Pump Pool Heater vs. Gas Pool Heater
In my last article I discussed the pros and cons of an electric heat pump pool heater vs. a solar pool heater. While it has little to do with solar pool heating, I thought I would point out the differences between the two traditional heat sources used for residential swimming pool heating, which are heat pumps and gas pool heaters. …
Electric Heat Pump Pool Heater vs. Solar Pool Heater
Should you buy an electric pool heater (heat pump) or a solar pool heater? Each has its pros and cons, some of which are shared. Electric Heat Pump Pool Heaters Electric heat pumps are popular in Florida, and for good reason. Since heat pumps use the latent heat in the air to heat your pool, warm Florida daytime temperatures are …
Not Enough Room For Solar Pool Heating! What Are My Options?
I was recently contacted by a friend from high school who is having a pool built at her Naples, FL home. She was interested in a solar pool heating system to make the pool more enjoyable for her children. Initially I was excited to show a friend what we can do, but I took one look at her roof and …
Solar Pool Heater Not Working? Clean Your Filter!
I always get that sinking feeling in my stomach when a client reports that their solar pool heater is not working. What that usually means is the pool is not getting warm, or at least the solar pool heater is not performing as well as it once did. Once I get over the initial uneasy feeling, I get back to …
From Solar Design to Solar Reality
It’s one thing to come up with a great solar design and rendering for presentation purposes, but watching it become a reality is an amazing feeling. I worked on this project a few years ago where I designed an off-grid solar electric system for a home on Keewaydin Island in Southwest Florida. The property does not have access to utility …
Can I Have Solar Pool Heating and Solar Electric (Photovoltaic) Panels on the Same Roof?
The easy answer is YES! You can put solar pool heating panels and solar electric panels on the same roof. The real question is do you have enough space, and what is the best orientation? Our general recommendation is to save your best roof for solar electric panels. Because they are more expensive and reliant on a good orientation for …
My Solar Heated Pool Feels Warmer in the Morning
When a solar pool heater owner says that their pool feels warmer in the morning, especially this time of year, it’s usually a matter of perception. As you would expect, solar pool heaters only heat pools during the day when the sun is out and the pool pump is running. Naturally, the temperature in the pool will typically rise throughout …
Decisions, Decisions; Where to Put Solar Pool Heating Panels
We are often faced with options when selecting a roof on which to place solar pool heating panels. Sometimes the optimal roof is too small to accommodate the number of panels that we suggest for ideal performance. In the images below, there are two viable options for solar pool heating, the south and the east roofs. There are trade-offs that …
Solar Design: More Than a Pretty Picture
Renderings of solar panels on buildings are very helpful in visualizing the scale and look of a project. However, there are practical reasons to develop 3D computer models of solar panel layouts, and one of the most important is evaluating shading. When obstruction exist like trees, buildings, power lines, and others, it is important to evaluate the impact of shade. …
Interactive 3D Models of Solar Panel Designs
Sure, two dimensional representations of three dimensional models are pretty cool on paper or in PDF presentation format, but what if you could interact with a 3D model in a simple, easy to use format in a web browser? Well, you can! When we do a three dimensional model, it can be uploaded and shared via a web link. Immersive …
Rendering Scenes for 3D Computerized Solar Designs
I’m constantly working to improve the visual renderings of our 3D computerized solar designs. We have mastered the art of taking aerial imagery and making three dimensional roofs on which we can display solar panels. However, one of the biggest challenges is modeling screened pool cages that are ubiquitous in Southwest Florida. Ideally we would just build a box with a raised …
Another Massive Fail for FPL as Rebate Application Computers Freeze
UPDATE: Our industry trade group, FlaSEIA, has set up a RATE PAYER FAIRNESS Hot Line. If you were negatively impacted by this failure, it is imperative that you call (407) 339-2010. Here we go again. Last week FPL had to acknowledge that it opened the final round of the popular residential solar rebate program early. This week, after FPL announced that it would restart …
Should I Put Solar Panels on the Front of My House?
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. We’ve been taught that lesson all our lives. Maybe I’m biased, but I think solar panels look great! A frequent question, and often a conundrum, is whether a client should put solar panels on the front of their house. The answer boils down to a balance between aesthetic, performance, and legal concerns. …
Urban Solar vs. Suburban Solar in Florida
I have been asked “why Southwest Florida.” The markets in Tampa, Orlando, and Miami are much larger urban centers with far greater population. It seems like the solar energy business would be much better in these populations centers where there are far more residential energy customers. Florida is a sleeping giant when it comes to solar energy market potential, but …