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The Importance of Solar Roof Attachments

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I find it very strange that solar photovoltaic system proposals and contracts often leave out one of the most important things. How are you attaching them to the roof? It seems like an obvious thing, but clients rarely ask and salespeople rarely bring it up. Yet this is a critical aspect of a solar energy system installation. There are many …

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Your Roof Is Not Good For Solar Panels

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Well, maybe not YOUR roof, but you would be surprised at how many people we have to let down. Not every roof is great for solar panels. This can be a big disappointment to homeowners. Believe me – we are equally disappointed in knowing that we have an eager client’s goal that we cannot fulfill. There are several things that …

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Coronavirus Response Information

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Florida Solar Design Group wants to let our customers know how we are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. This page will provide up to date information regarding our operating schedule, precautions, and procedures for servicing clients. July 13, 2020 This will be our last COVID-19 update unless something changes drastically. We are taking all reasonable and recommended precautions. We are …

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Solar Panel Shading Analysis | How We Do It

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Sometimes there are obstructions shading the location where solar panels are going to be installed. It is critical to evaluate shading over the course of the days of the year and hours of the day. Back in the “old days,” we used some industry-specific manual tools and paper charts. We could accurately evaluate the shade location on a given day …

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The Number One Question To Ask Your Solar Co-Op

In Opinion

You might have heard about a solar co-op coming to your town. These community solar projects promise to bring you lower costs and peace of mind when making a solar panel purchase for your home or business. They can often deliver on those promises, but it’s important that the right questions get asked. The way these programs work is that …

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Enphase Ensemble Battery Solution Coming Soon!

In Education, News, Opinion Leave a Comment

Enphase, the leading manufacturer of microinverters, has started training dealers for its upcoming Ensemble battery system. This is an exciting new entrant to the budding Lithium battery industry for use in homes. Enphase has a unique approach that improves reliability, serviceability, design, and monitoring capabilities. In Southwest Florida we are mainly concerned with battery backup. The Enphase battery will fit …

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Offset Your Electricity Bill – All or Part?

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Some people only want solar panels if they can offset their entire electricity bill. But does that make sense? Grid-Interactive solar energy systems work with the grid to reduce your monthly energy use and cost. I get the idea of becoming “independent” from the utility company. Many people feel utility companies are greedy and inefficient. But you actually may be …

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Home Solar Panel Photovoltaic System in Fort Myers

In Education, Installation Photos Leave a Comment

Fort Myers is obviously a GREAT place for solar photovoltaic panels. Also known as solar electricity, these systems are primarily designed to offset your electricity bill. These are usually not backup systems for utility outages. That is a common misconception among consumers. A system like the one pictured below, with 27 solar modules, each rated at 370 watts, will offset …

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Net Zero Home With Solar Panels

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One of the goals our clients bring to us is a net zero home. This means they want to generate as much energy with solar panels as they consume on an annual basis. It doesn’t mean off-grid, and it doesn’t mean that each month they will produce as much solar energy than they need. Some months they will produce excess, …

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Poor Workmanship on Solar Energy Systems

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Sometimes we see shockingly poor workmanship on solar energy systems. What’s more shocking is when solar contractors argue that the work is acceptable. One pet peeve of mine is poor wire management. Specifically, allowing wires to run along roof surfaces without proper support and protection drive me nuts. Securing and supporting wires is required by building code. But common sense …

Rooftop Solar Panel Fire Safety – Why Microinverters Are The Only Prudent Choice

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When businesses contemplate a solar panel installation, the main goal is usually return on investment, or ROI. That means the solar panels and other equipment must be the most cost-effective possible and the installation often goes to the lowest bidder. Homeowners often seek top quality, features, and gadgets. They want a good deal, but they also want the latest technology …

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Can I Put Solar Pool Heating Panels In The Shade

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A couple of years ago I did an article and short video on how shade affects solar electric panels. Solar pool heating panels are different, and shade affects them differently. While it’s always best to avoid shading with any type of solar panel, sometimes there just isn’t a suitable roof or there isn’t enough roof space. Sometimes the neighbors have …

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Where Is Solar Pool Heating Most Popular

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Southwest Florida is one of the best markets in the nation for solar pool heating. Why? Because it works SO WELL here! But where in Southwest Florida is solar pool heating most popular? We took a random sampling of 500 recent solar pool heating installations we have done and mapped them. The results are pretty telling. Now they may be …

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What Is The Cheapest Way To Heat My Pool?

In Education, Opinion 4 Comments

If you are looking for the cheapest way to heat your Florida pool, you have come to the right place. It’s a bit of a loaded question, but we will walk you through the options and relative costs of each major pool heating method. For our analysis, we are going to assume similar quality levels for all technologies. For example, …

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7 Things to Consider Before Using A Solar Cooperative

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Purchasing a solar energy system can be a major decision with daunting research required before making a purchase. Solar cooperatives provide an opportunity for neighbors to become united in making purchase decisions. Learning how to best harness the sun takes time. Solar cooperatives can help put people at ease. However, solar cooperatives are not always the best option, and can …

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Electric Cars Run on Natural Gas

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I hate to break it to you, but your electric car runs on natural gas – with a little nuclear power mixed in. The dealer didn’t tell you that, did they? We’re being a little facetious here, but it is generally true. When you plug your car in and use utility electricity to charge it, fuel is burned to generate …