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At Solar Bear Tampa, it is important to us that all of our energy customers feel that they can trust their solar panels to power their home. The last thing anyone wants is to lose power in a storm, or any time, for that matter. We are confident that solar can power your home effectively—and more cheaply than traditional electric power can. 

Let’s get into a few myths about solar power and reliability. 

Myth #1: Solar power can’t power your entire home. 

One of the most common misconceptions when it comes to home solar power is that people often think solar cannot reliably power your entire home. This is incorrect: solar power is completely reliable and a great alternative to traditional energy. Especially in Florida, solar power is a great, renewable, and trustworthy source of energy, partially because our state gets quite a bit of sun (we are the “sunshine state,” after all) and partially because our government provides a lot of resources and incentives to go solar. Having a network of support and an excess of natural light makes for very favorable solar conditions indeed. 

Myth #2: Solar power doesn’t work at night. 

While, yes, solar power does not actively collect when the sun is not out, homes which run on solar power still get power at night. This comes from solar batteries which store excess solar energy gleaned from the sun during sunny times. Luckily for those of us in the Tampa Bay Area, we get a whopping 246 average days of sunshine a year, which is much higher than the national average. With a solar battery, you can rest assured that your darker days (and nights) will still be fully operational. 

Myth #3: Solar panels break often. 

Lots of people are concerned that solar panels might be easily breakable or unreliable because they fail to work consistently. This is a myth—in fact, solar panels are incredibly durable. In actuality, the amount of solar panels that fail per year is negligible—less than five percent across the panels’ lifetime. And in the rare case that one of your solar panels fails, they come with 25-year or 30-year warranties which makes replacing defective panels simple and painless. 

Solar Bear Tampa

If you want to learn more about how solar power can work for your home’s needs, give us a call at 813-519-4970. Our friendly, trusted team of experts can answer any questions you may have about making the switch to solar today. 

The sun is an amazing source of energy because it is readily available and is renewable. New technological advances in the past few years have increased reliance on solar energy by reducing upfront costs and increasing solar efficiency. 

Solar power is now much more affordable and installation easier than ever before with new innovative solar panel designs and technologies. 

Why is solar the power of the future? Scroll down to learn the benefits of solar and how it can change the future! 

Solar Solutions for Construction 

Construction companies know the importance of keeping up with technological advances and have begun offering solar solutions to clients and using solar energy themselves. The use of solar energy allows construction companies to use fewer fossil fuels and solar energy can run tools and machinery which saves on oil and gasoline costs. 

Solar Can Be Used by Anyone

Solar power can be considered the way of the future because of its versatility. Wherever people live, solar energy will always be able to be used. For example, those living in rural communities can use solar power to bring renewable energy to their homes without hassle and bureaucracy. 

People can rely on the sun day in and day out for energy. Unlike fossil fuels, sunlight is a guaranteed resource of energy and can be harnessed even during the winter and in colder climates. 

Solar Energy = Savings

Because of the ups and downs of our economy, more people are looking for ways to save money. Installing solar panels can reduce electricity bills, can be used in net-metering programs, and could be eligible for a solar tax credit. 

In the future people can save money with solar by:

• Lowering their electricity bills or possibly eliminating them altogether
• Taking part in solar rebate programs to receive cashback on a newly purchased PV system
• Take advantage of net metering programs which enable homeowners to sell excess solar power back to the utility company and earn credit. 
• Using the Federal Tax Credit where taxpayers can claim a federal solar energy tax credit on their income taxes for up to 30% of the cost of the installation of a solar system.

Solar Energy is Good for the Environment

Our current means of producing electricity is not a sustainable process. The burning of coal, oil, and gas can be detrimental to the health of our environment. Current electricity production creates excessive carbon dioxide emissions, the extraction of fossil fuels contributes to pollution, and the use of our water supply causes far-reaching environmental problems around the world. 

It is safe to say that using renewable energy sources like solar power will help save and protect our environment. 

Solar is a Great Investment

The world will need more solar energy in the future and the sun will become one of our greatest resources and a cheap form of power, especially in our sunniest regions. Solar is a great investment in the future of our world not just because of energy savings, but because it can save our environment and can benefit cities big and small across the globe. 

Go Solar with Solar Bear Orlando 

Ready to harness the power of the sun and install solar panels on your property? Our expert technicians at Solar Bear are ready to serve homeowners throughout Florida! 

Take control of your energy bill today. Go solar with Solar Bear―407-904-7585!

There are plenty of benefits that come with solar panel installation, including the fact that solar energy is sustainable and eco-friendly. If you are considering switching to solar, there are mistakes that you need to avoid so you can get the most out of your investment. 

Scroll down to learn more about some of the most common mistakes that we have seen at Solar Bear. 

Mistake #1: Ignoring the Structural Makeup of Your Home’s Roof 

Solar power can add significant weight per square meter to a roof. Therefore, you need to be sure that your roof can structurally support that much additional weight. 

It is also essential to consider the type of roof that you have. A roof with shingles or made from metal panels may be easier to install a solar panel system on than one that is made of tile. 

Mistake #2: Improper Sizing of the Solar Panel System 

The easiest way to calculate the appropriate size of solar panels is to calculate your power consumption and then install a panel system that provides that amount of energy. The problem with this is that it can neglect important factors that can impact the amount of power that your solar system can produce including:

• Panel orientation
• Voltage settings of the solar system’s inverter
• Natural efficiency declines 

If you do not account for these factors, you may not have an accurate size or number of solar panels for your energy needs. To determine which solar panel size is right for you, work with an experienced solar panel contractor from Super Bear from the beginning. We will ensure that your solar panel is right for your house size and specific energy needs.

Mistake #3: Purchasing the Cheapest Solar Panels on the Market

While you may want to switch to solar power to save on your utility bills, you don’t want to cut corners when it comes to purchasing high-quality solar panels. While low-cost solar panels might seem like a great idea right now, they will cost you more down the line when you have to replace components or the entire system because it became faulty or broke down completely. 

Of course, you do not have to choose the most expensive system on the market, just ensure that it is high quality and will last for years. 

Mistake #4: Placing the Panels Away from the Sun 

We get it, solar panels are hardly the most attractive feature to install on your roof, and for many homeowners, keeping them out of sight is best. While there is no problem with placing your solar panel system out of view, they need to be installed where they get enough sunlight.

Also, it is best to choose a place where there are no tree branches to shade or obscure your solar panels. A knowledgeable solar installer can help you identify the proper location for your panels. 

Mistake #5: Opting for a DIY Installation

Solar installation is not something that you want to attempt on your own unless you have the proper expertise to pull it off. 

Before beginning a DIY solar installation, ask yourself:

• What size solar panels will suit my required energy needs?
• How much roof support will the solar panels need? 
• How will the solar panel wiring be completed? 
• What is the perfect place to install solar panels?

If you are unable to answer these questions with certainty, it is best to leave the installation to a professional from Solar Bear, as a small mistake in the installation process could cause endless headaches in the future. 

Install Solar with Confidence 

Say yes to solar and get them installed by our professional team at Solar Bear! We will ensure that your solar panels are the right size for your home, efficient, and facing the sun for the ultimate amount of energy capture. Ready to install? Call us today for a solar panel consultation—407-904-7585!

You know that solar power saves you money on your energy costs, especially in Florida, and you know that solar has other benefits, too—it can even make you money on the side if you play your cards right—but you might not be sure where to put your solar panels. Some neighborhood associations help with this—sometimes neighborhoods will expect all solar users to put their panels on their roofs, but sometimes the choice is left up to you, the homeowner. 

There are particular benefits to installing solar panels on your home’s roof as opposed to elsewhere in your yard or house, but installing solar panels on your roof requires specific conditions to function effectively. The good news is that solar panels work well on most roofing materials, which means many roofs are perfectly suited for solar!

Here are some tell-tale signs that your home’s roof is right for solar:

A good roof for solar already naturally gets a lot of sunlight during the day. 

It may seem obvious, but the best way to tell if your roof is going to be good for solar panels is to sit and watch how much sun your roof gets throughout the course of the day. If your roof is sun-soaked, solar panels will work well. If your roof doesn’t typically get too much sun, maybe thanks to dense treelines or your home’s position relative to a taller home or building nearby, no matter how good the rest of your roofing conditions are for solar, installing solar panels on your shady roof will probably not work as well. 

A good roof for solar is south-facing.

A south-facing roof will absorb the most sunlight for the longest duration throughout the day, since a south-facing roof will be exposed to sunlight from sunrise to sunset. A roof that faces east or west is also perfectly acceptable for solar panels—an east-facing roof will get a lot of sun in the earlier half of the day (since the sun rises in the east), and a roof that faces west will get a lot of sun in the latter half of the day. If your roof faces north, you might consider installing your solar panels in a place in your yard which gets more consistent sun. 

For solar panels to work most effectively, it’s good for your roof to have close to a 30-degree slant. 

Your roof’s angle is also important to consider when you’re thinking of installing solar panels. A roof that is totally flat might make solar panel installation easier, but in the long run, solar panels which are installed flat can get damaged in weather and can cause rainwater to pool on your roof, which could lead to damage. Particularly in the Tampa Bay area, given our heavy rainfall, this is something you’ll want to avoid. On the flip side, though, it is difficult to install solar panels if your roof slants too steeply, so you’ll want to take into account how deeply your roof is pitched for this reason, too. 

The best roof for solar is large and rectangular, with few vents or chimneys to work around. 

Because most solar panels are generally large and rectangular, it makes sense that if your roof is shaped similarly, that means your roof is better suited for solar. The same holds true if your roof has fewer vents or chimneys that you’ll have to work around. But don’t fret—these days, solar panels can be purchased in lots of different shapes and sizes, so odds are good you’ll be able to find the right combination of shapes to work around whatever features your roof already has built in. 

A good roof for solar is in good condition—it is structurally sound with no major defects or repairs expected. 

Last but not least, it’s important to take into account the current condition of your roof. After you install solar panels, it can make other roof repairs more tricky, time-consuming, and costly. Solar is best suited for well-made, newer roofs, though here at Solar Bear, we are always happy to service any solar panel related roof issues for you after installation. 

Solar Bear Tampa 

Keeping these five factors in mind will help you decide whether your roof is right for solar. But don’t worry–our Solar Bear experts are always here to help assess your solar needs and assist you in making a decision on where the ideal place for your new solar panels is. Call us today at 813-922-3735!