I have sounded the warning bells about shady solar contractors before, but a recent call from a prospective client highlighted the lengths some will go to make a buck. Just about the first thing we do when a call comes in from a prospective client is to look at the roof using aerial imagery. We don’t want to waste your …
Solar Pool Heating – Get a Permit!
Can you believe that there are still contractors out there that don’t pull a permit for solar panels? For solar electric systems, this has been virtually eliminated because utility companies can detect electric meters operating in reverse, and to obtain the most benefit from solar electric systems you have to cooperate with the utility company by entering into an agreement (and get …
Solar Battery Backup Does Not Save Money
The initial hype surrounding the Tesla Powerwall battery is over, but we are still fielding a lot of questions about this new product (which is not really available). The interest in battery backup in Southwest Florida is clear, as we live in a hurricane prone region. We steer people toward generators for backup/emergency power (yes, those gas guzzling, noisy, dirty, …
Solar Energy Investment Tax Credit Extended
At the end of 2015, the solar energy industry was given a big gift that came as somewhat of a surprise to many. The Federal tax credit that makes solar electricity and water heating projects more lucrative investments for many was extended, providing certainty to an industry that has been in limbo regarding its future. There is no question that …
The 12 Days of Solar Pool Heating
The 12 Days of Christmas has been corrupted over and over into a retail stunt over the years, with businesses trying to sell something on the 12 days leading up to Christmas Day. We former Catholic school students know that the 12 Days of Christmas actually starts on Christmas Day, but I am not above the blasphemous usurping of the Twelvetide …
I Found Solar Panels Cheaper Online!
My wife sometimes makes fun of me for trying to be cheap when hiring contractors and service people. It’s a natural thing for a skilled, hands-on, DIY kind of guy. I hate to “overpay” for something I feel I can do myself. Plus, I love a great deal as much as the next guy. The story that always comes up …
Solar Domestic Water Heating is Dead
I am certainly not the first to declare solar domestic water heating dead. Halloween is near, so I figured it is an appropriate time to put a nail in the coffin. This has been coming for a long time — the economic viability of solar water heating given the alternatives no longer results in an attractive investment for the vast …
FPL Announces Progress on New Solar Energy Capacity
Subtitle: Utility owned solar panels good… Customer owned solar panels bad… FPL, Florida’s largest utility company, has announced good progress on efforts to bring online 225 megawatts of solar capacity before the end of 2016, more than tripling its current portfolio of solar energy production plants. That’s great news for sure, and we should give them credit for the effort. …
Solar Water Heaters Lose Popularity, Still Benefit Some
For many years, solar water heating was the predominant solar panel type installed, and millions have been installed worldwide. In Florida, the most common type of solar water heating system is a direct open loop system, which means that potable water from your tank-style water heater is constantly circulated through a solar panel when necessary and when solar energy is …
4 Top Solar Panel Design Trends | Via Modernize
Guest post from our friends at Modernize. Images via Modernize. The world of solar technology is rapidly advancing. Gone are the days when residential solar energy systems were a dream of the future. Now, it’s more attainable than ever, and solar technology developers are coming up with more ways to make solar energy systems efficient, accessible, and aesthetically pleasing. Modernize …
Utility Electricity is Like Credit Card Debt
There has been a lot of buzz recently about how non-utility solar energy hurts the poor. Of course, this is all nonsense from the nation’s monopoly utility companies who want to monopolize the sun as an energy source, too. Utility companies want you to buy solar energy – as long it is from them! If you think about it, buying …
What Solar Energy Buyers Can Learn from the Tesla Model S Computer Hack
There has been lots of news recently about hacking of computers in automobiles. The first major breach was reported in Chrysler’s Jeep Cherokee. It was only a matter of time before researchers and hackers set their sites on the venerable Tesla Model S. Sure enough, this week we heard news that Tesla, maker of the Tesla Powerwall Home Battery, was …
Should I Buy Power From Arcadia Power?
Residential utility electricity customers in Florida have been receiving emails from a company called Arcadia Power that promises to sell you clean energy, even without installing solar panels or wind generators on your property. First, Florida residents should know that this is not a Florida company based in Arcadia, FL. It is based in Washington, D.C., and offers services nationwide. Now …
Energy Independence With Solar Energy
It’s Independence Day, so it’s a great time to bring up energy independence! The term energy independence has several meanings. From whom (or what) are we declaring independence. The Utility Companies The most obvious entity that has us locked down in chains is our own utility company. We are beholden to the monopoly that is charged with providing us with …
Florida Public Service Commission Requests Comments on Solar Energy
The Florida Public Service Commission (FPSC) staff is gathering information regarding enhancing development of solar technologies in Florida. Florida Solar Design Group responded to the April 23rd Memorandum as follows, answering the FPSC’s questions in an email: Dear Lee Eng Tan (FPSC Senior Attorney, Office of the General Counsel), In response to the subject Memorandum, I offer the following response …
Solar Air Conditioning in Florida
The phrase Solar Air Conditioning has been used very loosely in recent years. From the consumer’s perspective, you probably want to know if solar power can be used to run your air conditioner. Several products are on the market that are advertised as using the power of the sun to cool your Florida home. They are usually called solar air …
Buy Solar Pool Heating Panels Online
You can buy solar pool heating panels online, but not here. Nonetheless, if you are looking to buy solar panels online, keep reading. Note: I’m not really going to try to talk you out of buying solar panels online. I listened to a great podcast today from Nora Young called Spark. One segment was on the growing phenomenon of what’s …
So You Want a Tesla Powerwall Battery for Your Home?
I was pretty critical in my last article about the new Tesla Powerwall Battery, and I rarely cover the same subject in two consecutive posts, but the phones have been RINGING OFF THE HOOK! Everyone wants to learn more about this amazing device that powers their house with a battery, and the advertised price is simply amazing! Despite my negativity …
Tesla Powerwall Battery For Your Home | Should You Consider It?
It wasn’t 24 hours since Tesla, the Elon Musk led car manufacturer, unveiled the Powerwall home battery that the phone started ringing from interested clients. That just shows you how powerful their marketing machine is, but how powerful is the battery? Before we get into what the battery can and can’t do, let’s make clear what the battery is. It …
FPL Historical Energy Mix in Florida | Electricity Generation
Florida has become much more reliant on natural gas recently. This dependence puts us at risk of price fluctuations in the Natural Gas market. The infographic below shows the change in energy source for electricity delivered by FPL, the state’s largest electricity generator. As a state, we have done little to hedge against fuel price fluctuations by diversifying our energy …