Solar Southwest Florida

155 Degrees on this Florida Roof in June

One of Fafco Solar’s installers, who is also our solar tubular skylight and solar attic fan expert, sent me this image of his laser thermometer on a roof a few days ago. I thought I’d take a moment to thank the hard working individuals that work in extreme conditions every day to improve the lives and pocketbooks for Southwest Florida residents and business owners. Roof surface conditions routinely exceed 150°F, and working inside the attic can be extremely uncomfortable and dangerous. Every precaution is taken to ensure a safe work experience, but discomfort is part of the job. As a result, some work may take a little extra time this time of year.

Given that roof and attic conditions are what they are, it’s also a perfect time to mention solar attic fans. Reducing your attic temperature is the first step in reducing the heat transferred to your air conditioning duct work in the attic. Have you ever felt that slug of hot air that comes out of your A/C grills when the air conditioning first turns on? That’s attic heat that gets into your ducts and increases your cooling costs.

For many homes a single solar attic fan can reduce temperatures up to 50 degrees (according to the manufacturer). According to our installers, a 30 degree temperature reduction is routinely seen, making work in the attic bearable, at least for short duration in the summer. Any reduction in attic heat is a money and roof saver, and with no operating cost and quiet operation, solar attics fans are the next best thing to completely sealed foam insulated attics (and a lot more economical).

Solar attic fans can be installed in a little as 45 minutes, and are eligible for tax credits!

Solar Attic Fan

If you’ve never been to Naples Botanical Garden, I have one word for you: go!

I was introduced to this amazing facility almost two years ago when FGCU’s Kapnick Education and Research Center at the Garden’s campus was slated to get a solar electric system installed. Fafco Solar was fortunate enough to win the job, and we subsequently installed 164 solar panels in a 40kW Photovoltaic System.

The same sun that powers the building powers the biological process that make the Naples Botanical Garden amazing. I didn’t visit the Gardens proper during the solar installation, but I recently took my wife for a day of exploration in Naples that included a Garden tour. We were blown away by this hidden gem in our back yard!

We were treated to everything from familiar Florida native flora to beautiful Caribbean gardens and gorgeous unique plants and trees from Asia and South America. The Garden focuses on tropical species from the northern and southern hemispheres. My favorite exhibits were the stunning water lily ponds and the native Florida education areas, especially the tool shed and patio setup. There were brilliant flowers, lush plants, and unique trees like the Rainbow Eucalyptus.

At 170 acres, the Naples Botanical Garden can take some time to explore. It’s a great place to take kids, with wet and dry play areas for all ages. The butterfly garden and treehouse areas are perfect to keep the little ones entertained. The Garden Cafe has a variety of snacks and drinks.

If you find yourself in Naples, be sure to check out the Naples Botanical Garden and on your way out of the gift shop, glance to your left to see one of Naples’ largest roof mounted solar energy systems!

My company does service for all brands of solar pool heating systems, so naturally we get to see some things that are funny, dangerous, wrong, and downright terrible. Yesterday I was sent a picture of a solar pool heating manifold (system of valves) that was pretty funny, if not a little dangerous (left, below). One thing is certain – it’s absolutely hideous!

The strange thing is that this was installed by one of our major competitors, not an inexperienced dealer or fly-by-night handyman. They do a lot of business, routinely beating our price (surprise, surprise). A neat and tidy solar pool heating bypass and isolation valve system by Fafco Solar is shown on the right.

The major issues with this solar pool heating manifold are:

• Pipes are inadequately supported. Turning valves could cause plumbing to break.
• Cheap ball valves are used. The red handles tend to get brittle and break. The valves become very hard to turn over time. High quality NeverLube valves are available and not much more expensive.
• The valves used are not convertible to motorized valves that can be used with automation systems installed at a later date. Automation systems are highly recommended when upgrading to energy saving variable speed pumps, which are required for new pools.
• The pipes are uneven coming off the roof and along the wall. They are also unnecessarily in front of a window.
• The pipes are in front of the electrical load panel, which violates the National Electric Code (this is a common problem – not providing adequate working space for disconnecting means).
• The manifold transitions down from the existing 2″ to 1-1/2″ plumbing before necessary. It’s bad enough that competitors use panels with 1-1/2″ headers, which restrict flow, but there is no reason other than cost to reduce the plumbing size until it reaches the panels.
• No labels, which are a helpful reminder for people who rarely use valves on their system.
• Once again, it’s absolutely hideous!

You get what you pay for, and this homeowner probably got a great price and little more.

I am seeing an uptick in requests about Alternating Current Photovoltaic (ACPV) Modules. ACPV solar panels are traditional solar electric panels that have an inverter affixed to the back. The module assembly is UL listed as a complete assembly, and is essentially an appliance. Rather than output DC power that needs to be converted to AC for use in your home, the appliance puts out AC energy that can be connected directly to your home’s wiring system.

ACPV Solar Module with Microinverter Attached

Despite what manufacturer’s may say, these are not the same as the “plug-and-play” solar panel concept, which doesn’t really exist. ACPV modules are still required to be connected to dedicated branch circuit wiring and fall under many of the same National Electric Code (NEC) requirements found under Chapter 690 of the NEC. They require a qualified professional to install, and are no less dangerous than a typical solar photovoltaic module. Some have argued that ACPV panels are the next evolution from the current microinverter revolution. Microinverters convert each solar panel’s energy to usable AC energy, but are not integral with the panel. They mount beneath the panel on rails or to the module frame in some cases.

So what are the pros and cons of ACPV solar panels?

Pros

• Simplified installation wiring – no DC disconnects required or DC combiner boxes.
• Simplified installation mounting – no microinverter to mount on rails or central inverter to mount on wall.
• Elimination of many NEC grounding requirements.
• Per-panel maximum power point tracking eliminates module mismatch losses, increasing energy harvest over string inverters.
• Reduces impact of shading on solar arrays. Allows installation on multiple orientations and pitches.
• No high-voltage DC electricity on roof, reducing shock hazard and potentially increasing firefighter safety.
• No high-voltage DC conductors run through attics and walls, possibly reducing arc-fault potential and severity and fire risk.
• Reduced chance for DC ground faults.
• Easy identification of under-performing and failed components.
• Per-module performance monitoring.
• Inverter warranty length typically exceeds string inverters (but not traditional microinverters).

Cons

• Failure of the PV module or attached inverter requires replacement of complete assembly, increasing shipping costs and complexity of service.
• Proprietary connectors on inverters – questions about long-term serviceability and availability of components.

At first glance it would seem that the pros greatly outweigh the cons. However, many of the pros are achievable with traditional DC solar modules with “traditional” microinverters (the word “traditional” is in quotes because microinverters are in their product life-cycle infancy, but this pair is essentially the same thing as a disassembled ACPV module). More importantly the cons offer significant questions about what happens down the road if warranty service is required.

While the DC component of an ACPV module is generally very reliable, there are still questions by many about the long-term failure rate of the microinverter component. With traditional microinverters, the inverter component can be replaced separately from the module. Furthermore, a DC module is likely to work with future technology iterations and can always be converted for use in different systems. The proprietary nature of an ACPV module requires that a matching replacement component be installed. Technically an ACPV module could be converted to a traditional DC module, but it’s unclear if it would be properly listed for that intended use and thus be code compliant for any installation other than an ACPV system.

Since the panel and the associated microinverter are manufactured by different companies, if the inverter manufacturer goes out of business, I assume the panel manufacture would be on the hook to produce replacement parts for warranty service. This could be difficult to do, but I assume that manufacturers have thought that through (I hope). Remember, you would presumably have to return the entire ~38″ x 65″, 50 pound solar module for warranty service to the solar panel manufacturer.

Conceptually, I love the idea of the ACPV module. It is one step closer to “plug-and-play” solar. It makes the job of solar installers very easy. Many of the great advantages of microinverters are incorporated, because ACPV modules are essentially microinverters permanently mounted to the panel. Unfortunately, I cannot recommend ACPV modules at this time due to questions about future serviceability and availability. Some of my colleagues will make the same argument against “traditional” microinverters, but I am convinced that a separate solar panel and inverter makes more sense at this time than an ACPV appliance. If the future of microinverters is bleak, and I don’t think it is, then at least there will be better options for servicing existing microinverter systems. The few cons of ACPV modules outweigh the many pros in my opinion when there are microinverter options available.

If you are convinced about the benefits of microinverters over central/string inverters, I would recommend going the microinverter route and avoiding ACPV solutions at this time.

I just read an article published today on the Harvard Business Review blog that misses the point about businesses, specifically banks and other financial institutions, engaging in sustainable building practices. The article focuses on how companies should be less focused on environmental sustainability and more focused on financial sustainability given the nation’s disfavorable attitude toward banks today.

What the article fails to regognize is that sustainable building, when done right, is financially responsible and sustainable! Green building techniques have returns on investment associated with them, and some can be extremely favorable, especially when combined with utility and government incentives. Banks often operate on razor-thin margins and invest in financial instruments that have paltry returns when compared to sustainable building efforts that have similar risk and terms. Energy saving measures undertaken at the time of construction are also a hedge against rising utility costs (operating expeneses). In addition to immediate tax advantages like credits, corporations also benefit from accelerated depreciation on many green building upgrades.

The authors suggest that banks have a role to play in environmental stewerdship in the respect that they should make loans for customers to build green. Suggesting that the bank itself shouldn’t be built with energy savings in mind while encouraging it to loan money for customers’ sustainability projects doesn’t make sense.

I wholeheartedly agree that the banking industry as a whole has lost the trust of the American people, and that many are probably attempting to engage in sustainable building efforts as a marketing tool (greenwashing). However, failing to recognize sustainable building as a financially sound investment pursuit does a disservice to financial institutions that are doing the right thing for both the environment and their shareholders.

The Pentair QuickTouch II Remote allows remote control of a Pentair SunTouch, EasyTouch, or IntelliTouch Pool Automation system. We have installed lots of these convenient remotes with SunTouch Solar Pool Heating controllers. Pairing the Pentair QuickTouch II Remote With The Receiver is easy!

Once in a while, the remote may lose connection with the receiver, which is located outside near your pool equipment. Opening the receiver requires a #2 Philips screwdriver. The screws are located on the bottom of the antenna housing. When sliding the cover off the receiver, be VERY CAREFUL that you do not break off the antenna, which is integrated with the circuit board.

The instructions (attached below) tell you to press the white button on the circuit board. Be aware that some QuickTouch units have shipped with blue or black buttons despite what the instructions read. The steps are as follows:

1. Open receiver case.
2. Press the White Receiver button (shown below).
3. An LED on the QuickTouch II receiver will flash three (3) times (once the Receiver button is pressed, you have 60 seconds to connect the QuickTouch II remote to the receiver).
4. Hold down button four (4) and button eight (8) simultaneously.
5. The QuickTouch II remote can now communicate with the receiver. Check all of the remote buttons to make sure they operate correctly.

QuickTouch II Remote and Receiver Pairing

If your remote is still not doing what is expected, but it is paired with the remote, you will need to check the programming on the SunTouch using menu 12/14. Check your SunTouch manual for more information.

Here is the QuickTouch Owners Manual available for download.

Florida House Bill 0277 (2013) has passed both the House and Senate unanimously. This bill makes official the de facto standard used by county property appraisers that excludes renewable energy (i.e. solar energy, wind energy) systems from assessed property values. This exclusion was inadvertently removed from law during a previous congress in 2008. Various attempts have been made to reenact the exemption, with no success until now.

According to the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association, “The bill implements a constitutional ballot initiative approved in the 2008 general election by Florida voters, which prohibits adding the value of certain home improvements specific to the installation and operation of a renewable energy source device and increasing the level of wind resistance protection to the assessed value of residential property. ”

I’ve been hyper-critical about the do-nothing Florida legislature in the past, but this appears to be a long-overdue victory for the Florida solar energy industry. I’ll give credit to them for finally getting it done. While the real impact of the new law will be minimal, at least it provides some peace of mind for those thinking of installing solar energy systems.

The exemption technically covers new solar energy installations completed after January 1, 2013, but based on the last 4-5 years of de facto exclusions, it is unlikely that any property appraisers will have an appetite to assess systems installed prior to this date. The broad definition covers most solar energy property including on-grid and off-grid (battery backup) solar electric systems, solar pool heaters, solar water heaters, solar attic fans, solar tubular skylights, and associated solar energy equipment.

House Bill 0277 is on the Governor’s desk for signature. Governor Scott is expected to sign it.

The Senate bill summary page can be found here: http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2013/277

The full text of the bill can be read here: http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2013/0277/BillText/er/PDF

I just had to share this photo of a small system we just installed. Fafco Solar is now offering starter photovoltaic systems with 8 panels (this one is 10). What has made  this feasible is the flexible and modular nature of the Enphase microinverter. In the past, the fixed costs and semi-fixed costs have been prohibitive when considering what I consider a “Starter PV System.” We have figured out how to do these solar electric systems cost effectively, helping more people go solar with more modest budgets. The best part – future expansion is easy!

Small “Starter PV” System

With so many people in Southwest Florida preparing to head north for the summer, Fafco Solar is getting lots of calls from people with solar panels. How do you get your solar pool heater ready for summer?

If you are not planning to use your solar pool heater in the summer, the most important thing you can do to protect your system is to drain and isolate it completely. Most of the systems Fafco Solar has installed, and all of the systems we have installed in recent years, have isolation valves that allow you to stop the flow of water into and out of the solar panels and roof plumbing. Just closing the 3-way solar bypass valve is not enough. There are two ways that water can continue to rise to the roof when the bypass valve is closed (through the return line if there is no check valve present and through a small hole in the 3-way valve that is present for daily draining purposes).

Solar Pool Heat Valves Closed (Isolated)

If you do not drain your system completely, water can stagnate in the panels and plumbing causing excessive temperatures. While usually not a problem, occasionally this leads to severely warped or swollen PVC pipe on the roof. Black pipe exhibits this problem more than white pipe, but extreme temperatures can also cause white pipe to discolor and warp. This phenomenon may be more pronounced in Southwest Florida due to our long, hot summer and numerous part-time residents. Roof plumbing issues due to improper operation of your system is not covered under warranty.

Your system is likely plumbed to drain automatically when the pool pump is turned off, or a manual drain may be installed. To isolate your system, first turn your pump off, let the system drain completely for a couple of hours (or drain panels manually if necessary). If you are able, opening the lower header end cap on the roof is a fail-safe way to make sure your panels are completely empty. Once the system is completely drained, close your isolation valves. Please keep reading, especially if you have automated valves!

It is critical that the 3-way solar bypass valve remains in the solar-off (bypass) position. If the 3-way valve is turned to the solar-on position and the isolation valves are closed, your pump will “dead head,” possibly causing catastrophic failure of your plumbing or pump.

Click here for additional information about how to identify open and closed valves.

If you have an automated controller, there are multiple ways to turn your solar pool heater off, but generally speaking you can turn the desired temperature down as far as it can go. Some controllers have manual off switches. The motorized actuator on the 3-way solar bypass valve has a switch that can be used to stop the valve from turning. Unless you are very comfortable with your automation system and/or pool valves, it is not recommended that you attempt to isolate your solar pool heater for the summer without professional assistance. For a nominal charge, Fafco Solar can come out to fully drain and isolate your system and return after summer to start, test, and optimize your system.

As expected, Cape Coral passed the Public Service Tax measure on April 29, 2013. The tax impacts every utility electric customer in the City. The more you use electricity, the more tax you pay.

As I noted in my earlier post, solar energy producers can avoid tax on every kilowatt-hour they reduce or produce with solar energy.

The City of Cape Coral released an online calculator that has a few deficiencies. Most importantly to me is that the calculator ignores solar producing customers using LCEC’s netmetering program (both commercial and residential). If you are a small commercial (non-demand charge) or residential customer with solar electric panels and you have a netmetered account, you pay different rates than standard utility customers. As a result, your tax calculation is different. The City’s calculator only shows large commercial (demand charge) rates, and not small commercial rates.

The good news is that there isn’t much tax difference for netmetered customers, who often pay lower rates than those who don’t produce solar energy. In fact, many residential netmetered customers fall below the 500 kWh tax threshold, so they will pay no tax except tax on the customer charge, or $1.35. Netmetered customers with an energy surplus in any month will also pay just $1.35!

I felt obligated to produce a better calculator that could be used by most commercial and residential netmetered customers who are producing solar energy. This calculator should match Cape Coral’s calculator for residential customers without solar electricity.

If the calculator does not appear below, you may access it directly at: http://szumlanski.com/PST/

Assumptions and Disclaimers: This calculator is based on the 7% Public Service Tax as approved on April 29, 2013 and utility rates are accurate as of May 1, 2013 to the best of my knowledge. SolarSouthwestFlorida and it’s author are not responsible for and errors or omissions in this calculator.  Please use with caution. Results are for approximate reference only. Rounding errors may exist. The City of Cape Coral’s office calculator can be accessed by clicking here.

Variable speed pool pumps are all the rage. Fantastic energy savings an whisper quiet operation are the two most cited reasons for interest in the product. Comparing variable speed pumps is important because there are a wide range of prices and installation service levels available. All will save you money, but the features and capabilities vary widely. Selecting the right pump for your pool is critical.

While not a solar product, per se, variable speed pool pumps compliment solar pool heaters and become an integral part of a solar pool heating system. It’s critical to understand the comparisons to ensure a variable speed pump will work with your solar pool heater (or heat pump or gas heater for that matter).

Variable speed pumps should not be confused with 2-speed pumps, which have far more limited features and far lower cost savings. My recommendation is to forget about 2-speed pumps and go for the variable speed pump. That’s a discussion for another day…

Here are the most popular variable speed pumps we are seeing on the market in Southwest Florida.

• Pentair IntelliFlo VS
• Hayward EcoStar
• Hayward Max-Flo VS
• Jandy ePump 1.5 and 2.0
• Waterways VSA

Pentair IntelliFlo VS

This is my favorite of the bunch. I have this pump, and have loved it from the day I installed it. It is whisper quiet at low speeds, energy efficient at all speeds, and has excellent connectivity for Pentair automation products. The Pentair IntelliFlo is a 3 HP motor coupled with a variable speed drive with fully programmable speeds and schedules. It has four speed buttons and eight programs. It communicates with Pentair automation products like the SunTouch, SolarTouch, EasyTouch, or IntelliTouch via an RS-485 digital interface. If connecting the pump to non-Pentair automation, it requires an Intellicom II digital interface. However, certain versions of the popular Aqualink system with newer firmware can natively control the Intellicom as long as you have a PDA remote (I should mention that this is not supported by Pentair). When controlling the IntelliFlo with a Pentair automation (excluding the SolarTouch or Intellicom II) or Aqualink PDA, the controller will take over control of the pump and all schedules and speeds are controlled externally. One disadvantage of external control is that the IntelliFlo no longer displays the operating speed or energy use on the integrated display. Fortunately you can get this information through the automation product, but it’s not as convenient when standing over the pump. With the SolarTouch controller and Intellicom II, the pump retains all of the scheduling, speed, and display functionality, and the SolarTouch simply overrides the currently selected speed when solar heating is active. The IntelliFlo also comes in a SVRS (suction vacuum release system) version to comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Act and Florida Building Code for some pools.

Hayward EcoStar

The EcoStar is also a capable variable speed pump. It features a 2.5 HP motor with an onboard drive/controller with similar features to the IntelliFlo pump. There are four speed buttons and eight schedules. The Ecostar connects to automation products a little differently, with an analog interface. When connected to automation, the pump is capable of eight different speeds based on the analog input to the pump. In all cases the onboard controls are overridden and the external controller takes over. Unlike the Pentair pump, the Ecostar continues to display the pump running speed and energy use on the pump display when externally controlled. There are advantages and disadvantages to analog control. You gain flexibility because just about any automation product on the market can send the pump speed commands (even the basic GL-235 solar controller can change the pump speed). Unfortunately, the number of speeds is often limited by the number of available relays offered and available in the automation system. However, we can add additional speeds for pool service personnel or other needs with simple toggle switches. The Ecostar also comes in an SVRS model if needed. One nice feature is being able to mount the display remotely on a wall, or turn it to face any of four directions on the pump.

Hayward Max-Flo VS

The Max-Flo VS is a 1.5 HP pump, which Hayward claims to be “right sized” for most residential pools. Unfortunately, the speed setting on the pump would typically be higher to achieve the same flow rate. Do you want your pump motor running at a higher speed, making more noise and possibly not lasting as long? To me, this defeats the purpose of a variable speed pump. Nonetheless, the Max-Flo VS could be a good option for some people with smaller pools and no heaters and limited features. I do not recommend it because it has absolutely no external automation controls. If you have existing automation or plan to add it later, this pump is not for you. Speeds and schedules are handled only through the onboard control, which has a digital readout for programming, convenience, and monitoring.

Jandy ePump 1.5 and 2.0

The ePump 1.5 and 2.0 are named for their horsepower ratings. The Jandy products integrate well with Jandy automation (Aqualink), but can also operate independently. However, you need the Jandy ePump controller for independent operation, which adds substantially to the cost. In addition, you need the ePump contoller when using external automation, even though the functionality of the ePump controller is lost. The external automation is accomplished with analog controls, similar to the Ecostar, and speeds controllable through automation may be limited. I do not recommend these pumps due to the cost and lower horsepower rating compared to the Pentair and Hayward options. The ePump controller can be mounted remotely from the pump like the Ecostar’s display module.

Waterways VSA

Waterway, based in California, is located where some of the highest daytime residential electricity rates cause pool pumps to be a major household cost. The Waterway VSA uses a Champion motor and an AO Smith onboard controller. Like the Max-Flo VS, the Waterways VS cannot be controlled externally, severely limiting the functionality and potential savings for pools with features or heating systems. The control module may be mounted remotely. One nice feature is being able to control external equipment like a heat pump with a relay. However, this functionality is a bit backward to me – the pump tells the heater if it is running fast enough for the heater to start. External automation systems do it right, telling the pump to increase speed when heating is required. Like the Max-Flo VS, this pump is not for you if you want to operate a solar pool heater or heat pump effectively. This is a value priced pump with a seemingly good warranty.

Conclusion

The Pentair VS and Hayward Ecostar are close competitors at the top. Both are powerful pumps with great external control options that depend on the existing or future automation system needs. The digital interface on the Pentair adds some nice capability at the cost of flexibility with non-Pentair automation. The Ecostar’s display mounting flexibility and ability to be controlled out of the box with just about any existing automation is great, although sometimes the number of speeds that can be controlled is limited. I cannot recommend the Jandy ePump due to cost and lower horsepower, but it has many of the Ecostar control features and works well with Jandy automation. The Hayward Max-Flo VS and Waterways VSA are only suitable for pool-only situations with no features or heat sources, and you will experience far less functionality and future flexibility. If you have a solar pool heater, and want optimum pool heating with external controls, forget about these last two pumps.

Beyond the Pump Itself: Installation and Programming

A word of caution about installation and programming of variable speed pumps… You may see amazingly low advertised prices for variable speed pumps through discount retailers. Unfortunately, the initial programming of variable speed pumps can be daunting for the average homeowner, and properly setting up the pump to operate for various features and heat sources is not for beginners. In fact, it’s beyond the current capabilities of many pool professionals who are just coming up to speed (pun intended). Connecting variable speed pumps to existing or new automation products just further complicates the installation and programming. But most importantly when having a variable speed pump installed, ask your installer if they are going to install a flow meter! If they don’t, they are doing you a disservice. Installing a flow meter allows the installer to calculate the minimum speed possible to get the desired turnover, an also meet the flow rate requirements for optimum operation of solar pool heaters, heat pumps, cleaners, in-floor cleaners, and other pool features. The idea is to meet the flow requirements of all features of your pool and spa, and balance that with the amazing energy savings offered by any of the above variable speed pumps.

If you see a price that is too good to be true, it is. You will be calling your pool service company (or me) to properly set up your pump. If a capable installer charges more that the competition, there is probably a very good reason. I can’t stress enough that you should not go for the cheapest variable speed pump and installer. That said, once the pump is set up and operating to your satisfaction, the system is simple, reliable, and will pay for itself in no time!

Enphase, leading manufacturer of microinverters for solar energy systems, recently changed their website to a fresh new look. Since the beginning of the microinverter revolution, Enphase has maintained a list of “Reference Systems” that show system monitoring for system owners who have allowed public access. The Reference System page has a cool zoom-enabled mapping feature that shows system throughout the world.

Enphase Solar Energy Systems in Florida

Southwest Florida has many Enphase systems installed. We have installed systems in Naples, Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Sanibel, Rotonda, Bonita Springs, Estero, Alva, Lehigh Acres, Pine Island, and beyond! Sarasota and Tampa are also hotbeds of Enphase based solar electric systems according to the map.

There are hundreds of systems in the sunny places like the Virgin Islands and Hawaii with over 20,000 Enphase systems, but solar energy systems are not limited to the sunniest places on earth. There is a system as far north as Inuvik in Canada’s Northwest Territories at the Western Arctic Research Center (ARI), and even a few systems in my gloomy-weathered hometown of Winnipeg.

Enphase has made big waves in Hawaii and the rest of the the United States, and we are proud to be an experienced installer of microinverter systems. The monitoring system is one of the key features of a microinverter system. Being able to see real time, historical, and time-lapse energy production data and troubleshooting issues remotely makes these systems stand out in the solar energy world.

Here is a direct link to one of Fafco Solar’s customers’ Reference System in Cape Coral, FL. https://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/public/systems/NNQk126038.

Rating :	5
Brand Name :	Enphase Energy
Product Name :	Enphase M215 Microinverter
Category :	Solar Energy
Price :	Priced as System
Availability :	Available in Stock

Calling all real estate agents in Southwest Florida!

There is an updated form released by the Appraisal Institute® called the Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum (Form 820.04). This form provides a way to value solar energy systems on homes that allow the value to be included in residential and commercial real estate appraisals.

It has long been known that solar energy system increase real estate values and reduce the time on the market for home sales. Only recently have widely accepted tools been released. Since there are so many solar panel systems in Southwest Florida, it’s important that real estate professionals understand the implications during the valuation and buying process so they can advise clients accurately.

If you are a real estate professional that would like a complete valuation report for a solar energy system, or just a friendly ballpark estimate for a solar energy system you run across, let me know – I can help!

You may have seen the guy standing with a sign under the Veteran’s Parkway overpass or the truck driving up and down Del Prado Boulevard protesting Cape Coral’s proposed Public Service Tax that will “increase your electric bill by 10%.” Just like other utility electric taxes, you can beat the tax with simple conservation efforts, but also with solar electricity!

First to clarify, the tax would not actually raise any bill by 10%. The currently proposed 10% tax would be assessed on the customer charge and base utility rate only, excluding the power cost adjustment and all other taxes and fees. The real impact would be closer to 7% of the total bill. One of the major complaints is that it doesn’t tax unimproved property owners and many landlords whose tenants foot the bill. The tax is seen as unfair by many as a result. It also penalizes heavy energy users, even if their physical footprint or assessed property value is very low. It doesn’t take into consideration the impact of the taxpayer on public services, either. There is a Q&A on the subject from the City Manager dated 4/22/13 that you can download here.

Now that that’s out of the way, how can you reduce the impact of the proposed tax with solar electricity? Fortunately, LCEC has a netmetering program that allows you to offset your electrical usage with energy produced with solar panels. A grid-interactive photovoltaic (solar electric) system produces energy for your home that reduces your dependence on energy delivered by LCEC, and even sends excess energy back to the utility grid, further reducing your “net metered” electricity consumption. That means you have a lower billed energy use, and thus a lower tax!

Since other taxes on your bill are computed based on the net amount of energy consumed each month, those taxes are also reduced proportionately. If you completely offset your electrical consumption with solar electricity, your taxes will be reduced to almost zero – only small fixed taxes and tax on the base customer charge would be applicable.

Whether you’re ready to take the plunge and reduce your net energy consumption to zero, or you want to get started in solar energy with a small solar electric system or other solar product, Fafco Solar is ready to help its neighbors with the threat of increased electricity prices and taxes. Call today: (239) 574-1500.

Fafco Solar, 901 SE 13th Pl, Cape Coral, FL 33990, Florida State Solar Contractor License CVC56701

Lots of people ask about solar panel efficiency, but I usually find out that they don’t really know what the efficiency of a solar panel means. As it turns out, the definition of solar panel efficiency is pretty clear, but people are surprised to find out that its often not a deciding factor. Why is this?

High Efficiency SunPower Solar Panels in Fort Myers, FL

Solar panel efficiency simply measures how much solar radiation it can convert per square meter to usable electricity based on a standardized test condition. A particular solar panel might produce a lot more power than another, but that does not necessarily mean it is more efficient. It may simply be larger.

More efficient solar panels are typically more expensive on a per-rated-watt basis. Getting more out of a solar cell of a given size is challenging. It makes sense for a manufacturer to work to increase cell efficiency up to a certain point because there are fixed component costs for a given module size (glass, frame, junction box, etc.) However, generally speaking, more efficiency means more cost.

As a result, it might not make the best sense to seek a highly efficient solar panel. You should probably be more concerned with cost efficiency – the lowest cost per watt. (Note: really you want the lowest cost for the amount of energy the system will produce over its lifetime, which is largely, but not totally based on the rated wattage).

One good reason to choose a highly efficient solar panel would be if the amount of space available for installation is a limiting factor. However, I find this is not usually a primary concern, and lower cost, lower efficiency solar modules are selected. Sometimes highly efficient solar panels, like SunPower, have other features that may make them a viable choice despite their higher dollars-per-watt price.

If you are comparing solar panel efficiencies, just be aware that higher efficiency solar panels are not necessarily better. There is more to consider, especially cost.