More Americans than ever before are discovering the benefits of residential solar panels. Fewer than 2% of homes across the United States have solar panels today, but solar capacity is projected to grow significantly thanks to an abundance of sunshine, falling panel prices, and favorable policies. Here are several factors that you should know to determine whether your home is a good fit for a solar panel installation: - Shade is one of the most common - For rooftop systems, your roof must be in good condition. It is ideal but not necessarily required for your home to have south or west exposure. Solar can be mounted on all roof materials. - Depending on the residential property, ground mount systems and solar carports may be good alternatives if rooftop solar is not feasible. - The economics of solar generally make sense only if you are planning to stay in your home for at least 2 years. If you are planning to move soon, consider waiting to install solar on your new home! - If you are building a home, it’s less expensive to incorporate solar into your plans from the beginning. We will work with your developer to ensure the process is efficient and seamless for you.

The upfront cost of a commercial solar panel system, including equipment costs and installation, may appear to be a significant investment. Keep in mind that there are multiple government incentives, such as the 26% federal investment tax credit (ITC) and local rebates, that can lower the initial investment outlay. There are many post-installation factors that lower your overall cost of ownership, generate a positive return on investment, and produce significant long-term upside: - Ongoing monthly energy savings - Utility net metering programs that buy back excess energy you generate and push back to the grid - Power price stability protects your business against rising energy prices in the future and utility electric rate increases - Increased value of your property should you decide to sell with no impact on your property taxes As an example, a commercial solar system that costs $80,000 will be eligible for a $20,800 tax credit. Bonus depreciation can lower the cost by an additional $20,000. If that system saves $5,500 in energy costs each year (plus 2% annual inflation in the utility electric rate), it will pay back in just over 6 years and generate a 14% internal rate of return (IRR). For certain systems and financing solutions, it is possible to go solar with a positive cash flow from day one.

No matter who installed it, or what model it is – Florida Electric and Solar can maintain, repair and upgrade any system for maximum energy production and efficiency: - All Solar PV makes, and models - Complete Diagnostics - Expert Solar Panel Repair - Ongoing Solar Panel Maintenance - System Updates & Monitoring