Category: Uncategorized

Pros and Cons of Solar Hot Water

If the chill of January has you thinking about installing a new hot water system, why not try a solar water heater? At Solar Bear, our goal is to empower Florida families in their solar journey. 

We’ve compiled a list of pros and cons to assist you in making an educated buying decision when it comes to solar energy. Come on in, the water is warm! 

Though they may be mysterious to most homeowners, a solar water heater system can be a worthwhile investment. At its core, solar heating systems are simply greenhouses for water. Solar panels are used to trap heat that then heats stored water. There are two options for solar hot water systems – active systems that have circulating pumps and controls and passive systems that depend on gravity to facilitate the heating process. 

Whichever system you choose, there are a number of benefits to investing in a solar water heater system. It allows you to create an eco-friendlier lifestyle immediately. With a gas or electric backup system for overcast days, more hot water is heated using 100% renewable energy. As the rise in solar energy popularity continues, homeowners will see an increase in their home’s value as buyers look for more energy-saving home options. And the savings just keep comin’! On average, U.S. households will save 50-80% on their water heating bills after installing a solar water heater system. Homeowners will also be protected should any fuel shortages or soaring energy costs occur in the future. Perhaps the most important savings will be seen in the numerous local and federal government tax credits. Currently, any system that heats water in your home (rather than a pool or hot tub), receives a 26% federal tax credit if installed before the end of 2022. This is an amazing way to offset the initial cost of your system!

Our team at Solar Bear is on a mission to facilitate a thriving quality of life through solar energy for as many families and businesses as possible. But we’re not perfect and neither is solar so for due diligence’s sake, here are some cons to installing a solar water heater system to mull over when making your decision. With any home improvement investment, initial costs and maintenance needs to be considered. In most cases, a solar water heater system will last longer than a traditional system but will need to be maintained by a professional company. It may not be a major factor for sunny Florida but cloudy and overcast conditions will reduce the efficiency on those outlier types of days. And lastly, roof space is a necessity. Though solar hot water panels are smaller than solar electricity panels, you will need to confirm an appropriately sized area on your roof for installation. 

Ready to dive in? Solar Bear can help you create a solar energy plan that works for your family. Sign up for a free estimate today or give us a call at (813) 922-3735 for more information.

Sun Number Meaning: What Is It and How Do You Tell Your Score?

As you and your family make the switch to home solar power, one of the terms you’ll often hear tossed around by solar power aficionados is “sun number.” But what does “sun number” mean, and how does it affect your home’s solar power? At Solar Bear Tampa, we’re here to answer these questions and more, to help you throughout the home solar installation process.

Here’s what your sun number is and how to tell your sun number score. 

What is a sun number? 

Simply put, a sun number is a rating between one and 100 that helps you determine how well-suited your home, or any home for that matter, is suited for solar power. A few factors that affect the strength of your sun number rating include many factors relevant to installing effective solar power systems on your home, such as:

• The average amount of yearly sunlight where you live
• The pitch of your roof and the direction it faces
• How shaded your roof is, or if there are any obstructions to direct sunlight
• Local cost of electricity
• Local cost of solar installation

How do I tell my sun number score? 

Any realtor should be able to give you your home’s sun number score, or you can find it out from your local home solar provider, like Solar Bear Tampa. You can also find it listed along with the rest of your home’s information on sites like Zillow.com. It is usually included with information like how many bedrooms a house might have, which school district your home is zoned for, and all the other pertinent home value details that might affect your home’s overall valuation. 

How does my sun number affect my home’s solar power? 

While having a good sun number certainly doesn’t hurt your home’s potential for installing an effective solar power system, it isn’t the end-all-be-all of solar power. 

We hope that these answers help you better understand how a sun number affects your home solar power solutions, but if you need any further help, call Solar Bear Tampa today to make an appointment with one of our friendly solar experts. 

How Many Solar Panels Does the Average Home Need?

Making the switch to a solar system can help you lower or eliminate your monthly electric bills while also reducing your environmental footprint. However, before you begin installing a solar system, you must first ask a very important question: “How many solar panels does my home need?” 

Of course, to accurately calculate this number, you will need a professional assessment, but you can estimate the size and cost of your system based on your electricity bills, energy needs, and your available roof space. 

Our team at Solar Bear Orlando shows you how. 

Factors That Influence the Number of Solar Panels You Need

To determine how many solar panels that you need to power your home, several factors must be considered. These factors include:

Size of Your Home and Available Roof Space 

Larger houses consume more electricity, so they will generally need more solar panels. However, they also have the roof space that is necessary for larger solar panel installations. Of course, there are exceptions to this rule, for example, a 2,000-square foot home with energy-efficient appliances may consume less power than a home that is 1,200 square feet with older less-efficient appliances. 

Further, your roof conditions might limit the number of solar panels that your home can handle. If you have a chimney, skylights, or other fixtures on your roof, you’ll have to install your panels around these fixtures. Similarly, areas of your roof that are shaded by trees or buildings are not suitable for solar panels. 

Amount of Direct Sunlight in Your Area 

Where more sunlight is available, there is more energy that can be converted into electricity. The yearly output of each solar panel is higher in states like Florida, Arizona, and New Mexico since they get more sunlight than less sunny regions like New England. 

Keep in mind that homes in sunnier climates will generally need fewer solar panels. 

Number of Residents and Amount of Energy Usage 

Households with more family members normally use more electricity, and this means that these households will likely need more solar panels to optimize their solar energy production. 

Energy usage is one of the most important factors to determine how many solar panels you will need. If your home uses around 13,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity per year and you want to go 100% solar, you must install a system that can generate that amount of power. 

Type of Solar Panel and Efficiency Rating 

High-efficiency solar panels create more watts of energy per square foot, which means that you will need to install fewer solar panels to reach your energy goals. In general, monocrystalline, and polycrystalline panels are the most efficient and have higher efficiency ratings than thin-film panels. 

Read More> Types of Solar Panels Compared

Estimating How Many Solar Panels You Need 

So, based on the above factors, how many solar panels does the average home need? Without a professional assessment, you will need to figure out two basic things: how much energy you use, and how much energy your panels will produce. 

The average American household uses around 10,649 kWh of energy each year. However, this number will vary depending on the state. 

• Homes in Louisiana have the highest average consumption at 14,787 kWh a year. 
• Homes in Hawaii have the lowest average consumption at 6, 298 kWh a year. 

To estimate how much energy your house uses annually, add up the kWh reported on your last 12 power bills. These numbers will fluctuate throughout the year. 

Solar Panel Specific Yield 

After you determine how many kWh of electricity that your home uses annually, you need to figure out how many kWh are produced by each solar panel during a year. This varies by type of solar panel, roof condition, and peak sunlight hours. 

To estimate how many kW is needed to power your house, divide your annual kWh consumption by the specific yield of solar capacity. 

For example: Say your home needs 15,000 kWh of energy in a year, and the solar panels you are interested in have a specific yield of 1,500 kWh in your location, you will need a solar system with a size of around 10 kilowatts. 

Ok, So How Many Solar Panels Do I Need? 

Once you know the system size that you need, you can check your solar panel wattage to figure out how many panels to purchase for your solar panel system. To do so, multiply your solar system’s size by 1,000 to obtain watts, then divide by the wattage of each solar panel. 

Most high-quality solar panels have an output of 330W to 360W, but less efficient panels can be as low as 250W. 

So, if you need a 10-kW solar installation and your solar panels have an output of 340W, you’ll need 30 panels. This calculator looks like this: 10,000W/340W = 29.4 panels. 

Harness the Sun with Solar Bear 

Ready to install a solar system on your roof? Our team at Solar Bear can help! We can calculate how many panels you need to power your home so you can gain energy independence. 

Gain more energy freedom! Get a no-hassle quote for a solar array from Solar Bear Orlando today—407-904-7585! 

Solar Panels and EV Stations – What You Should Know

Solar-powered vehicles have grown in popularity over the years, and for good reason—they are environmentally friendly and can save you a ton of money on fuel costs. As car manufacturers continue to increase their electric vehicle offerings, homeowners are looking for sustainable ways to power those vehicles. That’s where an at-home solar-powered charging station comes in! 

Here’s what you should know if you plan to power your EV from solar power at home! 

How Much Power Does an Electric Vehicle Use? 

The amount of power that you will need for your EV depends on several variables including:

• The type of EV you drive
• How often and how far you drive
• The battery system that you incorporate into your solar system 

Since electric vehicles don’t rely on gasoline to drive, they are rated by the EPA on the number of kilowatt-hours (kWh) that it takes for them to drive 100 miles. So, if you have a 2020 Tesla Model 3 Long Range EV, it requires 26 kWh to drive 100 miles. The EPA converts this rating into miles per gallon equivalent (MPGe) to help drivers determine the most energy-efficient option for them. 

Keep Reading> How Electric Vehicle Owners Are Saving with Solar 

How Many Solar Panels Do You Need to Power an Electric Vehicle? 

The number of solar panels that you will need to power your EV will vary and depends on how much you drive on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. If you have a long commute to work, you will need a much larger solar panel installation than someone with a short commute or limited mileage requirements. 

To calculate the number of solar panels that you may need, the first step is to figure out how much energy your electric vehicle requires per day. 

Consider this equation: 

Electric vehicle MPGe (kWh/100 miles) x Daily mileage / 100 

So based on this equation, let’s imagine that a family drives about 600 miles a month, or around 20 miles a day. The Tesla Model 3 requires about 26 kWh for every 100 miles. So based on this equation:

26 kWh /100 miles x 20 miles/ day /100 = 5.2 kWh a day 

If your solar system receives around 5 hours of direct sunlight a day, you could produce around 1.5 kWh per day. So, you would need a least four 290-watt solar panels to produce the power that you need to power your EV from home. But remember, the more you drive, the more you’ll need!

What Equipment Do You Need to Charge an EV?

It’s wise to remember that the solar panels that are needed to power your EV are in addition to the ones that are used for your home’s energy requirements. So, you will likely need to increase your solar PV array to accommodate your EV. 

To power your EV, you will need: 

Battery Storage 

Besides your solar panels, you will need a way to store the power that is produced by your panels. This is necessary because most people rely on charging their EV overnight when the sun isn’t shining. The good news is that there are plenty of home battery storage options on the market today that can store as much energy to meet your daily mileage requirements and more. 

Charging Station 

You will also need a charging station, which will usually be in your garage or driveway, where you will plug in your EV to get a charge. We like to recommend level 2 chargers as they offer faster charging times. 

Learn More> Benefits of Adding Solar to Your Home Remodel 

Get Powered with Solar Bear Orlando 

Easily power your electric vehicle at home by installing an EV charging station in your carport or garage! Our team at Solar Bear can help you decide how many panels you need and how to harness the optimal amount of sun to power your EV! 

Ready to get started? Call our team at Solar Bear Orlando today for a no-hassle quote—407-904-7585!