Solar Power Basics

How do solar panels work?

Solar panels collect sunlight in photovoltaic cells. This solar energy collected by the cells activates electrons in the cell's semiconductor material, which produces an electric current, aka electricity. This electricity is then fed back into the energy grid in a process known as net metering.

How Do Solar Panels Save Money?

Energy generated by solar panels is fed back into the energy grid, and each watt fed back into the grid is deducted from your energy meter's usage. The more energy you feed back into the grid, the more you save. You can even get paid money if you put more back into the grid than you consume.

Do Solar Panels Go Bad?

Like many technologies, solar panels can lose effeciency over time and are recommended to be replaced every 25-30 years. Since this is a similar lifespan to roofing materials, some homeowners opt to do roof and solar upgrades at the same time. The average time for a solar system to pay for itself is about 10 years, which means your panels can pay for themselves several times over.

Are Solar Panels Effective on Cloudy Days?

Yes, solar panels still generate electricity on cloudy days, although at a lower rate than on sunny days. They can produce about 30% of their capacity, depending on the cloud cover.

Solar Power Financing

How Much Can I Save with Solar Panels?

Savings vary based on energy usage, solar panel system size, and local sun exposure. On average, homeowners can expect to save between $30,000 and $90,000 over the lifetime of their system.

How much do I need for a down payment

Qualified owners can get started with solar for as little as $0 down. Contact us to see if you qualify.

How long are financing terms?

Solar financing terms are quite flexible. Like any financing, the greater percentage of the cost that you pay in cash, the cheaper the financing costs overall. The good news is that even with heavy financing, tax credits and incentives help offset and reduce the cost of solar installation.

What Incentives are Available for Solar Panel Installation?

Various incentives, including federal tax credits and local rebates, can reduce the cost of solar panel installations. The Investment Tax Credit (ITC) is a national tax credit that applies to most new residential solar installations. The ITC has a base 30% tax credit that can go as high as 50%, depending on qualifying terms. Contact us for more information on credits available in your specific area -- Florida has great local rebates depending on your location.

Solar Power Installation

Are solar panels safe?

Yes! Solar panels are completely safe, both for you and your home. Solar panels are low voltage and insulated to ensure they are safe to be around and to the touch. All of the materials used in our solar panels and installation fixtures has undergone rigorous safety testing, and we design our systems with safety and reliability in mind.

Is there a minimum house size needed for solar installation?

While there is no minimum size needed for a solar installation, we recommend a house size minimum of roughly 800 square feet in order for costs of the system to provide tangible benefits.

Can solar panels be re-installed or moved?

Yes, but we do not recommend it -- uninstalling solar panels is costly, decreases home value, and can expose your roof to increased weather damage where the install was located previously.

How long does it take to install solar panels?

Solar installation can take from several weeks to several months, depending on multiple factors such as municipality and installers' availability. We keep track of our customers' solar permits and work with multiple installation teams to ensure that you never have to wait too long for installation.