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When people look into solar panel installation for the first time, one of the most frequent questions is about property taxes. It comes as no surprise that having solar panels can greatly increase the value of any home, but does that also mean you’ll be seeing similar inflation when it comes to taxes? Solar Bear Dallas breaks down everything there is to know about solar panel incentives in Texas.

How Solar Panels Increase a Property’s Value

Because Texas is home to the highest energy users in the country, home buyers will jump at the chance to own a house that comes with solar panels pre-installed. Why? For immediate savings on their electric bill, of course. This phenomenon has led to a drastic increase in property value for any building equipped with solar panels with up to three dollars more per wattage with a total of over $20,000 altogether. For these reasons, solar-powered homes tend to sell much faster than houses without them. But the big question is how solar panels affect property taxes, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the answer.

The Texas Property Tax Code Explained

Thanks to the Texas Property Tax Code, you can get a full exemption on the property value that solar panels add to your home. This means that whenever your home’s value is evaluated for tax calculations, the cost of your solar panels will not be included, which can lead to a great deal of savings over time. If your solar panel installation increases your property value from $210,000 to $235,000, your taxes will only account for the $210,000, almost as if you don’t have solar in the first place. This is just one of the many ways that Texas officials are combatting the overall cost of the state’s high energy usage.

Additional Solar Incentives in Texas

The Texas Property Tax Code isn’t the only incentive for solar panel owners in Texas. As the benefits of solar panels become increasingly recognized, those with the power to do so will do what they can to entice the average homeowner to get them installed in hopes of them becoming more standardized for a greener climate.

Federal Solar Tax Credit

Until December 2022, you can get 26% of your solar panel installation cost deducted from the final price. Depending on the specifics of your particular installation, you could be seeing an average savings of around four thousand dollars! After December 2022 (and until December 2023), this percentage will decrease to 22%, so it’s better to get it done sooner than later.

Local Utility Company Solar Rebates

Depending on who you go through, some companies will offer rebates on the total cost of your solar panels. Each company is different, so it pays to seek out an expert’s help in finding you the best deals in your area.

Let Solar Bear Dallas Upgrade Your Home with Solar!

If you want to maximize your solar panel savings but are overwhelmed at all of the different programs and possibilities, let Solar Bear Dallas lend you a helping hand! We can equip your property with the best solar setup for you and we’ll make sure that you get all of the incentives that you deserve for playing your part in a greener environment. Call us today at (727) 471-7442 for a free estimate!

You can probably infer from the name itself that bifacial solar panels are built with two faces. But why are some panels designed this way, and how do they work any differently from traditional mono-facial solar panels? The experts at Solar Bear Houston are here to inform you about everything you need to know about bifacial solar panels.

The Structure of a Bifacial Solar Panel

On a traditional solar panel, the solar-collecting modules are located on one side of the panel. The major difference with bifacial solar panels is that these modules are found on both sides of the panel so they can continuously collect energy, no matter the orientation of the sun. Since both sides are heavily subjected to UV rays, they are built to be more durable and longer-lasting. They come in a variety of styles so that you can build your ideal setup for the best solar experience. You can get them either framed or frameless, and you can choose between a dual-glass composition or one with clear back sheets. But no matter what you go with, bifacial solar panels in general are incredibly beneficial in a number of ways.

The Solar Energy-Generating Benefits

The efficiency of your bifacial solar panels is heavily dependent on the backdrop. This is because any light that reaches the ground bounces back up onto the opposite side of the solar panel. In that case, having a light or dark rooftop can make or break your energy-collecting capability. Regardless, your bifacial solar panels will be able to capture more light than traditional mono-facial solar panels. If you set up your bifacial panel to be completely vertical, it will be able to capture the sun’s rays during both sunrise and sunset, as opposed to only one or the other.

Do I Need Bifacial Solar Panels?

While bifacial solar panels sound like they only have a good handful of pros with absolutely zero cons, they’re the most ideal for commercial use. This is because bifacial solar panels generate a great deal of energy that only high-output buildings can handle. Plus, bifacial solar panels are typically installed aboveground, and commercial buildings are more likely to have the extra space for them. Most homeowners go with mono-facial solar panels with roof installation so they can still use their yards and maintain the curb appeal of their properties. Still, if you were looking into bifacial solar panels for your residential home, it’s not entirely out of the question. A professional solar panel expert, like the ones at Solar Bear Houston, will be able to evaluate your home and show you the best places to install your panels. They will also make recommendations as to which kind of solar panels will benefit you most based on your specific home needs.

Where to Get Bifacial Solar Panels in Texas

You don’t need to be an expert on solar panels in order to achieve a decent setup. If you live in Texas, you have professional contractors right next door! Solar Bear Houston is staffed by only the best contractors in the area with the highest-quality solar panels at an affordable price. Call (727) 471-7442 today to be greeted by our friendly staff and receive a free quote!

If you live in the Greater Orlando area, you likely have Florida Power & Light as your utility provider. As utility companies around Florida struggle to deal with the increased costs of natural gas, you may notice that your FPL bill is higher than normal.

What can you do? Our team at Solar Bear Orlando explains why energy costs are so high and what you can do to combat them!

Why is My Energy Bill So High?

There are many reasons why electric bills are on the rise these days. We are still dealing with supply chain issues that began during the pandemic, geopolitical conflicts that are affecting prices, and extreme weather events, like Hurricane Ian, which are becoming more frequent. All have an impact on your energy bill, whether with an increased price or increased consumption.

Like many industries, energy companies are struggling to source materials and the labor necessary to meet demands, therefore they are pushing up prices.

But there is another unexpected reason for these higher electricity bills—higher rates from extra consumption. It’s simple. The more electricity you use, the more you will pay for your electricity usage. Makes sense, right? So, if your energy costs are twice as high as usual, it isn’t simply that you used twice as much electricity. It is more likely that your utility company is charging you more per kilowatt hour than the extra energy you are using beyond your typical base rate.

Utility Company Petitions

In early September 2022, Florida Power & Light, Tampa Electric Co. (TECO), and Duke Energy Florida, filed petitions to raise energy prices at the state Public Service Commission. If these petitions are passed, customers throughout Florida will see higher bills starting in January 2023.

Of the proposed increases for 2023, it is estimated that customers who use 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity will see a 13% increase. That would make a monthly bill from FPL increase from $120.67 to $130.23.

While future rates could change depending on the costs of fossil fuel, FPL estimates that based on 1,000 kilowatt houses a month of usage that average bills will be:

• $117.92 in 2023
• $118.12 in 2024
• $118.38 in 2025

What You Can Do

Though there aren’t many consumers can do about these rising prices, there are a few things that they can do around the house to adjust. Of course, we recommend installing a solar panel system to offset these rising costs!

Why? Because if you are stuck using only grid-supplied power, there is nothing you can do to lower your rates. So, you are left with trying to change your thermostat habits, or unplugging appliances to help offset energy costs.

But if you install solar panels, you can lower your electric bill significantly, especially if you take advantage of net metering.

Essentially, the idea is that the power you generate with your solar panels will replace or offset the power that you need to buy from FPL. If you break down the monthly costs of your solar panels and compare that to how much power they produce, the cost per kWh for electricity from your solar system is lower than the electricity rates from your utility company.

Further Electricity Savings Tips

Here are a few more tips to help you save on energy costs when you install a solar panel system.

#1. Use Less Electricity

The less energy you use overall, the more likely it is that you can depend more on your solar panels and not your utility. Go room by room and find ways to be more energy efficient. This could mean:

• Upgrading to Energy Star appliances
• Running your HVAC less or turning up the thermostat
• Replacing traditional light bulbs with LEDs
• Unplugging small appliances when you aren’t using them
• Running only full loads of dirty dishes or clothing
• Using heavy curtains to block the sun
• Keeping your fridge three-quarters full
• Turning down your water heater to 120° F

#2. Battery Storage

You can also invest in solar battery storage, which will store any excess electricity that your panels generate that isn’t used immediately by your home. Then, if there is a cloudy day, you can use the reserved power instead of using power from the grid.

#3. Sign Up for Net Metering

Net metering allows you to take the excess electricity from your solar panels and add it to the grid. You then will receive a credit from your utility company for the extra electricity, which can in turn lower your monthly electricity payments.

#4. Optimize Time-of-Use

A time-of-use plan means that you will get lower rates if you use energy in off-peak hours.

You can:

• Run devices that use ample energy, like washing machines during non-peak hours.
• Invest in a smart thermostat that allows you to set specific times to run your air.
• Turn off unnecessary power during peak hours.
• Charge your electric vehicle in non-peak hours.

Peak and off-peak hours will vary based on where you live, the season, your electrical company, and other factors. Peak hours are usually when electricity demand is at its highest, and off-peak is when it is at its lowest.

Related > Top Cities for Solar Energy in Florida

Save With Solar

Combat rising energy costs by going solar! Our team at Solar Bear Orlando is ready to help you decide the best system for you so you can gain energy independence today.

Ready to get started? Call Solar Bear Orlando today at (727) 471-7442!

To some, going solar means going off the grid entirely. But did you know that grid-tied solar power setups are the most common panel system in the United States? These systems are connected to the grid and can work without a battery. Solar Bear of Tampa takes a closer look at how grid-tied solar systems work together to produce a magnificent product (solar energy, we’re lookin’ at you).

A grid-tied system consists of solar panels that generate electricity from the sun’s rays. Any excess power from the system can be exported to the utility grid while simultaneously earning homeowners’ credits towards their monthly bills through net metering. Seasons are a great example of the ebb and flow of a grid-tied solar system. During the summer, a large portion of excess solar power can be generated. This excess will be sent to the grid and in exchange provides the homeowner with net metering credits that can be carried over and used during the winter when sunlight might be harder to come by.

These systems are similar to others that use photovoltaic (PV) panels to convert sunlight into usable electricity for homeowner needs. They are either installed on the roof or as a ground mount system in an area that receives ample sun exposure. However, there are some differences when it comes to grid-tied systems. They do require an inverter in order to communicate with the grid. This technology allows the home to not only import power from the utility but also export it. Most of these systems don’t require battery storage, making installation easier and more cost-effective. It’s important to note that because there is no battery storage, grid-tied solar systems will provide no backup power should an outage occur. This switch-off is for the safety of utility workers who may be working on utility lines to restore power.

If you are curious about adding a grid-tied solar system to your home, contact the Solar Bear of Tampa team at (727) 471-7442 for more information or get your free estimate here.