Solar panel systems capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity. If you’re thinking about installing solar panels for your home near The Villages or North Central Florida, there are a few helpful facts that can help you determine if solar power is right for you. Contrary to popular belief, solar energy can be harnessed to power your household nearly anywhere in the United States, and solar panels can be installed on your roof or the ground near your home.

Home solar panels create an eco-friendly and inexhaustible source of energy due to their ability to convert sunlight into power. During the day, solar cells inside of the panels absorb the sun’s energy as they are exposed to the light. Inside of the cells are circuits which convert the collected energy into direct current electricity. Finally, because most homes run on an alternating current, the direct current is sent through an inverter which transforms the power to an alternating current. At this point, your house can be powered by the electricity created from the collected solar energy.

It is becoming increasingly popular to install solar power systems in The Villages to provide solar light, electricity, and hot water to homes. Solar panels for your home utilize alternative energy that can power solar lights, solar hot water systems, solar pool heaters, and solar fans. A solar power system can make your home more energy-efficient and can significantly decrease your heating and cooling costs.

Solar panels require little maintenance once they are installed in your home. Your solar panels are designed to be durable and weather-resistant. Solar power also offers energy security and energy reliability. You can always guarantee that you will have solar energy, regardless of whether your electrical grid is operating. You will also never have to worry that a company will turn solar energy into a monopoly.

Solar Electric Power
Solar power systems create clean energy that does not contribute to global warming. Solar panel installation combats greenhouse gas emissions, and decreases the world’s dependence upon fossil fuels like coal and natural gas. Unlike fossil fuels, solar energy is a renewable resource that cannot be depleted.

As you start learning more about solar panel installation near The Villages or North Central Florida , you might come across a number of myths about solar power. There is a lot of misinformation on the internet about alternative energy systems and solar panels for homes. Here is a look at some common myths about solar power that have been debunked.

Myth: Solar Panels Don’t Work in Cloudy or Foggy Regions
Many people believe that if they live in a region that is often cloudy or foggy, there isn’t any benefit to a solar panel installation. In fact, solar panels still work very efficiently in overcast areas, and can produce a significant amount of solar energy. Solar panels for homes in foggy or cloudy regions only produce 1% less solar energy than solar power systems in hot, sunny regions. Solar power systems are also much more efficient in cooler temperatures.

Myth: Solar Power Systems Require a Lot of Maintenance
One of the biggest myths about solar panel installation is that solar panels require a lot of maintenance. Solar panels have no moving parts, and thus do not require regular care or maintenance. Once you undergo solar panel installation, you won’t need to repair or replace solar panels for a very long time. At most, you will simply need to hose off the solar panels every year to remove dust or dirt. Many modern solar power systems are equipped with sensors and monitoring software that notify you of any drops in solar energy or efficiency. Solar energy drops are typically due to a large piece of debris blocking the solar panels.

Myth: Solar Panel Installation Will Damage Your Roof
Solar panel installation will not cause any damage to your home’s roof. In fact, solar panels can even protect the portions of your roof that they cover. In general, solar panels are not attached to the actual roof, but are instead mounted to a railing on top of the roof. The solar panels can be removed if your roof needs to be repaired.

When you install a solar pool heater near Claremont, Leesburg, or North Central Florida , you can use your pool comfortably all year long. Solar water heating for your pool is much less expensive, more energy-efficient, and more environmentally friendly than other pool heating systems. Here are the answers to some common consumer questions about solar pool heating systems.

How do Solar Pool Heating Systems Work?
A solar pool heater pumps water from your pool into specialized solar tubes. These solar tubes heat the water using clean, alternative solar energy collected from the heat from the sun. This warm water is then pumped back into the pool to heat the pool. In the hottest months of the summer, a solar pool heating system can even cool the water in your pool. You can set the solar heater’s control unit to the desired water temperature that you want for your pool. The solar power system’s sensors then detect changes in solar energy, activating the solar pool heater when conditions are optimal for heating the pool’s water.

What are the Benefits of a Solar Pool Heater?
A solar pool heater keeps your pool’s water at a comfortable temperature year-round. This means that you and your family can enjoy your pool more often and during months that it would normally be too cold to swim. Solar pool heating is also a less expensive initial investment than an electric or gas pool heater. Once your solar pool heating system is installed, you will be receiving free solar energy and solar power from the sun.

Do Solar Pool Heaters Require Special Maintenance?
Once your solar pool heating system is installed, it won’t require any special maintenance. You have the option of turning the solar heater off when you don’t want to use it, and with an automatic draining system there is no need to shut off and drain the solar panels and solar tubes in the winter to protect them from freezing. A solar pool heating system can last for 15 to 20 years, and some even last for more than 20 years.

When you install solar panels for your home near The Villages and North Central Florida, you become a part of a renewable energy system that will afford you numerous benefits. Solar power is a form of alternative energy that is eco-friendly, much less expensive than traditional electricity, and requires less maintenance and upkeep. Here is some valuable information that Florida residents need to know about solar power systems.

Switching to Solar is Easy with a Solar Energy Strategy
While you’ll have a multitude of options to choose from when developing a solar power system for your home, your decisions will be easier once you create a solar energy strategy. Your strategy will depend upon the size of your home, your overall lifestyle, and the equipment and appliances that you can power using solar energy. The size and type of solar power system that you install will also depend upon whether you own your home, how long you plan on staying in it, what your budget is, and what your financial plan is for your future.

Florida Offers Amazing Solar Power Incentives
The utility companies in Florida have determined that it is in their best interests to help homeowners utilize solar power rather than paying the fees necessary for not generating enough renewable energy. Homeowners are eligible for solar energy rebates when they choose to install solar panel systems in their homes. These rebates may reduce the initial cost of installing solar panels in the home, or it may be payable in installments after a solar system installation. You are also eligible for the federal government’s 30% solar tax credit after installing a solar panel system.

Florida’s Solar Power Policies Simplify Solar Power Systems
Florida has the nation’s 25 ^th highest electricity prices, which gives homeowners a huge incentive to switch to an alternative energy system like solar energy. The state also has the nation’s 25 ^th best solar performance payments. Solar performance payments reward homeowners for the renewable energy that their solar panels produce on an ongoing basis.

Deciding to install a solar power system in Ocala or North Central Florida for your home may be the best decision you’ve ever made. Solar panels for your home operate on renewable energy, and will afford you and your family a number of amazing benefits. Here is a look at just a few of the biggest benefits of switching to solar energy.

Solar Rebates and Tax Incentives
The federal and state government offer solar rebates and tax incentives to homeowners who decide to install solar panels on their homes. Utility companies offer solar rebates to homeowners, as they would rather help homeowners switch to solar energy than pay enormous fees for not producing enough renewable energy themselves. These rebates are either available up front to help you pay for the cost of installing solar panels, or they will be paid in installments after installation. The state and Federal government also offer tax incentives for using solar energy. The state offers property tax exemptions for homeowners whose homes’ values have increased due to installing solar panels. The Federal government offers a 30% tax credit to homeowners who switch to solar power.

Fixed Electricity Rates
Many people don’t realize that their utility rates can fluctuate over time. Utility companies aren’t held to a fixed rate when charging customers for electricity, water, or gas. When you install solar panels, you are effectively fixing your electricity rates for the entire time that you rely on solar energy. If you’re on a fixed income or need to stick to a strict budget, a constant, unchanging electricity rate is incredibly valuable.

Eco-Friendly Alternative Energy
Generating clean energy via solar panels is much better for the environment than burning fossil fuels. Solar power produces 96-98% less greenhouse gases than electricity that is generated from coal. Solar power also requires 86-89% less water, occupies more than 80% less land, is 95% less toxic, contributes 92-97% less to acid rain, and proves 98% less of a threat to marine animal life. Of all of the forms of renewable energy available today, solar energy has the least environmental impact.

When you install solar pool heating in Clermont or North Central Florida , you have the opportunity to take advantage of all of the benefits of solar energy. Swimming pools can dramatically increase your utility bills, particularly your electricity or gas bills if you have a hot tub or heated pool. Solar pool heaters will reduce your energy bills, and extend the amount of time that you have to enjoy your pool.

Solar pool heaters use renewable energy to maintain a comfortable water temperature year-round. When you maintain your solar pool heating system, you will ensure that it lasts as long as possible. It will also add value to your home if you decide to sell.

To maximize the solar power of your solar pool heater, you should cover your pool at night during the winter months with an insulating cover. This will hold the pool’s heat in and make your solar pool heater even more energy efficient. During the hottest months of the year and the sunniest parts of the day, you can run your solar pool heater to cool your pool down if needed, and enjoy year-round comfort in your pool.

Switching to solar power can make a major difference for you and your community alike. Solar energy is the cleanest and most environmentally friendly energy source on Earth, and it’s also one of the most cost-effective ways to obtain your energy. However, the advantages of solar power go beyond saving money. Here are a few of the potential benefits of getting your power from solar-powered clean energy in The Villages.

Lower environmental impact.
Unlike fossil fuels, the energy from solar panels does not create emissions that can harm the environment. With an ever-growing number of Americans becoming concerned about the importance of reducing their carbon footprints and working towards a healthier, more sustainable future, there has never been a more appropriate time to make the switch to all-solar energy.

Greater energy independence.
The United States imports a significant amount of the oil we use for energy; in 2014 alone, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, we imported as much as 9 million barrels of oil every day. By helping to reduce our country’s reliance on foreign oil, going solar stands to benefit all of us.

Fixed utility rates.
When people make the decision to retire, something they may not take into consideration is the fact that their utility rates continue to go up—while their income stays at the same level. If you are on a fixed income, switching to solar power means that your utility rates will stay the same. Instead of worrying about the rising cost of powering your home, you can simply focus on enjoying your retirement.

Potential tax incentives.
The federal government is rewarding the initiative of citizens who are making the switch to solar power. If you decide to install solar for your home, you may be eligible for federal tax credits that cover 30 percent of the cost.

When you own a residential or commercial property, you’ll have a number of bills to deal with. Solar power can help you greatly reduce your utility bills by harnessing energy from the sun. In addition to lowering your bills, solar power can make your property more valuable and sell faster should you choose to put it on the market. Solar thermal energy is primarily used for hot water systems, while solar electric, or photovoltaic, systems generate electricity. You can sell back excess electricity you’ve created to offset any energy you use from the grid. Check out this infographic from Solar Lights & More to learn more about solar energy in The Villages and its benefits, and the differences between solar thermal and solar electric. Please share it with your friends and neighbors!

If you live in North Central Florida, odds are you have a swimming pool in your backyard. And if you have a swimming pool, you know how much pool heating can cost you each month. Fortunately, there’s an affordable alternative way to keep your pool warm all year long. A residential solar pool heater eliminates all pool heating costs and keeps your pool at the perfect temperature well into the fall and winter months. A properly installed solar pool heating system can last up to 15 years with proper care. And while professionally installed solar pool heaters require very little maintenance, there are some simple steps you can take to ensure your solar pool heating system stays in top shape.

Regular Pool Maintenance
The most important part about maintaining a solar pool heating system is simply maintaining your pool and the filtration system as you normally would. The filter should be cleaned as recommended by the manufacturer to ensure adequate flow is supplied to the solar collectors, and the pool’s pH and chlorine levels must be maintained within the specified limits.

Touch Test
You should check the solar heating system for proper operation at the beginning of each swimming season. A properly operating solar pool heating system should feel cool to the touch. If the solar collector feels unusually warm, contact the solar company in North Central Florida that installed the system and schedule a professional inspection by a trained solar technician.

Winterization
Although the swimming season in North Central Florida practically extends all year, it is recommended that the panels be shut off during a hard freeze. This ensures trouble-free performance for years to come during the normal times of the year when you and your family will most likely be enjoying your swimming pool. A solar company in Clermont or the surrounding area can provide a winterization service for a small fee.