Best Solar Panels for Homes in Tampa, FL

How to choose solar energy companies in Tampa

Tampa homeowners can reduce their energy bills and enjoy an eco-friendly lifestyle by using the sun to power their homes. Whether you want to add solar panels to construction plans for a new home in a fast-growing neighborhood like Land O’Lakes, or you’re retrofitting a bungalow in Seminole Heights, you will be in good company in Florida. The state, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association:

• Has almost 230,000 homes using solar power
• Is in the top 10 for total solar capacity
• Is home to about 450 companies working in the solar industry
• Ranks second in solar growth projection over the next five years

Installing solar panels in Tampa, which go either on a roof or the ground, cost homeowners an average of about $15,000, depending on a number of factors, like how much power the panels can produce. This cost includes installation but not ongoing maintenance or finance charges. Keep in mind that Tampa residents who install solar panels qualify for the Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit, which currently amounts to 30 percent of installation costs. Homes with solar panels also can have higher resale value and sell quicker, and Floridians get a property tax incentive.

Most solar panel installations are done on roofs because it is the easier and less expensive choice. But the roof must be strong and durable enough, so it is best to do any roof replacement or repair work before installation. Panels must slope at the right angle, usually between 15 and 40 degrees, and be facing a direction that will allow maximum exposure to sunlight, usually southward.

When looking for a solar energy company in Tampa, consider whether a business:

• Is certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners
• Offers a free in-home consultation to evaluate your property
• Includes installation in the price
• Has buying, leasing and loan options available
• Offers monocrystalline and/or polycrystalline panels and explains the difference
• Handles any permits necessary in Tampa and Florida
• Includes a warranty and has an available maintenance plan

Before you transition to solar energy in Tampa, check your homeowners insurance to find out what kind of coverage it will provide for your solar panels. Under most policies, solar energy systems are protected.