Go Solar Energy For Life - Just another WordPress weblog

Go Solar Energy For Life

Just another WordPress weblog

A Happy New Year to you, your family, and friends! icon wink Solar & Renewable Energy Solutions Continue to Flourish!

Solar Energy Solutions 500x247 Solar & Renewable Energy Solutions Continue to Flourish!

I’m so happy to be doing what I’m passionate about, and being able to do it while we’re seeing such a great evolution with Solar & Renewable Energy solutions. The realization, adoption, and results generated from these solutions are simply mind-blowing.

More energy can be captured, and utilized, with today’s solutions – less expensively – than ever before. icon smile Solar & Renewable Energy Solutions Continue to Flourish!

If you’d like to learn more about solar and renewable energy solutions – feel free to comment below, contact us online or give us call at (239) 574-1500.

Be sure to take a look at all of our wonderful online resources as well:

 

We service the following areas in Southwest Florida -  Cape Coral, Fort Myers, Naples, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Bonita Springs, or Hendry or Glades Counties.

We also service all brands of solar equipment! Find out what solar equipment services we perform here.

Learn More about cost-efficient solar energy.

Discover how you can improve our environment by using renewable energy for life. Check our Resources page.

Thank you so much, and here’s to a renewable energy world!

-Dan

Every time I receive an update from the Rocky Mountain Institute, I find it very inspiring, and…

Rocky Mountain Institute 491x350 Todays Energy Landscape   What You Need To Know

…they seem to be on target all of the time.

Recently, they published the 10 Facts About Our Energy Landscape, which are:

  1. The US burns 13 millions barrels of oil a day (half imported) at a cost of $2 billion!
  2. The US’s 120 million buildings consume 42% of the nation’s energy.
  3. We spend more than $400 billion a year to heat and power buildings.
  4. US industry employs about 131 million people and generates over 40% of the US GDP, using roughly one-fourth of the nation’s total energy per year.
  5. 86% of US electricity is generated in large, centralized power plants.
  6. By 2050, if we make efficiency a goal, and switch from oil, coal and one-third less natural gas to renewable energy, we’d save a net $5 trillion!
  7. By 2050, a $2 trillion investment to make cars, trucks and planes more efficient, and more effectively used would save $5.8 trillion.
  8. Building’s energy use can be 40 to 60% more efficient in 2050 than today – despite 70% more floorspace.
  9. US industry can produce about 84% more output with 9 to 13% less energy.
  10. We can capture and integrate the renewable energy needed to meet 80% or more of our electricity needs by 2050.

Interesting, isn’t it?  Be sure to read the entire post, and comment below if you’d like to share your thoughts on this.

Thank you,

- Dan

Once I stepped inside, I knew…

Solar Skylights A Beautiful Kitchen Lit by the Sun 500x327 Solar Skylights   A Beautiful Kitchen in Cape Coral

(Photo used with permission from Paul Shahriari – www.FLGreenHouse.com)

…I’d found the most beautiful kitchen in the world! icon smile Solar Skylights   A Beautiful Kitchen in Cape Coral

It was absolutely break taking – aside from its very functional design – the fact that it was flooded with natural daylight really took it over the top!

Some light entered the room through windows on the north and south sides of the house, too.

But most of the light was provided by two tubular skylights centered in the ceiling.  The combination created a very enjoyable feeling…  I just wanted to stand there and breathe in the natural light.

Paul’s Florida High Performance Green House is located right here in Cape Coral, Florida, and he shares ALL of the details of this unique learning opportunity, including:

  • the cost/benefit of green building,
  • exactly what green elements are used in this project,
  • real-life data of energy consumption (this is amazing!), and so much more!

Be sure to learn more about Paul’s project at: www.FLGreenHouse.com.

How inspiring!

Enjoy,

- Dan

PS – Did you know we have 21 tubular solar skylights that light up our office’s at FafcoSolar?  Come in sometime, and see for yourself, it’s really cool!

Solar Skylights – How They Brighten Our World

Posted by Dan On September 1st

Thinking of reducing your energy expenses?

Solar Skylights 258x350 Solar Skylights   How They Brighten Our World

Our Showroom with Solar Lighting

The photo above shows the power of Solar Skylights redirecting sunlight directly into our showroom!

Did you know we have 21 tubular solar skylights that light up our entire office area?

The best part?  We hardly ever use the florescent lights.

Some of the benefits of tubular Solar Skylights are:

  • Energy savings – there’s no cost for directing natural light into your room!
  • Far less expensive than conventional skylights.
  • Emit more light per given area.

Be sure to learn more about Solar Skylights, or give us a call at (239) 574-1500!

Enjoy!

- Dan

PS – Also, feel free to stop by our office sometime and see our solar skylights in action!

If you have been waiting for a new rebate program to invest in solar, your time has come. Florida Power and Light, our state’s largest utility has just announced a NEW and Improved solar rebate program!

fafco logo 2010 web 500x250 FPL Solar Rebate   Save Money, Limited Time!

Beginning June 21, Florida Power & Light (FPL) will begin offering a rebate for solar electric (photovoltaic) and solar domestic hot water systems.

The rebates will require an application and pre-approval, and are available on a first come-first served basis.

Your early planning is critical because rebate funding is limited. Contact us, and we’ll help you through the application process to give you the best chance of qualifying for this exciting solar incentive.

The FPL photovoltaic rebate is $2 per installed watt of solar power with a limit of $20,000 for residences and $50,000 for businesses.

A typical 5 kilowatt residential grid-tied solar electric (photovoltaic) system would qualify for a $10,000 rebate, drastically increasing your return on investment!

Solar water heating systems qualify for a $1,000 rebate!

Coupled with a currently available 30% Federal Tax Credit and the lowest prices ever for solar energy systems, there has never been a better time to GO SOLAR!

If you have any questions about the FPL Solar Rebate, or would like to learn more about how we can help you – please contact us, or give us a call at (239) 574-1500.

Thank you,

Dan

WOW!  17 dollars and 74 cents…

My Electric Bill 500x186 Solar Energy Savings   How I Saved Over 70% in 1 Year!

That’s how much my Florida Power & Light (FPL) electrical bill was in March of this year…

The amazing thing?

Read the rest of this entry »

Is the Time Right for a Personal Revolution?

Posted by Dan On February 14th

Are you tired of waiting for someone to solve the energy problem?

Energy Problem Into Hands Is the Time Right for a Personal Revolution?

If you’re like me, you might be ready to take matters into your own hands.

But even though you feel ready, you might still be holding back a little.

Well, if that’s the case, I suggest you take a look at “The Cost of Doing Nothing”… an interesting 5 minute video produced by the Florida Solar Energy Center:





Continuing on… You can learn what really happened because we chose to do nothing by reading this article from Renewable Energy World.

Read the rest of this entry »

Recently, Dominic Zito, our Sales Manager, was interviewed…

Solar Power in Florida Solar Power in Florida: Energy Officials Visit Suncoast

…by ABC-7 about high-level energy officials from the Department of Energy coming to the Suncoast to meet with local officials talking about energy programs.

Including those that may bring green jobs to the area!

In the interview, Dominick said “We should absolutely be the front runners in solar energy.  The more installations I have, the more of my employees I have on the road working.  Hopefully down the line hiring more sales staff and technicians.”

To learn more about solar power, be sure to visit the “Go Solar” section of our web site!

If you’d like to read the article, click here.

Enjoy!

-Dan

Energy Efficiency – Think Twice

Posted by Dan On July 6th

In my last article, I explained the difference between power and energy.

energy efficiency Energy Efficiency   Think Twice

Special Thanks to Jason Szumlanski, our Operations Manager, for this blog post!

Being energy efficient is critical to saving money, but reducing power is only half the battle.  Some changes that may seem energy efficient on the surface may not save any energy at all.

Read the rest of this entry »

Some use the terms power and energy interchangeably…

Power versus energy Power vs. Energy   Understanding the Difference

Special Thanks to Jason Szumlanski, our Operations Manager, for this blog post!

However, these terms represent very different, but related concepts.

Read the rest of this entry »