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Going solar is an exciting proposition; you’ll save tens of thousands of dollars over time and can make an impact on global climate change. But while exciting, the buying process can be slightly overwhelming for many.

Solar panels are a large investment, and you want to ensure that you are making the right decision, but don’t worry, our team at Solar Bear Orlando is here to help! From choosing a reputable company to buying high-quality equipment, we will guide you on your way to energy independence!

Go solar with confidence when you follow these tips:

#1. Get Several Quotes

You wouldn’t go out and buy just any car or refrigerator, would you? No, you would sit down and try to find the best price that meets your needs. Before installing a solar system, make sure that you compare quotes from several solar companies so you can ensure that you are investing in a quality solar panel system at a fair price.

When reviewing the quotes you receive be sure to consider:

• The equipment
• The size of the system
• The company’s reputation
• Costs

Although no two solar quotes will be the same, any significant differences in pricing should be looked at a second time. Why such a price discrepancy? Make sure you understand the quote from top to bottom.

#2. Take Advantage of Tax Incentives & Rebates

We understand that many homeowners are wary of installing a solar system due to the overall cost of the system, but it is important to note that there are many tax incentives and rebates that homeowners can take advantage of that will lessen the sting.

The government offers substantial financial incentives at the federal, state, and local levels, which could ultimately reduce the cost of going solar by 50%.

While incentives vary widely throughout the country, federal incentives such as the Solar Tax Credit, are available wherever you live. This credit, known as the Investment Tax Credit or (ITC) allows you to apply 30% of the cost of installing a solar system as a credit on your federal taxes.

#3. Choose a Size That Will Grow With You

Using solar to power your home is one of the best ways to avoid dealing with fluctuations in energy rates from your local utility company.

If your system is sized appropriately, it could support your home’s entire electrical needs, you just have to make a plan for it. If you find that you are generating too much solar power, no problem! You can store that excess energy in your solar battery, or feed it back to the grid with Net Metering.

If you are planning on getting started with Net Metering or running your entire household on solar, just let our technicians know! We will ensure that your solar system is sized accordingly.

#4. Consider Solar Storage

Solar panels only generate electricity when the sun is shining, which is great since we live in Florida! But as noted above, your solar panels may generate more electricity than you use, especially during sunny days, but without storage, you’ll lose it if you don’t find a way to use or store it.

Because of this, solar battery storage is crucial. The best part is that while you store your excess solar energy for when you need it—like a gloomy day or during inclement weather—solar batteries can also power your home and appliances during natural disasters or brown out in the electrical grid.

Go Solar in Central Florida with Solar Bear Orlando

Going solar can feel daunting, but don’t worry, we’ll be by your side every step of the way! From hassle-free quotes to expert installations, our team at Solar Bear Orlando is here to make the process seamless and stress-free!

Ready to get started? Contact us for a quote today at (727) 471-7442!

It’s no secret that switching to solar is popular. But this incredible home upgrade is more than a trend—it’s a shift towards sustainable living. While the main purpose of solar panels is to generate clean energy, many homeowners are pleasantly discovering an added benefit—solar panels can actually protect their roofs. It’s a pretty big deal, especially for Florida residents who weather strong storms year after year.

How Solar Panels Serve as a Roof’s Shield

Solar panels are not just energy harvesters; they double as protective shields for your roof. In places like Florida, where the sun blazes down fiercely, solar panels take the brunt of these harsh rays. They sit slightly above the roof, allowing a cooling airflow underneath and effectively reducing direct exposure to sunlight. A study by UC San Diego revealed that this setup could reduce indoor temperatures by as much as 35%, a lot like how a shade tree works.

But it’s not just the sun that solar panels guard against. They also act as a barrier against inclement weather. Rain, hail, or even snow—solar panels add an extra layer of defense. It’s added protection that can prolong the life of your roof, saving you from frequent repairs or replacements due to weather damage.

Modern Installation Techniques Ensure Safety

One of the biggest concerns for homeowners is the installation process. Will it damage the roof? Will it cause leaks? Thankfully, with advancements in technology, these concerns are largely unfounded. Installation methods like ballasted racking systems or roof clamps have evolved to be non-intrusive. That means no drilling holes into the roof, so the roof maintains its original integrity. Companies like Solar Bear of Tampa emphasize the importance of professional installation, avoiding any damage that might void your roof’s warranty.

Enhanced Property Value with Solar Panels

Beyond protection, solar panels are a wise investment for your property. As more people lean towards eco-friendly living, having a solar-powered home becomes an attractive selling feature. It’s an upgrade that can significantly increase the value of your property, should you choose to sell in the future. Overall, switching to solar is a forward-thinking choice that benefits both the environment and your wallet.

Ready to Make the Switch?

Investing in solar is a decision that goes beyond contributing to a greener planet—it can even give you a “greener” wallet. Switching to solar is a strategic choice that offers surprising protection for one of the most critical components of your home—the roof. By choosing the right installation partners at Solar Bear of Tampa, you can ensure your roof stays intact, your warranty is preserved, and your property value is enhanced. Call us today at (727) 471-7442 and make a smart investment for the longevity and value of your home!

The most frequently asked question we get is “How much do solar panels cost?” Of course, we understand why home or business owners ask this question as it can be a significant investment to install a solar system.

Unfortunately, this question is not one that we have a one-size-fits-all answer for. To accurately estimate how much a solar system will be, we need to know the site details including the system size, location, equipment, and more.

While we may not be able to outline an exact price for you in this article, our team at Solar Bear Orlando is here to give you some rough estimates for average commercial or residential projects. This can help you budget for a solar panel system this year!

What Factors Impact the Cost of Solar?

First, let’s discuss some of the things that impact the final cost of your solar system in Orlando.

Installation Method

Generally, we install solar panels on roof or ground mounts. We can also install them on carports.

Roof mounts are attached to your roof’s structure and when considering cost, they are generally less expensive than ground-mounted systems or those on carports due to lower labor costs and require fewer components.

Though solar panels can be installed on metal, shingled, or flat roofs, each material requires varying levels of labor and components to install.

Ground mounts and carports can be a great option for businesses or homes that don’t want to install solar on their roofs or don’t have a suitable space on the roof for solar panels. Though these can be installed in areas that will generate the most sunlight, the trade-off is that they generally cost more than roof-mounted systems.

Type of Equipment

Two of the most important variables when it comes to solar panels are:

• Power density: The amount of power that a solar panel can produce per unit. The more power-dense the panel, the higher the cost is per watt.

• Color: Basic panels come with blue cells, white back sheets, and silver frames. Panels with a black frame, black back sheet, or black cells are more expensive.

Solar Inverters

We install two different types of solar inverters:

• String inverters: Link solar panels in one or groups. These are generally more cost-effective than other kinds of inverters.

• Micro inverters: These are installed on individual panels. Though they have many benefits, they are also the most expensive type of inverter.

Energy Consumption

One of the most important things you have to know about the cost of solar for your home boils down to how much energy your household uses.

Bottom line? The higher your electricity bill is, the more solar panels and equipment you’ll need.

Shading

Another aspect that impacts how much your solar system will cost is the amount of shade your system will have. How much energy your panels will get directly correlates to the type of inverter, the size of the panels, and the overall placement of your system, and thus, the cost.

Local Weather Patterns

Of course, living in the Sunshine State has many advantages besides our beautiful beaches. We receive A LOT of sun, which is great for generating solar power.

This can help reduce the cost of your system, as you may not need the number of solar panels someone in a less sunny climate may need. Nice!

This is just an overview of what could impact the cost of your system, there are several other factors at play, so if you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask. For now, let’s move on to some average prices.

The Cost of Solar

So, now that we have gone over some of the factors that play into the cost of solar, let’s take a look at some average prices for commercial and residential customers.

Commercial Systems

The average size of a commercial solar array is between 50 kW and 200 kW a month. The average cost to install a system that will generate enough power for these numbers could be anywhere from $145,000 to $500,000.

Note: This is before grants or tax incentives. When using tax rebates or grants, commercial solar systems could be reduced by 60-90%

Residential Systems

The average size needed to run the average household is between 5 kW and 10 kW a month. Before any tax rebates or incentives, homeowners could look at their solar array costing between $25,000 to $50,000.

Note: If homeowners utilize a 30% federal tax credit, they could pay between $18,000 to $38,000 depending on the size of their system.

Bottom Line

The best way to accurately budget for a solar system installation is to request a hassle-free estimate from our team at Solar Bear Orlando.

When quoting we will walk you through the complete installation cost based on your needs and explain all the incentives available to you so you know what to expect before investing.

Get a Solar Quote

Ready to get started on your solar journey? We’re excited you’re here! Contact our friendly solar pros at Solar Bear Orlando for a quote and let this year be the one where you take the first step toward harnessing the power of Florida’s ample sunshine!

Call us at (727) 471-7442 today!

If you haven’t gone solar in Central Florida yet, what are you waiting for? Florida is the perfect state to harness the power of the sun due to our ample year-round sunshine, and doing so can help curb your carbon emissions over your lifetime.

Still not convinced? Our team at Solar Bear Orlando shares why 2024 is a great time to reap the amazing environmental benefits of going solar.

Let’s get into it!

The Environmental Benefits of Residential Solar

As a clean and renewable energy resource, solar power produces no harmful emissions and has a minimal impact on the environment.

While coal, natural gas, and oil are traditional energy sources that have been used for decades, solar power does not generate any greenhouse gases or pollutants that contribute to climate change and bad health around the world.

Carbon Emissions

Carbon emissions have been a hot topic in the news over the past few years, and for good reason. As these emissions, also known as greenhouse gases, blanket the Earth’s atmosphere, the sun’s heat is trapped within—hence the name “global warming.”

This warming has begun to change weather patterns that disrupt the overall balance of nature.

Solar power produces no carbon emissions, making it one of the cleanest energy sources on the market today.

Energy Independence

Energy independence is one of the main benefits of solar power, not just on the homefront but environmentally. With Florida’s ample sunshine, solar power is a reliable and sustainable source of energy that is not subject to pricing fluctuations that homeowners often experience with traditional energy sources.

Reducing reliance on utility companies and becoming more self-sufficient not only helps Floridians save money but has a far-reaching impact on the environment.

Solar’s Reliability

One of our favorite benefits of solar power is that it is reliable and can provide power during power outages, inclement weather, and emergencies.

On the other hand, traditional energy sources that come from fossil fuels can be interrupted due to weather disasters, supply chain disruptions, and other factors. Solar systems can operate independently of the grid, offering power when other systems fail.

This can be greatly beneficial during hurricane season here in Florida. Depending on the size of your system, you could power your air conditioner, refrigerator, lights, and more if the power is out due to a storm.

The Impact of Manufacturing Solar Panels

While solar panels don’t produce emissions when they are mounted on your roof, they aren’t entirely emission-free over their entire lifetime. They must be manufactured and then recycled at the end of their useful life, and there are some environmental impacts due to these processes.

Generally, the environmental impact of solar power is framed around what’s known as the energy payback time (EPBT). This illustrates how long it takes for solar panels to produce enough clean energy to “payback” the energy and resources needed to manufacture them.

This is calculated based on:

• The productivity of your solar system. Living in a sunny region like Florida, your system will generate more electricity and will have a shorter EPBT.
• The manufacturing process. Some solar cells require more energy to be produced than others. Thin-film modules have a smaller environmental footprint than silicon modules since they use less energy during the manufacturing process.
• Where the panels were manufactured. Solar panels have to be transported from when they were manufactured. If they were built in a different country, they have a higher EPBT since they had to be transported to the United States and then installed.

As we make more strides in the production of more “green” solar panels here in the United States, the EPBT of solar will be much less and therefore will be that much more ecological.

Plus, as recycling processes become more streamlined, we will see more environmentally friendly practices that will further reduce the EPBT.

Go Solar in Central Florida

Ready to take advantage of Florida’s sunshine? We are called the Sunshine State after all! We’d love to assist you on your journey to energy independence by installing a solar system at your Orlando area home. Soon, you’ll be reaping the benefits of producing your household’s energy while making a positive impact on the environment. It’s a win-win!

Contact our friendly team at Solar Bear Orlando at (727) 471-7442 for a solar installation quote today!