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NABCEP Certified PVIP Photovoltaic Installation Professional In Southwest Florida

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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 …

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Ground Mounted Solar Panels

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People ask us sometimes if we do ground-mounted solar panels. Solar photovoltaic systems can be mounted on traditional solar rails with engineered racking systems. And, YES, we install solar panels on ground racks. But NO, we do not recommend them in Southwest Florida. Why You Should, Or Shouldn’t, Consider a Ground Mount It might seem like a great idea at …

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Home Solar Panel Photovoltaic System in Fort Myers

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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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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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Solar Panels on Stone Coated Metal Tile Roofs

In Education, Installation Photos, Photography 2 Comments

Stone coated metal roofs are becoming more and more popular in Florida. They are universally praised as being beautiful, durable, and highly wind resistant. With very long warranties and concerns about hurricane resistance, it is reasonable to expect these roofs to be purchased by more and more homeowners. Installing solar panels on these roofs presents challenges. The only good way to …

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Fort Myers’ First All-Solar Community – Mirada by Lennar Homes

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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 …

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Progress at Mirada – Southwest Florida’s First All Solar Community

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With our partners at Urban Solar, we have completed over two dozen homes at Mirada, Lennar Homes’ community where 100% of the homes will get solar power. Slated for over 100 homes, Mirada is Southwest Florida’s first community where every home will be powered by a photovoltaic system. The homes are built to be energy efficient in the first place. …

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Best Orientation for Solar Panels in Southwest Florida

In Uncategorized 3 Comments

We have a fair number of seasonal residents in Southwest Florida who have solar electricity at their northern homes. They all talk about how their solar panels are tilted to the south. We call this the orientation of the solar panels. Orientation is comprised of tilt (angle from horizontal) and azimuth (degrees clockwise from true north). Note: This article applies …

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Solar Providers Near Me

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You might be trying to search for solar providers near me, and finding a lot of out of town solar contractors and installers that are not in our area of Southwest Florida. Everything you need is available right here in the Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and Naples area! Keep it local! You won’t do better on pricing if you get someone …

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Fort Myers Home Gets Solar Pool Heater

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The new homeowners of this Fort Myers home wanted to enjoy their pool year-round, and recognized that one of the best times to buy a solar pool heater is during the slower summer season. As part of the solar pool heater installation, we cleaned up the plumbing and valves at the pool equipment pad and replaced the pump with an …

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Solar Electric Systems in Fort Myers, FL

In Education 2 Comments

As pools get warm and solar pool heating season winds down, electricity use in the home increases from air conditioning and solar electric systems in Fort Myers, FL become a popular topic in the homes of our clients. Solar electricity offsets the utility electric usage in a home or business to which it is connected. The panels connect into the …

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Dealing with Roof Obstructions and Vents for Solar Pool Heating Panels

In Education, Installation Photos 4 Comments

When installing solar pool heating panels, it is very often the case that roof vents and other obstructions come into play. Placing panels in a way that takes advantage of the available roof space becomes a challenge. There are a several strategies that we use to deal with vents and other obstructions, which may include plumbing vents, attic vents, satellite …

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Solar Swimming Pool Heater Season is Now!

In Education, Opinion 1 Comment

March marks the time when swimming pool heating becomes most desirable in Southwest Florida, and what better way to heat your pool than with a solar swimming pool heater? Pool temperatures tend to lag the daily outdoor air temperature. We are experiencing days in the upper 70’s and lower 80’s, but swimming pools are still in the lower 70’s if …

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Large Solar Pool Heating System Installed in Fort Myers, FL

In Installation Photos 2 Comments

This large solar pool heater was designed and installed by Florida Solar Design Group in Fort Myers, FL for a family with a recently remodeled pool. Situated on a perfectly oriented south roof with an ideal pitch for winter performance, this solar pool heater will be a top performer, drastically extending the family’s swim season, providing heated pool water throughout …

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Solar Photovoltaic System Design Layouts – November 2015

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Here is a video showing some recent solar photovoltaic (electric) system designs completed in November 2015. We use a proprietary process and templates to design solar energy system presentations for prospective clients. These design renderings provide homeowners the opportunity to see where solar panels can be mounted on their roofs and put a solar energy installation into perspective. By selecting …

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Fort Myers, FL Home with Roof Vents Wants Solar Panels

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Solar Energy System Design by Florida Solar Design Group   LOCATION Fort Myers, FL 33919 PRODUCT(S) Solar Pool Heating Panels BRANDS FAFCO Sunsaver™ ST NOTES This Fort Myers, FL home has several roof vents and other obstructions making solar pool heating difficult to arrange. However, by placing gaps between panels we are able to fit a suitably sized system to get the …