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Tuesday, 17 August 2021 09:07
Solar Panels How Many Solar Panels Does It Take To Power a House?
With the growing desire to take care of our planet and make the world a greener place, there is a lot of conversation about adding solar panels to your home these days. When you’ve finally decided that you want to take the next step to creating a greener home, how do you know where to find the right information?
If you’re looking to add solar panels to your home, it can be confusing and overwhelming to figure out what regulations there are, and how you can go about getting them installed. Once you’ve gotten deep enough into the process, you’ll also have to determine how many solar panels you’ll need to power a house and how much it will cost you.
Hopping on the internet, there seems to be a crazy jungle of information. You land on a site that you think will answer some of your questions, but instead, you receive a bunch of technical information that ends up making you even more confused. Inside paragraphs upon paragraphs, you find promises of reduced energy costs and a great investment on your money, but you don’t know exactly how much these savings are. It is completely understandable if you are skeptical or confused, maybe a little of both. Let’s look into these questions and give you some easy to digest information that will help you determine if adding solar panels for your home is worth the investment.
How Many Solar Panels Supply Enough Energy for the Average Household?
The size of the average house equates to about 1500 square feet. So how much do solar panels cost for a 1500 square foot house? A house of this size usually comes along with an electric bill of around $150 per month, which would need 16 solar panels to generate 10 kw, the average amount of energy this home would consume. That 10kw system would cost about $28,000.
If this sounds like a whole chunk of money to you, there’s good news. With the federal solar tax credit, which allows you to deduct 26% of the cost of installing solar panels to your home from your federal taxes offered through December of 2020), the system’s price would essentially drop down to $20,700 which can be financed over five, ten, fifteen or even twenty years. Depending on where you live, there may be other rewards or offers from your energy provider or city for taking the initiative and going solar.
Considering that electricity prices continue to rise, the decision to purchase a solar system makes sense. Even if, in a perfect world, the price for electricity remained around $150 a month over the next 20 years, you would still save about $16,000 in comparison by installing residential solar panels.
What Can Affect How Many Solar Panels Your House Needs?
Remember that the above is a scenario for the average 1500 square foot house. Depending on the actual size of your home and the location, your electricity needs vary and the situation might be different for you. To determine how many solar panels you need to power your home, you first have to factor in the size of your home and the amount of electricity you and your family actually use. Then you must consider the orientation of your roof, how much southern exposure your roof has, and the amount of shade cast on your roof. Even where you choose to install your solar panels on your property affects the number of solar panels needed and the cost involved. Do you want solar panels on your roof or would you prefer them on a car port, a pergola or a ground mount? All of these variables affect the design and cost of your solar system, and the experienced professionals at Solartime take each one into account during the design phase.
How Long Does it Take to Make a Return on Investment From Installing Solar Panels?
Since you’ve decided to make the decision to move in on such a big purchase, you probably want to know how long it will take before you finally make a return on your investment. The return on your investment starts early on.
How?
It is our opinion that the biggest return on your investment is that you will be making a positive impact on the environment right away. Not only will you stop using electricity that was produced using burning fossil fuels which pollute our environment, you will also help by sending any extra electricity that you over produce back into the grid. Also, the moment you switch to solar, you are immediately independent from the inevitable rise of electricity prices.
With solar panels for your home, there is no upfront cost. The payments for your panels are locked in at the same price each month. Many of our Solartime customers finance their solar panels for the monthly amount their average electric bill was – essentially swapping one bill for another, while taking a huge step to help save the planet. In addition, your solar panels have a 25 year warranty, but studies show that the average lifespan of a solar panel is about 30-35 years and require little to no maintenance.
Solartime Can Install Your Panels and Help You Know How Many Your House Needs
At Solartime, our professional advisor who assesses your roof, electric needs, and installation location, is well informed of the local and government incentives for going solar. We pride ourselves on being honest and upfront, so if our advisor determines that solar panels are not a good option for you, he or she will let you know. We only work with professional installers and our professional design team ensures that the system is designed specifically for the needs of your home. We are truly your one-stop solar installer. We are a local Dallas/Ft Worth family owned and operated company, and can’t wait to make you part of our Solartime USA family.
Solartime USA can take the guesswork out of how many panels you need, and how much it will cost. It’s time to gain your independence from high energy costs by going solar! Call us at (972) 675-7725 or contact us online and we will be in touch with you within 24hrs to schedule your completely free consultation.
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Tuesday, 17 August 2021 08:01
33 Easy Earth Day Tips – Save the Planet
The glaciers are melting, the ocean is becoming an island of trash, and your everyday actions could be having a direct impact on the greenhouse effect. In times like this, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and wonder how one person could possibly make a difference. With the 50th anniversary of Earth Day right around the corner, it’s a great time to make some simple changes that can actually help save the planet.
We all have the power to make small but impactful changes in our daily lives. These changes may seem inconsequential on their own, but when combined with the actions of thousands of other people, the positive impact we can collectively have on our planet is huge! Each of us has an impact, positive or negative, the choice is ours. To help you get started, we’ve put together the following 33 easy Earth Day tips.
Earth Day Tips
- Turn off the lights when you leave a room. Turning off your lights when you leave a room is a great way to reduce the amount of energy you are using.
- Turn off devices that are not being used. Did you know energy is still used when computers and other electronics are on “stand-by” mode? Turn off your devices to cut back on energy consumption.
- Use refillable water bottles. Stop using single-use plastic bottled and reduce plastic waste.
- Reduce waste by using glass containers for your lunches. Ditch the plastic zipper bags and plastic containers in favor of glass containers for a more eco-friendly option.
- Use eco-friendly cleaning products instead of harsh chemicals. Not only are eco-friendly cleaning products less harmful to the environment, these products usually have more eco-friendly packaging as well.
- Reduce food waste by only buying what you need. Buying in bulk may seem like a great idea, but it often leads to unnecessary food waste when buying fresh foods.
- Use silicone reusable bags. Cut back on plastic zipper bags and reduce plastic waste by switching to silicone reusable bags.
- Buy locally grown food if possible. Less gasoline is used when the food doesn’t have to travel long distances.
- Don’t let your car idle. If you know you’re making a stop that will last longer than a couple of minutes, turn your engine off to reduce emissions.
- Bring your reusable cup to your favorite coffee shop. Some cafes even give you a discount for going green so you can save some cash while you reduce waste.
- Collect rainwater for your plants. This is a great way to save potable water and also reduce your carbon footprint.
- Use cloth towels instead of paper towels. Clean up messes with cloth towels instead of creating unnecessary waste with paper towels.
- Use rechargeable batteries. Batteries can release heavy metals into the environment when dropped into a landfill. By using rechargeable batteries, you reduce the number of batteries that end up in landfills.
- Make sure none of your faucets are leaking. Little drops of water from leaky faucets add up to big water bills and a lot of wasted water.
- Get a set of reusable straws. Stop using plastic straws that can end up hurting animals like sea turtles.
- Leave your car at home. Organize a carpool, take a ride-share or use your bicycle when possible to cut back on emissions.
- Switch your light bulbs out for energy efficient ones. You can reduce energy consumption and your electricity bill when you switch to more energy-efficient light bulbs.
- Turn your faucet off when you brush your teeth. It’s surprising how much water you can save just by shutting off the faucet while you brush your teeth.
- Fix items that don’t work instead of throwing them away. Waste less and save money by trying to fix broken items. There are so many tutorials online to help you with this!
- Unsubscribe from junk mail. Save the trees and reduce the amount of paper you throw out when you say goodbye to junk mail.
- Go paperless. Have your receipts and monthly statements emailed to you to cut back on paper waste.
- Recycle old phones. Go to recycling centers/events in your area to recycle your old phones. Recycling electronics not only helps to conserve energy but also prevents the devices from ending up in a landfill where they can release harmful toxins into the environment.
- Start a garden. Growing your own food in a home garden is a great idea for several reasons. It will reduce your carbon footprint by not relying on produce that’s shipped in from another location, it’ll create a food source and habitat for insects and animals, and can help reduce air pollution.
- Use your own reusable bags. By using reusable bags instead of single-use plastic grocery bags, not only will you cut down on plastic waste, but often you will get a discount for bringing your own bags.
- Cook at home. Help reduce the use of take-out containers and plastic cutlery, not to mention the benefits this brings to your health and your pocketbook.
- Repurpose and reuse glass and other containers. This eliminates the need for buying new containers and reduces trash by not throwing them away.
- Create your own natural cleaners. It’s easy to find recipes for all sorts of natural cleaners using household ingredients like vinegar and baking soda. You’ll reduce the amount of harmful chemicals you use plus you’ll cut down on plastic waste.
- Hand wash your dishes. Go old-fashioned on your dishes and wash them by hand. You’ll save water and energy in addition to lowering your utility bill.
- Line dry your clothes. By drying your clothes in the fresh air, you’ll cut back on energy consumption and you’ll be amazed at how wonderful your laundry smells!
- Organize a cleaning event. Clean up a park, a playground area, or organize a neighborhood clean up! Get your friends, family, and neighbors involved to help clean up your city!
- Start a neighborhood garden. Just like with starting a home garden, a neighborhood garden helps prevent erosion and reduce air pollution. Plus, the extra produce can be sold to benefit a charity.
- Get kids involved. Start a “go green challenge” to see how many environmentally friendly Earth Day ideas your kids can come up with – You may be very surprised!
- Volunteer at an environmental organization. Save the planet with new friends by volunteering at an environmental organization.
Want to Celebrate Earth Day Year-Round? Convert to Solar Energy!
So, you’ve read through our Earth Day tips but want to do even more for the environment? Make everyday Earth Day by converting your home to solar energy! With solar energy, you produce your own electricity by utilizing the sun’s abundant energy, which helps the environment by reducing the need for energy produced using fossil fuels. Plus, any surplus clean electricity your solar panels produce gets fed back to the electric company.
The process for going solar is simple! Call 972-675-7725 or contact us online to set up your free consultation. Once you’ve decided to become part of the Solartime family, our professionals will take care of the rest. From filling out paperwork with the city to dealing with your HOA or electric company. We set up all appointments and have your new system installed, connected and inspected. We are a local family owned and operated Dallas/Ft Worth company so we are here to support you long past the installation.
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Monday, 16 August 2021 22:09
What You Need to Know About the Solar Tax Credit in 2020
As Tax Season approaches and we get ready to collect our W2s and 1099’s, we also look for expenses we can deduct so we pay as little in taxes as possible. One of the ways to get a significant tax credit is to go solar. The Federal Government is currently offering a Solar Tax Credit, also known as the Investment Tax Credit (ITC). If you pay income taxes you are almost certainly eligible to take advantage of this credit, whether you are a homeowner or a business owner. Best of all there is no cap to the credit you can receive. In this blog post we will dig deeper into the 2020 Solar Tax Credit and explore its benefits and limitations.
History of the Solar Tax Credit
The Investment Tax Credit was first put into place through the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This federal policy caused a surge in popularity of solar energy installations in the U.S. and created hundreds of thousands of jobs in the industry, helping the American economy. The federal tax credit was supposed to decrease to 10% in 2015 for all solar systems, but thanks to the overall popularity of the credit, it was extended for another 7 years! Due to the increased popularity of this credit, the amount of homeowners installing solar panels on their roofs have been growing exponentially every year!
Homeowners who were able to install their systems in 2019 qualified for the 30% Tax Credit. The current value of it in 2020 decreased to 26%. That number will drop to 22% next year, only to phase out completely in 2022 for residential systems. However it will remain permanently at 10% for commercial solar installations. That being said, there is still time for homeowners who did not look into the benefits of going solar to take advantage of the ITC. We are actually curious to see what will happen to the credit when 2022 knocks on our door!
What is the Solar Tax Credit?
The federal government allows homeowners who purchase solar systems to deduct 26% of the value of the system on their tax returns. If the system is leased, you are unable to claim this credit. The Solar Tax Credit is based on the tax liability of the homeowner. Basically the IRS will not refund you more than you have paid in taxes, but thankfully the credit can rollover to the next year. For example, if you solar system cost $30,000 before the tax credit, you are eligible for $7,800 (26% of the total gross cost) in Tax Credit. Now, if your tax liability is $6,000, then you will get $6,000 the first year, and will be able to roll over $1,800 for the next year. If your tax liability is higher than your tax credit you will get a full credit the same year.
How can you claim the tax credit?
If you purchased your system in 2018, then your tax credit form would have to appear on your 2018 Tax Return. The same is true for systems purchased in 2019 except you would be filing it now. In order to claim the tax credit, you or your CPA will have to fill out form 5695, which you can access here. In order to properly complete the form, you will need a paid receipt for your installation. The solar company you purchased your system from should be able to provide you with that. Then, you and your CPA can fill out the form, which is fairly simple and straightforward. After filling the form out, you will then add the credit to the appropriate Credit portion on your 1040 form. In the new form case, the solar tax credit will go to Schedule 3 on your 1040 form.
What happens with the credit that was unclaimed?
If you filed your 5695 form in 2018, and your tax liability was lower than your tax credit, you have a remainder credit that needs to be rolled over to your 2019 tax return. REMEMBER to do that so you do not lose your credit. This credit was placed on the form in number #12. If you are filing now, and will not be able to claim the full credit make sure that your CPA places the roll over credit in line #16.
If you forgot to claim your Tax Credit last year, make sure to speak to a Tax Professional who can amend your tax return for the past 3 years. That money is YOURS, do not give up on it!
Join The Solar Community
The tax credit is now in effect, and is set to expire in 2022. Make sure that you take advantage of this opportunity and lower your overall cost as much as you can. Make sure that the credit is claimed for the year that the system was completed. The Sun is there for all of us everyday, and it will not charge us to use its sun rays to generate electricity for years to come! Take advantage of it and start Saving!
If you have any other questions or you need help filling your Tax Credit, let us know so we can help!
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Monday, 16 August 2021 22:04
The 3 Types of Solar Panels: Know Your Options
The three types of solar panels are monocrystalline solar panels, polycrystalline solar panels, and Amorphous solar panels. Today’s Solar Panels can be traced back to the 19th Century when Alexander Edmond Becquerel discovered the photovoltaic effect and explained that we can generate electricity from sunlight. It then took us 100 more years to invent a solar cell! Shortly after that, we started using solar energy to power Space Satellites and now the International Space Station. Nowadays, solar cells can be produced in a few different ways, providing homeowners with choices. See below the three most popular types of solar panels used by Dallas solar companies and what differentiates them.
Monocrystalline Solar Panels (Mono)
Out of the three types of solar panels, Monocrystalline solar panels are made of monocrystalline silicon. They are the most commonly used solar cells in the residential market.
Thanks to their silicon’s purity, these solar panels are very productive. Their efficiency rate is around 20%. When it comes to high temperatures, the monocrystalline silicon makes the panels incredibly durable and efficient, which slightly influences higher prices. Additionally, the Mono-Si panels have a high-power output and a lifespan of more than 25 years!
Polycrystalline Solar Panels (Poli)
The polycrystalline panels are made by melting raw silicon, which significantly reduces their production time and price. Their efficiency rate is slightly lower than monocrystalline panels, around 16% and (like Mono panels) will last for over 25 years! They are produced differently, so their look differs from monocrystalline panels: they have a blue, speckled look to them. While they may look different, these panels are just as good as monocrystalline panels and are commonly used in the commercial sector.
Thin-Film: Amorphous Silicon Solar Panels
Amorphous panels are produced by placing materials like silicon, copper or cadmium onto a base. The surface color can either be dark blue or black. In comparison to the other types of solar panels Mono and Poli, this kind of panel is cheaper because their manufacturing utilizes less material. Also, thin-film panels are often used for smaller solar power installations and are very flexible, which makes the application highly manageable. They have a lifespan of about 15 years and their efficiency rate reaches 10%. Consequently, you need twice as many amorphous panels to generate the same amount of power as monocrystalline panels.
The table below shows a comparison of three types of solar panels: monocrystalline,
polycrystalline, and thin-film.
These three most common types of solar panels are all advantageous for different reasons, and anyone of them may be the best for your specific needs. For your questions regarding the switch to Dallas solar or about which of the three types of solar panels may be best for you, contact Solartime USA today.
Looking for more information on solar panels? Get a solar panel 101 run down on how they work and the benefits they bring!
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Monday, 16 August 2021 22:00
How the 2019 Federal Solar Tax Credit Works and What You Need to Know
Solar energy not only helps save the planet, but it can also help you save money!
Did you know that once you install solar panels on your home, you’re eligible to claim a third of your total setup costs on your tax return? For anyone who’s on the fence about switching to solar from traditional power grids, reaping the benefits from the Federal Solar Tax Credit could be just the thing to sway your decision.
Here’s what you need to know in order to do it right:
Understanding the Federal Solar Tax Credit
As mentioned above, the Federal Solar Tax Credit (or the Investment Tax Credit) allows you to claim 30% of your total solar installation, licenses, and equipment costs on your Federal tax return.
This means that if you wind up spending $15,000 altogether on your new solar system, you’ll essentially save $5,000 on your taxes the next year. In fact, research shows that the average solar shopper in 2019 saves around $5,000 just by switching to solar and taking advantage of the current program.
This opportunity was originally introduced in 2016, and Congress has since extended the tax credit to 2022 for homeowners to take advantage of in hopes to promote sustainable energy consumption. However, this deal won’t be around for long.
How the Federal Solar Tax Credit Will Change Over the Years
Unfortunately, the Federal Solar Tax Credit only has a lifespan of 5 years. Not to mention, its value depreciates the longer you wait.
The amount that you can deduct from your following year’s taxes becomes less and less with each passing year. Here’s a quick breakdown of the payout differences:
- 2019: If you purchase solar panels within the year, you can enjoy the full 30% tax credit on your entire system installation. Now is the time to buy since 2019 is more than halfway through!
- 2020: Anyone who makes the change to solar energy can enjoy a 26% tax credit off their total cost.
- 2021: A little late to the game, but homeowners and commercial business owners can still claim a 22% tax credit on their solar panel system from Uncle Sam.
- 2022 and beyond: At this point, only commercial solar energy buyers can claim a modest 10% tax credit on their solar setups. Residential homeowners are out of luck.
Although the deal starts to wither, the U.S government does give buyers a little breathing room to get the job done and reap the rewards. For instance, changes to the program have made it so that people can claim the tax credit immediately after construction and installation is finished. The only catch is that solar systems have to be fully operational by the end of 2023.
Knowing if You’re Eligible for the Federal Solar Tax Credit
Combing through all this information concerning timeframes and percentages may seem a bit overwhelming, but knowing if you’re eligible for the Federal Solar Tax Credit and claiming benefits is pretty straightforward.
Essentially, the only stipulation that determines your eligibility for the Investment Tax Credit is whether or not you own your solar system outright. This means that, if you happen to lease your solar systems through a solar energy provider, you do not own the equipment. Therefore, you’re not eligible for any kind of tax credit.
On the other hand, if you do own your system, great! Claiming your solar tax credit is as easy as informing your year-end accountant about your purchase and giving them the proof, or if you use a virtual tax filer (TurboTax, H&R Block), you can simply plug in the credit and watch your savings roll in.
Working with a Solar Professional Can Help
Whether you’ve already made a solar system purchase or you’re considering taking the plunge, working with a solar professional can help make the process a lot easier.
For those with a setup in place, don’t hesitate to reach out to your provider to ask questions and gain valuable insights so that you can get the most out of your energy plan. From product issues to general questions, an expert-level solar provider should assist you with any problems so that you can live a better life with a sustainable peace of mind. That being said, if solar energy is new to you, then feel free to contact a professional at SolarTime USA to learn more.
Their mission is to always put the customer first. Serving over 21,000 families and businesses throughout the U.S. and Europe, you can trust that your solar needs will be met with the utmost care, and most of all, the greatest affordability.
Reaping the benefits of the Federal Solar Tax Credit is just one aspect of how solar energy can benefit your home, so visit Dallas Solar Company SolarTime USA today and start making a difference for the future.
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Monday, 16 August 2021 21:57
Solar Panel Appraisal Value: Do Solar Panels Increase Home Value?
Do you know about solar panel appraisal value and how it can increase your home’s selling price and decrease your electricity bills?
You might not be moving and selling yet, but it’s worth to be aware of what value your home could gain with solar panels installation added to it. In this blog post, we will explain how solar panel impacts your appraisal value.
Solar Panel Appraisal Value
According to the study by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, people who are looking for a new home have been willing to pay more for a property with the solar system already installed. The study examined about 23,000 home sales during 13 years of home sale data. The findings showed that homes with solar panel installation are more expensive by an average of $4/Watt more than homes without solar panels.
Cash Purchase
Customers who purchase solar panels with cash are fully owning their system. In this case, a system is considered as a part of the property and it raises the value of the house.
Financing
Solar Panels financing through a loan that has since been paid in full means that you are now the owner of the system. If your solar panel system is financed via an unpaid loan, you are obliged to make monthly payments to cover your debt, ownership depends on the contract signed with the lender. Selling your home with the solar loan increases the value of your property and thanks to the additional revenue you may pay off the loan. In some instances, you may also choose to pass on the solar loan to the new home-buyer, without increasing the sale value.
Lease
Leasing the solar panels allows the homeowners to pay for the right to use the solar system for a defined period of time, but they are not the owners of the system. The system belongs to the solar provider. When you are ready to sell your home you can pay the rest of your lease and sell the solar system to the new homeowner. There is also a possibility to transfer the lease to the buyer, provided that the new property owner wants to take over the lease.
How Solartime Can Help
We are aware that solar panel installation is a long-term investment so we want to make it more simple and straightforward for all families. If you decide to sell your home with a solar loan, we can help you transfer it to the new homeowner. We can also assist you in moving your solar panels to your new home. We are here to help you in the best way we could.
Should you have any further questions about this, do not hesitate to contact us at 972 675 7725 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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Monday, 16 August 2021 21:54
Know the Ins-and-Outs of HOA and Solar Panels Installation
Aside from taking care of the trash and making sure your community pool is always clean, your homeowners’ association (HOA) has a lot of pull when it comes to remodeling your home or outfitting it with certain appliances.
Overall, you may think that something like adding solar panels to your home is harmless, and even a good option for conserving resources, but in most cases, there’s an approval process you’ll need to follow before anything can happen. Needless to say, preparing yourself for any potential obstacles can help get your solar panels up and running when the time comes.
If your home is subject to the rules of an HOA, then here’s what you should know about the role they play in solar panel installation:
What’s the Purpose of an HOA?
First off, an HOA’s main objective is to make sure that each property in the community is held to a high standard.
Essentially, this means bolstering property values with maintenance efforts, complying with state property laws, and upholding board regulations set up by community members and the HOA’s Board of Directors. Because of their dedication to creating a desirable, valuable place to live, lots of homeowners can enjoy their property without dealing with tedious chores and expenses often associated with living in a residential area, such as mowing lawns and raking leaves.
Other HOA Benefits
There are tons of benefits that living under an HOA can provide for a homeowner. Some of these include…
- Community pools
- Basketball courts
- Volleyball Courts
- Hot tubs
- Saunas
- Playgrounds
- Running and walking paths
- Gas and charcoal grills
- Clubhouses
- Patios areas
Anyone living in the community can take advantage of what an HOA has to offer, and upkeep for each benefit comes from membership dues that each homeowner pays monthly.
How Does an HOA Affect Solar Panel Installation?
Your HOA is in charge of making sure that each property is presentable and appealing to its neighbors, as well as the general public in terms of selling real estate.
With that in mind, solar panel installation tends to disrupt those ideals. In most cases, solar panels have to be installed on the roof of a building or attached to the side of a home. Instantly, this creates an unpleasant appearance in the eyes of board members. Not to mention, some of your neighbors may complain that your solar panels are obstructing their view or creating an ugly “aesthetic” that may drive down property values as a whole.
Altogether, your main recourse is to check with your HOA representatives to see what options are available to you. For instance, you may have to submit a proposal of your solar panel installation plans with your location and installation costs intact. That being said, if your HOA is making the process extra difficult, you may have some legal rights to fall back on that can bypass restrictions.
Solar Access Rights to Understand
If your HOA is against you installing solar panels on your home, many states have solar access rights that you can take advantage of to overcome the pushback.
Places like California, Texas, Florida, Utah, and Arizona (lots of sunny places) have laws known as “Solar Access Rights” that prohibit HOAs from denying homeowners access to solar energy, whether it be through contract agreements or verbal reprimands.
Even on a Federal level, past legislation efforts introduced The American Clean Energy and Security Act, which was a national measure to forbid HOAs from restricting solar panel installation on homeowner property. Sadly, the bill didn’t pass, but it opened the doorway for state legislators to make an impact on energy conservation efforts on a residential level.
To ensure that you have solar access rights at your disposal, be sure to check with your state’s laws before launching a campaign against your HOA. After all, you do have to live there, so try your best to make any disputes or proposals as friendly and cordial as possible.
Be Open-minded and Work with Your HOA
The last thing you want is to create an unpleasant living situation for yourself, so always be open-minded and work with your HOA to come up with the best solution for your solar panel installation.
Half of all states in the U.S. have rights in place to protect solar panel installation, so chances are that your HOA already accounts for it and has active measures in place to appease homeowners. However, in case there’s no precedent to work from, use your voice to participate in HOA meetings, work with your rep to devise a fair plan, and talk with your neighbors to respect their wishes and honor your own.
With a little ingenuity and flexibility, you’d be surprised at what you can come up with. Who knows, maybe by you leading the pack, the rest of your community will be inspired to get solar panels, too! If and when they do, contact Solartime USA to get the job done.
Contact us today for a free solar panel installation consultation!
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Monday, 16 August 2021 21:51
Solar Panels and Hail Damage: How to Protect Your Solar Panels
With hail season in full swing, protect your solar panels from hail damage to keep their energy supply in working condition.
Solar panels and hail damage can happen in the blink of an eye. One minute the sun is shining bright across the Lone Star state, then suddenly, debris the size of golfballs rattles down and wreaks havoc that’s often expensive and stressful to repair.
Needless to say, there are several ways to mitigate Mother Nature’s actions to ensure your safety at all times. If you’re curious as to how you can stay ahead of any potential problems, here’s how to protect your solar panels from hail damage:
Know What Your Solar Panels Can Withstand
According to research from the Energy Department’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), a survey of 50,000 solar photovoltaic (PV) systems installed in the U.S. between 2009 and 2013 found that only 0.1% of them were damaged or classified as malfunctioned each yearly review.
This means that solar panels have outstanding durability when it comes to extreme weather patterns. In fact, manufacturers actually test their solar panels to ensure that hail storms won’t be an issue.
Generally, solar panels can endure hailstones up to one inch in size (25mm) at a falling speed of 50 miles per hour. To give you an idea of how this translates in a real scenario, back in 2017, the NREL campus in Golden, CO faced a devastating hail storm that shattered car windows and left dents in homeowners’ roofs. Surprisingly, of the 3,000 panels on their building, only one was broken, which means when worrying about a situation between your solar panels and hail, you can trust that your panels hold up pretty well in the face of danger.
Stay Up-to-date with Local Weather Reports
Now that you know how resilient your solar panels are, your next best move is to stay up-to-date with local weather reports so you can anticipate any serious strikes.
There are some great resources that residents in North Texas can take advantage of when it comes to weather preparedness. Here are a few of them to consider:
- Sign Up for Text Alerts: The Office of Emergency Management in Fort Worth offers a free text alert system for anyone who inquires. All you have to do is text your zip code to 888777 or register online. Within minutes, you’ll get a detailed report that notifies you about any impending hail storms or severe weather attacks.
- Download Weather Apps On Your Phone: Thanks to technology, you can get access to detailed weather reports in a matter of seconds by downloading weather apps on your smartphone or mobile device. Weather Underground, The Weather Channel, and RadarScope are some of the best weather apps of 2019 for you to stay informed, so train yourself to do daily check-ups during hail season.
- Find Shelter In Case of Emergencies: Hail storms may only do minimal damage to your solar panels, but they can do much more to your car, home, or even yourself! With this in mind, it’s best to choose a designated shelter for you and your loved ones to retreat to in case of emergencies. This can be a basement, a secure part of your home, or a covered parking space.
- Get Comprehensive Insurance Coverage: Lastly, many parts of North Texas offer comprehensive insurance packages that cover natural disasters. This means that if your solar panels (or any other parts of your home) are damaged from hail, you can get them replaced without having to pay a fortune. Just make sure to check over your homeowner policy to ensure that it includes solar panels. In most cases, a panel may have to be removed and reinstalled so a roofer can fix a damaged roof.
Perform Regular Maintenance to Your Solar Panels
Although hail storms are unpredictable in terms of how much damage they can cause, it’s always a good idea to perform regular maintenance to your solar panels to ensure they work properly and are ready for anything.
For instance, you can do several things to keep your solar panels running at optimum levels. Plus, the workload is relatively simple:
- Keep Your Solar Panels Clean: All kinds of grime and debris can stifle the abilities of your solar panels over time. On a regular basis, make sure to clean them with water and wipe them free of dust, rain residue, bird excrement, tree limbs, or pollen. In some cases, hiring a professional to clean your solar panels is a good idea to avoid dangerous heights.
- Install a Solar Panel Cover: Some solar companies may provide you with a protective cloth that covers your solar panels from light debris and buildup. However, remember that your equipment is quite durable on its own! That being said, there aren’t too many mainstream options when it comes to dedicated solar panel covers, although you can install your own using plexiglass from your local hardware store.
Keep Your Solar Panels Protected No Matter What
Despite how strong your solar panels may be against the elements, nothing beats the reassurance and know-how of a solar panel company professional at Solartime USA.
Our team provides custom solar designs to ensure your new solar panels fit perfectly to your home, along with them performing at their highest levels to give you maximum energy at an affordable cost.
To learn more about our residential solar panels, custom solar designs, or to inquire about maintenance issues, please contact Solartime USA today.
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Monday, 16 August 2021 21:48
Do Solar Panels Work on Cloudy Days?
Yes, solar panels will still generate electricity on cloudy days, just about 20-30% of its full capacity. As a result, clouds reduce the amount of sunlight that reaches your panels. Solar panels are designed to use direct and indirect sunlight to generate electricity. No worries, you are still producing power even when the clouds are up there!
Do Solar Panels Work In The Cold?
Solar panels’ production is more reliant on the amount of the sunlight that reaches the panels, than the temperature of the air surrounding them. However, since we are dealing with electricity, it is known that as the panels get hotter, they produce less energy even with the same amount of sunlight. The panels are tested at a temperature of 25 degrees C- about 77 degrees F, and heat can reduce that efficiency by 10-25%. That’s why the best production months for Texas are during spring and fall when days are already long, but the temperature is mild!
How About Rainfall?
Solar panels produce electricity even on rainy days due to visible sunlight getting through the rain. Rain is beneficial for solar panels, as it helps to keep your panels operating efficiently by washing away dust, pollen, birds’ droppings, and or debris. So rainy days are solar-shower days!
And Snowfall?
A little bit of snow, as in the case of rain, can be useful for cleaning solar panels. The sunlight can still pass through a thin cover of snow. Designers always install solar panels at the most effective angle to help with sun reflection and the fall of snow if needed. Fortunately, we do not have to deal with this as much, here in Texas!
Solar Panels in Hail
Solar panels could possibly be damaged by a heavy hailstorm, but it is very rare. Fortunately, if it happens, any potential damage caused by severe weather conditions would be covered by your homeowner’s insurance, just like your roof. Solar Panels are tougher to break than your roof, so you can sleep calmly! Don’t worry about solar panels and hail – panels will withhold the hail and if not we will work with your insurance to fix them if needed!
Solar Panels In The Wind
Most solar panels can withstand winds up to 100mph. Every solar installation is firmly attached to the roof. The panels must be properly mounted to a sturdy, immovable surface to pass the final inspection.
If you still have any questions regarding the performance of solar panels or are looking for solar panel installation share your questions with us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call/text us 972 675 7725.
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Monday, 16 August 2021 21:43
Solar power is great, but where do I start?
Our number one goal is to make ALL of our customers happy! One of them offered to write a blog post explaining how easy it was to go solar. We asked her to tell us her story and this is what she wrote:
That’s a great question and it can be an overwhelming task to try to figure out. My name is Heike and I had that same daunting task ahead of me, where do I start? How do I find out more? How do I know I’m dealing with a legitimate company…oh, and even worse, I’m a co-op member is Solar power even possible for our family?
All those questions made my head spin, luckily that was a little over a year ago and I am happy to say I now have answers! I’m happy to share my experience with you and hopefully take some of the headaches away for you.
As I mentioned I’m a co-op member, not by choice mind you, that’s the only option where we live, however, we now have solar panels!!!
From my experience, it’s most important to have a company that is honest, helpful and passionate about solar power and helping others become solar power users.
After talking to a few other solar companies I finally found Solartime USA!!! Right at the first meeting, I was impressed with the knowledge and history of the company, this is a family owned and ran a company that has been in business in Europe for many years (let’s face it; Europe has been at the forefront of the task to save our environment).
Solartime USA will have a representative come out, go over your ideas with you and help you get the system you envision, whether that is roof mounted, a ground mount or even on a carport. The support is amazing, they will walk you through the entire process, pretty much handle everything for you from design to finance to installation (in our case they handled everything with the co-op as well!)…The icing on the cake is the 30% tax credit from the government and yes, you guessed it, Solartime USA even has help available for claiming your tax credit- for FREE! You’ll end up with a high-quality system with a great warranty. Most importantly, the support continues after installation, your system is remotely monitored. We’ve gotten random cards in the mail or a call to make sure we are happy with our system.
The entire process, from the first meeting to completed installation only took a few weeks! All those hours I spent worrying about how to get solar was basically wasted, this was so very easy once I found Solartime USA. We produce energy for ourselves, what we overproduce we sell back to the co-op, our electric bills have drastically shrunk, we made it through the winter months that usually produced $500 to $650 monthly bills to our highest bill being $130. Going solar has been a great choice!!! In a nutshell, going solar can be very simple, it has been for us, it can be for you. All it takes is to reach out…here’s how:
Call: 972-675-7725 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or go online: www.solartimeusa.com
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