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Are you getting your heart (and bank account) broken by Florida Power & Light (FPL)? Installing a solar power system could be the sign you’ve been waiting for. Solar Bear of Tampa explains what going solar could mean for FPL customers and how to get started.

Breaking up is never easy. Just ask Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt. But, if you are tired of depending on one of Florida’s utility giants, consider adding a solar power system to your home. To get started, have our team perform a complimentary energy audit that will assess your home and its electrical needs. We will also review additional variables like your monthly electricity usage, shading or other obstacles, roof direction, and location so we can determine the best solar panel setup for your home. Once setup and installation are complete, you are on your way to a bevy of financial incentives.

FPL offers a full retail net metering program for those that add solar to their home through a grid-tied system. After applying for this program and receiving approval, FPL will install a bi-directional meter at your home. This meter will track the electricity sent and taken from the grid. Any excess electricity will be sold to FPL’s grid and either deducted from your monthly bill or credited toward a future bill. In this program, every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of solar energy produced is worth the same amount that a utility company charges for electricity. For example, if FPL charges $0.05 per kWh for electricity, then every kWh of solar energy produced is also $0.05. While it is true that you can be paid by FPL for solar energy, it is important to note that the amount will not cover the entire electric bill. There is a $25 minimum bill requirement that cannot be offset, no matter how much solar energy was produced.

And if you really want to start the new year off with a bang, check out the annual true-up held every January. FPL’s net metering program examines and adjusts for differences between estimated and actual solar consumption and production. If you are carrying excess net metering credits at the time of the true-up, FPL will pay you roughly the average annual cost of generation per kWh before resetting the credit bank.

Don’t hide that FPL piggy bank just yet, your savings just started! If you are interested in learning more about solar energy for your home, speak with our team of experts at Solar Bear of Tampa. Call us at (727) 741-7442 or schedule your free estimate online today.

Most people who invest in solar panels do it for lower energy bills. It’s true that simply owning solar panels can save you money, but did you know that your actions could save you even more? Your pals at Solar Bear Dallas are here with a few tips and tricks for maximizing your solar savings.

Evaluate Your Current Energy Usage

The first thing you should do is hire a specialist to visit your home and evaluate your current energy usage. They’ll be able to tell you where you’re spending the most energy, how many solar panels you’ll need to make up for it, and ways to cut back on your usage. Gathering this vital information will help you save so much more when using solar energy.

Invest In an Energy Storage Bank or Battery

Getting a battery pack or any kind of energy storage unit is practically essential when it comes to making the most out of your solar panels. Any solar energy that is gathered but not currently being used can be stored away for later so nothing goes to waste.

Prioritize Daytime Energy Usage

Whenever possible, try to use your appliances during the day when your solar panels are in direct contact with the sun. This will save you from wear and tear on your battery after sundown when your solar panels are not active.

Use Your Appliances Responsibly

Home appliances take a great deal of energy, and running multiple machines at once can take a toll on your whole system. Make it a point to decrease the number of times you use each appliance and only run one machine at any given time.

Clean Your Solar Panels Regularly

Many homeowners make the mistake of believing that you can set and forget solar panels and expect them to work the same as they did when they were brand new. Being on the roof, solar panels are very likely to collect dust over time which can affect how well they collect solar energy. If your panels aren’t able to see the sun, it only makes sense that they won’t be able to gather a decent amount of UV rays.

Get Your Solar Panels Checked Annually

For the most part, solar panels require minimal maintenance. However, it’s still a good idea to get them checked at least once a year in case any repairs need to be made. Sometimes, you won’t know that your panels aren’t working at max capacity unless you get an expert to look into them.

Prevent Air Leaks with Good Insulation

No matter how great your solar panels are, having a poorly-insulated home can still cause your AC to work overtime and use up more of your solar energy than what’s needed. Spray foam insulation provides the best seal to prevent air leaks into your home.

Call Solar Bear Dallas Today!

Ready to start saving money with solar panels? Call Solar Bear Dallas at (727) 471-7442 for a free quote on the best solar panels in the area! We’ll make sure your home is equipped with the most optimal setup so you can reap the benefits.

If you are interested in taking advantage of all the sun that Florida has to offer, solar panels may be the right solution for you. Home improvements almost always mean increased property value but when it comes to solar panels, could they increase your property taxes too? Solar Bear of Tampa gets to the bottom of this burning question below.

The rising popularity of solar energy has led to amazing financial incentives across Florida. This increase in usage has led to exemptions like not paying sales tax on solar purchases through the Solar and CHP Sales Tax Exemption and providing 100% property tax exemptions for residential solar panels by the Property Tax Exclusion for Residential Renewable Energy Property exemption. This rule allows county tax collectors to overlook a home’s solar system when assessing value. So, even though your home value may increase, you will not pay any additional property taxes. These statewide incentives are chiefly appealing to solar seekers who would be subject to sales and property taxes on any other home improvement investments.

Another exciting tax exemption to take advantage of is the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC). Created in 2006, it has created clean energy and saved homeowners thousands of dollars. Currently, the tax credit is 30% of your total project costs (ex: permits, installation, and equipment) and can be claimed as a credit on your federal tax return for the current year. It’s important to note that this incentive is only available if you own the system, not through a lease, so that’s even more reasons to begin your solar journey now and lock in this amazing current rate!

There are also several other programs, like net metering, which can save additional dollars when you add solar energy to your home. Our energy experts can assist with any financial questions while we customize a solar installation that works for you. Call Solar Bear of Tampa at (727) 471-7442 or request a free estimate today.

If you live in an area that sees its fair share of rainy weather, you may be concerned as to whether or not installing solar panels is a bad idea. Being placed on your roof, it would be the first thing that gets exposed to rainfall and the idea of circuitry taking in that water is an alarming thought. Not to worry! The experts at Solar Bear Dallas will teach you what happens with solar panels in the presence of heavy rain.

The Water-Resistant Properties of Solar Panels

It doesn’t take a genius to realize that rooftop solar panels would be exposed to rainfall. That’s why they were designed to be waterproof! At least, that’s the intention. In the end, the true water-resistant effectiveness of a solar panel has to do with the quality of the panel itself. Panels that are cheaply made may come with gaps between the frame and the screen which is all you need for any bit of water to find its way in. Once the water reaches the inner circuitry, it could short out your entire system. As long as you go with the best solar panels in your area, your setup should have a high enough integrity to repel any amount of rain.

Some tips that can help prevent water damage include angling your panels so that the rain pours down the side inside of pooling up at the top and using solar trackers to ensure that the panel moves around to avoid any still water lingering on the panel. And since sealant wears off over time, it’s a good idea to have your solar panels checked every so often. An aged sealant that has worn off over time can also lead to water seeping through unprotected gaps left behind after degradation.

Solar Panels Against Hailstorms

Some storms with heavy rain are sometimes followed by strings of hail which is known to cause damage to glass such as windshields. If this is the case, then are solar panels just as likely to witness some cracks from a direct impact? Again, if the solar panel is poorly made, then you will definitely notice signs of damage after a heavy hailstorm. However, a quality solar panel setup will be able to handle debris without falling apart under pressure.

The Effectiveness of Solar Panels in the Rain

In the middle of a rainstorm, your panels may not generate as much solar power because the sky will likely be too cloudy to have adequate exposure to the sun. Plus, freshwater droplets may get in the way and make it difficult for the panel to fully absorb the light at max capacity. However, one upside to rainfall is that as long as your solar panel is good enough quality to handle exposure to water, heavy rain will rinse your panels free of dust so that they can absorb light at their fullest potential again.

The Best Waterproof Solar Panels in Texas

At Solar Bear Dallas, we are proud to announce that our solar panels are of the best quality which means that they are also very much waterproof in the event of the occasional rain or heavy storms. Give us a call today at (727) 471-7442 for more information and to ask for a free estimate!