Category: Uncategorized

Can I Completely Power My Home with Solar?

In Florida, we bask in the rays of the sun for most of the year, but beyond beautiful sunsets and seemingly perpetual heat and humidity, the sun can be harnessed to create power to offset the energy costs of running your home. 

The amount of electricity that it takes to run a home depends on many factors including the number of electrical appliances, their running time, temperature, etc. So, the question remains, can solar power be used to power a whole house? Scroll down to find out!

How Many Solar Panels Are Needed to Power a Home? 

The average household in the United States uses around 10,400 kWh of electricity per year. If you were to install an average 250-watt solar panel, you would need around 28-34 solar panels to generate enough energy to power your entire home throughout the year. 

We recommend taking these three steps to determine whether solar energy is a good fit for you:

• Determine your electricity consumption in kWh. You can find this number on your electricity bill. 

• Divide your electricity consumption by the solar power production estimate. This estimate will vary depending on your house’s location, tree coverage, sunshine, etc. You can estimate a reasonable range by using 1.31(Arizona) or 1.61(Maine) which have the highest and lowest production ratios in the United States. 

• Divide that number by 250 which is the wattage of an average solar panel, to determine how many solar panels you may need to generate 100% of your electricity needs. 

Let’s try some basic math:

11,000 kWh of annual energy usage/ 1.31 = 8,396.9

8,396.9 /250 = 33.58 or 34 solar panels 

While this is just an estimate, it can provide you with a rough idea of the feasibility of powering your entire home with solar power. 

Energy Backup System

Typically, you can get 60% of the energy that your house needs directly from a solar panel system which means, to power your entire home, you need additional batteries for energy backup. So yes, it is possible to run a complete home with solar energy when you install an energy backup system in your home. 

Having a backup battery is a great option when you want to completely power your home off solar power because it reserves extra energy for nighttime and cloudy days. 

To make the most efficient use of your solar power, run your home’s appliances separately to maximize energy usage. Try turning off the AC or heater when you are washing clothes or cooking in the kitchen. 

How Much Does It Cost?

Installing solar power generally only needs a primary investment. You will be profitable for many years after paying off your initial investment and will be able to enjoy off-the-grid energy to power your entire home. 

Though the cost of solar panel installation is dropping, an average installation can cost around $10,000 or more—even after federal tax credits. 

Many homeowners with solar power systems do not use them as an exclusive source of power, but rather connect to the utility grid in a process called net metering. 

Net metering usually follows this pattern:

A household utility meter monitors how much electricity is consumed by a household and how much electricity that the solar panels generate. 

On a monthly or yearly basis, that household is only responsible for paying for its net consumption or its electricity consumption beyond what its solar panels generate. 

This allows the homeowner an opportunity to be compensated for their energy by the utility company. 

Other Considerations

When planning on powering an entire home with solar power, keep these things in mind. 

• You may want to get any attic spaces air sealed with spray foam insulation to prevent leaks.

• The use of a smart thermostat can save energy. 

• Retrofitting your lights to LEDs can help with energy efficiency and consumption.

• Upgrading to energy-efficient windows can be beneficial. 

• Before installing solar, get an energy audit done and fix any issues that may have been found like leaky ductwork, outdated windows, lights, etc. 

While completely powering your home will take a lot of diligence on your part, it can be done! 

Go Solar with Solar Bear 

Choosing the right renewable energy source can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be! Solar Bear technicians are experts in renewable energy and are ready to install solar panels in your Florida home. Plus, we can install solar thermal and geothermal heat pumps to maximize your green energy at home. 

Ready to harness the power of Florida’s sun and take back your energy independence? Install a solar panel system with locally owned and operated Solar Bear!

 Solar Bear Orlando: 407-904-7585 Solar Bear Tampa: 813-567-8484

Spray Foam Insulation vs. Traditional Insulation

An energy-efficient home not only feels better, it works better! This, in turn, leads to lower utility bills, a reduced carbon footprint, and happier homeowners. Of course, energy efficiency doesn’t happen by accident! Several vital components make a home more energy efficient, one of which is insulation. Typically placed in areas where air escapes (i.e., cavities inside the wall and in the attic), insulation works to slow and reduce heat transfer. 

Here we take a closer look at the different types of insulation and why spray foam has a significant advantage over the others. 

Spray Foam Insulation 

Spray foam insulation (a.k.a. foaming insulation or sprayed insulation) is a two-part liquid insulation material that insulates and seals air where it is applied. The material is made up of two parts, iso and resin, which are kept separate until they are applied at the job site by a qualified, licensed spray foam installer. 

Spray foam insulation provides immediate and long-term benefits by sealing leaks and gaps inside existing walls and hard-to-reach spaces. There are two types of spray foam insulation:

Open-Cell: This type of spray foam insulation is used for interior applications such as wall cavities, the underside of roof decks, attics, and crawl spaces. Benefits include:  

• Contributes to the management of moisture permeability. 
• Does not attract mold and mildew.
• Provides sound dampening qualities, making it ideal for media or theatre rooms. 
• Costs less per square foot.

Closed-Cell: This type of insulation is made up of a rigid material that helps reject water. It is used in exterior and interior applications and is recognized as a flood-resistant material by FEMA. Benefits include:

• Can be installed in extreme heat or cold. 
• Adds strength and impact resistance to walls.
• Offers a higher bond strength and R-value per inch.

Traditional Insulation 

While spray foam insulation is considered the Cadillac of insulations (Keep reading to see why!), other forms of traditional insulations are commonly used by property owners. 

Blanket Batt & Rolls: Constructed with fiberglass, mineral wool, and plastic fibers, this type of insulation is inexpensive and DIY-friendly. The materials are designed to fit into the standard widths between wall studs, attic rafters, and floor joists. 

Foam Board: Typically made of polyurethane, polystyrene, or polyisocyanurate, foam board insulation is commonly used for unfinished walls and ceilings. It reduces the amount of heat conducted through wood and other elements in a home’s structure.  

Radiant Barrier: Standard insulation reduces heat flow in a home, whereas radiant barriers reflect the heat away from the home. This type of insulation involves placing a reflective barrier over a substrate material and is commonly used in attics. 

Why Spray Foam Insulation is a Better Option

Hands down, spray foam insulation is the preferred choice for homeowners over traditional forms of insulation. The biggest reason why? Because of spray foam’s ability to seal air, which in turn, allows it to do the following:

• Provides an air barrier to help mitigate air leakage from a home. 
• Addresses moisture to reduce the risk of mold and mildew growth. 
• Minimizes air infiltration. 
• Assists in limiting moisture from entering and escaping the home, thus reducing the load on heating and cooling systems. 

Stop the leaks with spray foam insulation from Solar Bear Tampa!

Do you want to make your home more energy efficient? Spray foam insulation can help! To learn more about the benefits of spray foam insulation or to schedule a free quote, please call the insulation experts at Solar Bear Tampa at (813) 519-4970! 

Do Home Solar Systems Require Maintenance?

A solar panel system is a great investment that can provide you with renewable solar energy for the next 25 years or more. But how are they maintained? Do they require regular tune-ups to stay in peak condition? 

Scroll down to learn the answers to the most common solar power maintenance questions! 

Solar Panel Maintenance

Solar panels typically require extraordinarily little maintenance to keep running efficiently, but they do need a light cleaning periodically to remove dirt, leaves, and other debris. 

The only time you might need to perform more extensive maintenance is during periods of heavy snowfall (in the Northern states) or if their energy output starts to decrease. 

How Do You Maintain Solar Panels?

If you have tilted panes, you are in luck. Rainfall usually clears away any debris that might have accumulated on them. During a dry season or extended periods without rain, it is important to clean your solar panels manually. We recommend performing solar panel cleaning at least two to four times a year. 

The good news is that cleaning them is simple. All you need is a leaf blower or a quick spray off with a hose. Never use hot water on your solar panels, as they could crack depending on the temperature outdoors. 

Bird droppings are more detrimental to your system than dust or leaves. If your solar array has string inverters or micro-inverters, the bird droppings can impede the flow of current in your panel. If you have trees near your solar system, they will attract birds. Checking your panels regularly for bird droppings, dust, and leaves will ensure that your system is running efficiently. 

Cleaning Ground Panels Vs. Roof Panels 

The only difference between the maintenance of ground-mounted solar panels and roof solar panels is that ground panels are easier to access, therefore easier to keep clean. If you notice any debris building up, you can easily sweep them off with a broom. 

Standard Solar Panel Warranties 

Before going solar, ensure that you have a solid solar panel warranty. Over time, your solar panel’s efficiency will start to decrease, so you will need to have a professional come out to perform maintenance on your system. This can save you thousands of dollars over the years. 

Warranties generally last between 15 and 25 years and guarantee that your solar panels will continue to produce 85% of your energy or above for that entire period. 

Will Extreme Weather Impact Solar Panels? 

Solar panels are designed to withstand all kinds of weather from wind to hail, to snow, etc. They can even survive through the high winds of hurricanes! 

Of course, they are not 100% indestructible and they can suffer damage from hail, lightning, hurricanes, or tornadoes. If you have a good warranty and coverage through your homeowner’s insurance policy, you should be able to have any damaged panels replaced or repaired. 

Heat is the main issue that can have an impact on your solar panels. When the temperature outside is over 90 degrees, they lose efficiency by 1% a degree. Elevating them a few inches from the ground or roof will allow for air circulation to help cool them down and maintain peak efficiency. 

Tampa Bay Solar Panels 

Solar panels are easy to maintain. Just make sure that you have a good warranty and insurance coverage, and maintain the cleanliness of your solar panels, and you will be golden. Your solar panels will continue to operate at peak efficiency and supply you with clean renewable energy for years to come!

Harness the power of the sun with Solar Bear! Call us today for a solar power quote—Solar Bear Tampa: 813-567-8484 or Solar Bear Orlando: 407-904-7585!

How Switching to Solar Helps The Environment

There are many reasons why homeowners decide to add solar to their homes, especially as electricity costs continue to increase and our climate continues to warm up. Making the switch to solar is the best way to lock in decades of predictable energy costs all while helping the environment! 

If you are considering adding solar panels to your home or business, consider the importance of these eco-friendly advantages.

Reduction of Greenhouse Gas and CO2 Emissions 

The environmental impact of solar panels is quite substantial. In Florida, the average home consumes around 1,078 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month, and a modestly sized solar power system could easily reduce that number by 80%. Over twenty years, a solar energy system that is producing 80% of a home’s energy requirements can offset the equivalent of CO2 emissions from over 150,000 pounds of burned coal or the greenhouse gas emissions from 45 tons of waste from a landfill. 

Power an Electric Vehicle

Opting for an electric vehicle can offset 100% of a traditional vehicle’s harmful C02 emissions. When you charge an electric vehicle from a non-solar home, you are moving that expense that you might pay at the pump with a gas-powered vehicle to the energy expenses at your home. A professionally designed solar energy system will power both your home and your vehicle to help further offset the electricity that you purchase from your utility company. 

Solar Power Reduces Water Pollution

This is one of the biggest environmental advantages of going solar. While all manufacturing processes require water, the total amount of water used to generate solar electricity is much less than traditional energy sources. 

Older technologies like natural gas, coal-fired facilities, and nuclear power all require massive amounts of water for cooling. When using solar energy, there is little to no risk to local water resources, and the operation of solar power does not put a strain on the water supply. You won’t be competing with agriculture, drinking water, or other vital water needs with a solar panel system!

Reduces Strain on Finite Resources 

Our global population on Earth continues to grow, and we only have a finite amount of coal, oil, and natural gas to keep the world running. The sun is our most abundant energy source and produces 173,000 terawatts of solar energy every second! That is 10,000 times the world’s total combined energy usage. 

Fossil fuels are non-renewable and at some point, they will be gone or the cost of finding and extracting them might be too expensive. If we do not make a change, the damage to our environment might be irreparable. Going solar is the best way to protect the planet that we call home and save our dwindling resources.

Protect the Environment. Go Solar! 

Going solar not only saves the planet, but it can save you money too! It is one of the only home improvement investments that have an immediate and measurable impact on the environment. 

Installing solar is a great way to contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable future while keeping your hard-earned money in your pocket. 

Ready to go solar and protect the environment? Contact Solar Bear today for a solar panel consultation—Solar Bear Tampa: 813-567-8484 or Solar Bear Orlando: 407-904-7585!