Everyone is getting in on the ChatGPT craze. If you don’t know what this is, it’s an artificial intelligence chatbot developed by OpenAI. It is expected to yield huge changes in the way we search and learn online. Students are even cheating by writing papers using this tool. It can produce human-like responses with great information, but the problem is, …
EV Battery For Home Solar Backup – Reality Check
There has been a lot of buzz about Electric Vehicle batteries being able to power your home. This technology is definitely exciting and has a ton of promise. After all, why have a home battery for backup if your new car already has a battery in it? As it turns out, there are a lot of reasons, especially in Southwest …
NABCEP Certified PVIP Photovoltaic Installation Professional In Southwest Florida
People engaged in skilled trades seek certifications to show the public that they are vetted as competent persons in their craft. For example, air conditioning has NATE, auto mechanics have ASE, and electricians can become Journeyman. In the solar energy industry, NABCEP is the de facto standard for certifications. But they offer a wide array of certifications and it’s important …
What Wind Speed Can My Solar Panels Handle?
Given the prevalence of hurricanes in Southwest Florida, people naturally want to know what kind of wind speeds solar panels can handle. Unfortunately, that’s a loaded question with no real, direct answer. Nobody “knows” for sure, but we have lots of anecdotal data. There are way too many variables to provide a succinct answer. And, there are no guarantees. The …
Enphase Energy Independence in Enlighten App
We love Enphase around here, but sometimes they really don’t think things through and cause solar contractors a lot of unnecessary grief. You would not believe how many calls/emails/texts we get about the “Energy Independence” figure shown in the Enphase Enlighten app. An average person might think this figure indicates how much of your energy is being produced by solar …
Solar Financing Explained – How To Pay For Solar Panels
This is the guide the other guy doesn’t want you to know. This is the quiet part said out loud. This is the inside scoop on solar financing. Financing a solar electricity system can be confusing. Making an informed decision will greatly improve your experience, and we are here to help you do that. There are several ways to finance …
What Florida’s Net Metering Law Changes Mean
THIS LEGISLATION WAS (THANKFULLY) VETOED BY GOVERNOR DESANTIS. It was never passed into law. This article remains in place for historical reference. Original Article: In case you missed it, the Florida legislature passed a significant change to the Net Metering laws in Florida. These are the rules that allow solar energy producers to “sell” excess energy production back to the …
Enphase Launches the IQ8 Microinverter – Backup Without Batteries
Enphase has launched the new IQ8 microinverter, which comes with the promise of allowing you to use your solar panels off-grid without batteries. Until now, solar panels were either grid-interactive which means they shut down with the loss of the grid, or they worked with batteries to provide backup power. Before you get too excited, let’s get something straight. Solar …
Solar Panel Door To Door Sales
There is a practice in the solar energy industry that you should know about. Door-to-door selling has been around forever. The people that sell solar door-to-door really don’t sell anything. We call them “door knockers.” Solar Panel Door Knockers The idea of knocking on doors is simply to gauge your interest in solar energy. Once you are targeted with some …
Does A New Roof Qualify For The Solar Investment Tax Credit
Read the question carefully. What answer makes sense to you? Usually, the most obvious answer is correct. And that’s the case here. There are many solar contractors and sales outfits out there that are claiming that you can bundle a new roof with solar panels and take the tax credit on the whole thing. It sounds too good to be …
Sleazy Solar Panel Sales
Warning: You might need a shower after reading this article. The Solar Panel Sales Industry Is Sleazy Our colleagues may not like this airing of dirty laundry. Call it what you want – sleazy, shady, deceptive, disgusting. The solar panel sales industry has become extremely messy. There is a huge cash grab going on in the growing industry, and the …
Naples, FL Home Get REC Alpha Solar Panels
We recently finished a solar panel installation in Naples, FL using all-black REC Alpha 360W Solar Panels. These are really sleek looking and have great performance and warranty as well. At 360W each, these panels are highly efficient for a 60-cell sized panel. Usually, you need to go to a larger 72-cell panel to get that kind of performance. But …
Solar Panel Efficiency Is Overrated
I tell people all the time… don’t get so wrapped up on solar panel efficiency. I get it – you want the best. The most efficient solar panel on earth sounds exactly what you are looking for. But is it in your best interest? The current leader for panels that are commonly available in the efficiency race is likely Sunpower. …
What Does A Net Zero FPL Utility Bill Look Like?
Have you ever wanted to know what it would be like to eliminate your electric bill? How exactly does that look? Well, let’s just cut to the chase: We installed solar panels for this client in April. Immediately we wiped out their electric bill for May, June, and July. They also have 727 kilowatt-hours of electricity “in the …
Solar Panel Service After The Sale – Buy Local!
Our prospective clients agonize over their choices when searching for a solar electricity system. What’s the right solar panel, the right inverter, the right mounting system? Who is the best installer? Who is the fastest? How big is the company? Ok, fine… all valid points perhaps. But time and time again we see people make the incredible choice to hire …
The Solar Microinverter vs. Power Optimizer Reliability Debate
When considering options for a solar photovoltaic system, reliability is an obvious factor. Most clients first ask about solar panel reliability. However, solar panels are very reliable, and rarely the source of failure in a solar energy system. The number one source of failure and service issues is the electronics in the system, not the solar panels. In this article, …
Opinion: Photovoltaic Module Warranty Lunacy
Some people get really hung up on warranties. I get it – peace of mind, especially when buying an expensive and unfamiliar product, has value. But what is a solar module warranty really worth? Many industries have seen warranty wars take off. Automobiles, Appliances, Air Conditioners… all of these products are costly and highly competitive. They are also hard for …
The Number One Question To Ask Your Solar Co-Op
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 …
Enphase Ensemble Battery Solution Coming Soon!
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 …
What the 2020 Solar Tax Credit Changes Mean To Consumers
The Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit has been a popular credit that has driven growth in the industry. Since it’s inception it has been a 30% credit on the total investment that comes right off the bottom line of your taxes. That is set to change in 2020. The bottom line is the credit is being reduced to 26%. An …