FAQ

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

When you install a solar energy system on your property, you save money on your electricity bills and protect yourself against rising electricity rates in the future. How much you can save depends on the utility rates and solar policies in your area, but going solar is a smart investment regardless of where you live.

Solar power, like other renewable energy resources, has many environmental and health benefits. Going solar reduces greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change, and also results in fewer air pollutants like sulfur dioxide and particulate matter, which can cause health problems.

The easiest way to find out how much you pay for electricity (and how much electricity you use per month) is to take a look at your utility electricity bill. Review EnergySage’s guide to reading your electricity bill to find out exactly what to look for.

Net metering is the system that utilities use to credit solar energy system owners for the electricity produced by their solar panels. With net metering, you only pay for the electricity that you use beyond what your solar panels can generate. Net metering policies differ from state to state – from Massachusetts to California – so make sure to do your homework ahead of time.

Studies have shown that homes with solar energy systems sell for more than homes without them. However, your property value will only increase if you own, rather than lease, your solar panel system. In most parts of the country, going solar will actually increase your property value more than a kitchen renovation.

Before taxes, an installed rooftop solar energy system can cost anywhere between $25,000 and $45,000, according to the Center for Sustainable Energy. Paying to replace a damaged system could be a big financial burden for some homeowners. Being able to ensure that investment against damage from a storm or other event could be key in whether or not you choose to add solar panels to your home. Read More

Each and every one of our electricity bills revolves around one thing: our kWh (kilowatt-hour) usage. The problem is most of us are not exactly sure what that means. And since this measurement dictates how much we end up paying, it’s a good idea to understand what it is and how to calculate it for your home.Read More

Depending on the manufacturer, solar panels’ performance can be guaranteed for 25 – 30 years, but it’s very possible that your panels will go on to produce electricity for longer than that. The first 25 to 30 years after your solar installation is considered the system’s “useful life”, but panels can still produce electricity for decades longer. In fact, the world’s first modern solar panel is still producing electricity at the ripe age of 60! Read More

LEDs use much less energy than incandescent bulbs because diode light is much more efficient, power-wise, than filament light. LED bulbs use more than 75% less energy than incandescent lighting. At low power levels, the difference is even larger. Read More

Micro-Inverters perform the same basic function as string inverters, except they are installed underneath each solar panel on your roof. Each of these Micro-Inverters is about the size of an internet router. 

The big difference between Micro-Inverters and string inverters is that a solar panel installation with Micro-Inverters will typically have the same number of Micro-Inverters as there are solar panels (Note: there are Micro-Inverters that accept two or four solar panels).Read More

REC Group is Europe’s largest manufacturer of solar panels and has offices in Europe, the United States, Asia, and Australia. The company was founded in Norway in 1996 and manufactures its solar panels in Singapore. With their new Alpha and Alpha-black series of solar panels, REC has introduced a high-powered solar panel that competes with other excellent brands in the market. As a result, REC solar panels are an increasingly popular option in quotes to shoppers comparing solar offers on the EnergySage Solar Marketplace.Read More

Rooftop Work (microinverters and cabling)

The rooftop work for an Enphase system follows an easy, step-by-step process. Use the overview below as your guide or dig into the details in each of the sections that follow.Read More

The answer is yes, but it all depends on how your solar system was designed. There are many factors to consider, such as the house’s size, rooftop space for installation, the house (is the house facing south?), type of panels and equipment to be installed, and existing hour electrical consumption. However, with a home solar system,Read More

In theory, you can walk on any type of solar panel, but either you or the panel or both, might not be very happy with the outcome! You definitely don’t want to walk on aluminum-framed glass panels, but other types are designed specifically to be walked on, the approximate weight handle by a single solar panel can be up to 200 Lb. without breaking. Read More

Title XXVII RAILROADS AND OTHER REGULATED UTILITIES Chapter 366 PUBLIC UTILITIES View Entire Chapter 366.91 Renewable energy.— (1) The Legislature finds that it is in the public interest to promote the development of renewable energy resources in this state. Renewable energy resources have the potential to help diversify fuel types to meet Florida’s growing dependency on natural gas for electricity production, minimize the volatility of fuel costs,Read More


Solar energy is very important and can change the way we live forever! Why not make your change today? Read More

Enlightened Solar ™ is a solar energy company located in Hernando County. We have been in business for over 6 years and are still going strong. We have done hundreds of installations throughout the Tampa Bay Area and have many very happy customers. We are looking to hire  reliable,Read More

They cannot work together.

Unlike the electric grid, your generator cannot absorb as well as generate power. So excess power created by your solar-powered inverter would burn out your generator when they together created more power than used by your house. To prevent that your grid-tied inverter was designed to shut off the solar power when the grid goes down.Read More

Lowering your energy costs and protecting the environment tend to be the most common reasons why people choose or plan to go solar, but there are many other benefits. Whether you’re a homeowner, business, or nonprofit, here are some of the reasons to go solar and install an Enlightened Solar solar system.Read More

Watch this video to learn about the features of the Enlightened Solar mobile app and how to access them. the app helps you to monitor our production, consumption and get many different reports that help you to keep track of your consumption Read More

Learn how to compare your utility bill with the data reported in the Enlightened Solar App

 

When you’re comparing the energy reported in the Enlightened Solar desktop application or the Enlightened Solar mobile app with the energy reported on your utility bill, here are a few things to keep in mind:Read More

The confidence we have in our products is reflected in our comprehensive warranty coverage. Enphase Energy® offers the industry’s leading warranty and servicing packages.Read More

It is common for panels on the same roof to vary in energy generation by 10%. There are many factors that cause variation such as panel direction, shading from chimneys or trees, and other obstructions.

  • Solar panels are “mismatched” directly from the factory and can vary. This is normal.
  • The solar panels that are being compared may not be on the same roof. In this case, they won’t receive the same amount of sun each day.Read More

Solar panels absorb the sun’s energy throughout the day and convert it into direct current (DC) electricity. Most homes and businesses run on alternating current (AC) electricity, so the DC electricity is then passed through an inverter to convert it to usable AC electricity. At that point, you either use the electricity in your house or send it back to the electric grid.

A detailed answer to provide information about your business, build trust with potential clients, and help convince the visitor that you are a good fit for them.

Solar panels convert sunshine into power, so if your panels are covered in snow they can’t produce electricity. Snow generally isn’t heavy enough to cause structural issues with your panels, and since most panels are tilted at an angle the snow will slide off. If snow does accumulate, your panels are easy to clean.

When you install solar panels on your property, you will still be connected to the grid. This allows you to draw from the grid when your system is not producing all of the power that you need, and send power back to the grid when you produce more than you use. It is possible to go off the grid with a solar energy system that includes battery storage, but it will cost significantly more and is unnecessary for the majority of homeowners.

Unless your solar energy system includes battery storage and you are fully off the grid, you will still receive a bill from your utility. However, you can dramatically reduce your bill, or even cut the amount you owe to $0, with a solar panel system that matches your energy use.

If your solar panel system is connected to the grid, it will shut off in the event of a blackout. This is to prevent emergency responders and electricity utility repair-people from being injured by your panels sending power back to the grid. However, there are certain inverters you can buy that provide backup power in a blackout when paired with a battery.

Solar panel systems are made of durable tempered glass and require little to no maintenance for the 25 to 35 years that they will generate power. In most cases, you don’t even need to clean your solar panels regularly. If something does happen, most equipment manufacturers include warranties, although warranty terms depend on the company.

If you have recently purchased a house or building with an Enphase system and would like to gain ownership of the system, please click this link to initiate the change of ownership process. You will be prompted to create an Enlighten account if you do not have one already. (When prompted to create your account, select Other in the New User Registration page.) if you want to verify this information from the vendor please visit.Read more

The Enphase Home Solar Energy System is a complete solution that produces, stores, monitors, controls, and analyzes the energy in your home.Read More

On January 22, 2018, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer announced that President Trump approved recommendations to provide relief to U.S. solar panel manufacturers by imposing safeguard tariffs on imported solar cells and modules. The tariff facts are now clear: beginning this year foreign solar panels will be subject to a 30% tariff that will decrease by 5% each year until 2022 (the first 2.5 gigawatts of imported cells are excluded).Read More

Considering solar modules as a commodity is an easy trap to fall into. DC capacity is important, but there is so much more to solar modules that should be carefully considered if you want to ensure you’re delivering the right technology to your customers. While customers may care about “the first cost,” helping to explain “total cost” and system yields may have a positive impact on the preservation of margin and increased revenues for your business. In this article, we’re getting an inside look from the experts at LG Solar into how to properly select the right modules for your projects!Read More

However, it is possible to minimize the cost of your electric bill to its minimum payment, which can be anywhere from $9 to $18. This amount represents the value or cost to be connected to the electricity grid. Power provider companies normally Charge a fee to be interconnected; like a solar independent, the mentioned fee normally is to provide Billing Services, grid maintenance, and monitoring your electric power needs. If your system does not have backup or batteries, you still depend on the electric grid. Read More

Net metering (also known as net energy metering or NEM) is a solar incentive that allows you to store energy in the electric grid. When your solar panels produce more electricity than you need, that energy is sent to the grid in exchange for credits. Then, at night or other times when your solar panels are under-producing, you pull energy from the grid and use these credits to offset the costs of that energy. Read More

  1. The first thing you want to do is to check with your solar panel manufacturer. They might have specific recommendations for cleaning.
  2. Solar panels can become incredibly hot in the midday sunshine. Either clean your solar panels in the morning/afternoon or pick a relatively cool day.
  3. First, try your garden hose to see if it alone does the job. If a lot of dust and dirt have accumulated you might need to clean more thoroughly.
  4. Fill a bucket or spray bottle with warm water and soap – no other special equipment is needed.
  5. Clean the surface of the solar panel with a soft cloth or sponge. You do not have to clean the wiring underneath.Read More

But solar panels generating don’t last forever. The industry standard life span is about 25 to 30 years, and that means that some panels installed at the early end of the current boom aren’t long from being retired. And each passing year, more will be pulled from service — glass and metal photovoltaic modules that soon will start adding up to millions, and then tens of millions of metric tons of material.Read More

Installing a solar panel system costs an average of $23,597 and dropping. Most homeowners pay between $16,532 and $30,820. Expect to pay $2.50 to $3.50 per watt with most systems in the 3kW to 10kW range.Read More

  1. STEP 1: Sunlight activates the rack and panel solar system.
  2. STEP 2: The cells produce an electrical current
  3. STEP 3: The electrical energy is converted.
  4. STEP 4: The converted electricity powers your home.
  5. STEP 5: A net meter measures usage.Read More

Installing a solar panel system costs an average of $23,597 and dropping. Most homeowners pay between $16,532 and $30,820. Expect to pay $2.50 to $3.50 per watt with most systems in the 3kW to 10kW range. Until the end of 2020, you can deduct 26% of the installation costs with the federal investment tax credit (ITC)Read More

The main tax incentive offered by the federal government is known as the solar investment tax credit (ITC) for businesses, or the residential renewable energy tax credit for households. In either case, the federal tax credit allows you to reduce your income taxes owed by up to 26% of the total cost of solar system installation in 2020.Read More

Safety is the first thing to consider! This guide you will teach you everything you need to know about turning your system on.

A simple health check is to look at the color of the lights shining on the box during daylight hours when the system’s meant to be running. A green light on your inverter means your system is functioning properly. A red or orange light during daylight hours means there’s a system event or fault. Read More

  • With a grid solar power system, any extra power produced is fed back into the grid. If your utility company allows for net metering they owe you for excess power that you don’t use.
  • Aside from occasional cleaning, solar panels are virtually maintenance-free and will last for years. Many panels have guarantees in excess of 20 years. Once solar panels are installed, there are no recurring costs.Read More

It’s no secret that the current administration in Washington, DC is a much bigger fan of fossil fuels than renewable energy. But cities across America are showing that you can grow green jobs and the clean energy economy locally, with initiatives like renewables-friendly regulations, electric vehicle charging stations, direct municipal investments in wind and solar, and much, much more.Read More

First, make sure your home is connected to the Internet.

Check to see that other devices in your home are successfully connected to the Internet. If other devices in your home are having connectivity issues, you may need to work with your Internet Service Provider to fix your home’s Internet connection. Once you’re verified that your home is connected to the Internet, let’s work on getting your Envoy back up-and-running.Read More

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With many years of industry experience under our belt, we know how to make the process of choosing to go solar painless and hassle-free for our clients. Our proven installation process ensures that every single detail is covered.