home&garden
ELIMINATE YOUR ENERGY COSTS
IF YOU HAVE EVER
dreamed of owning a
homewhere you did not
have topay an electricity bill,
that dream is now a reality
for the fast-growing number
of Florida’s residents who
have chosen to have Zero
Energy homes. There are
three major factors that are
used by people to eliminate
their power bills, the first
being that the cost of highquality
solar power has
Solar Energy Management
dropped dramatically over the last few
years, and there have been significant
advances in photovoltaic (PV) technology.
Secondly, the federal government’s
generous tax credit covers up to a third of
the cost of going solar using photovoltaic
power. The third factor is that, here in
Florida, we are fortunate enough to have
net metering, a billing mechanism that
credits owners for the electricity they add
to the grid. Essentially, your electricity
meter runs backwards during the day
in order to provide a credit against any
electricity you may consume at night.
You are probably curious to learn what
a solar photovoltaic system is. These
systems (PV) consist of an arrangement
of several components, including solar
panels to absorb and convert sunlight
into electricity, an inverter which changes
the electrical current from direct current
to alternating current, as well as other
electrical accessories. In some instances,
it may also include an integrated battery
system. Solar PV converts light directly
into electricity and should not be
confused with older and less efficient
technologies, which are ubiquitous for
heating pools. In fact, anyone thinking
about installing a solar pool heater
should first consider solar PV, as this is a
much more effective use of available roof
instruments and panels to
ensure that the installation
achieves the client’s desired
goals both in terms of
aesthetics and power
production.
The main objective for
the team at Solar Energy
Management is to provide
each homeowner or
business a “Path to Zero
Energy.” Solar power can
be combined with LED
lighting, efficient air
conditioning, and building controls to
get a building to zero energy expense.
For example, Habitat for Humanity’s first
1,500 square-foot zero-energy home was
completed in 2013; and, recently, Solar
Energy Management completed the
largest rooftop commercial solar project
in the state of Florida. It is expected that
this 1.5 megawatt solar PV system will
reduce Great Bay Distributor’s energy
cost by 90%. This is very impressive
when you consider that the size of the
centre is 280,000 square feet. The firm
also took First Housing’s office building
in Tampa to Zero Energy in 2014. This
17,000 square-foot building now pays
nearly nothing for its power, thus
proving that having no electricity bill is no
longer a dream, but rather a new reality.
The knowledgeable team at Solar
Energy Management will work with you
to meet your budget and goals. They offer
2.99% financing, making solar power
even more affordable for any home or
business throughout Florida. It’s nice to
know that solar PV is now affordable and
is easy to install.
9
EDITOR’S NOTE: To convert your home to
zero energy, call Solar Energy Management
today at (888) 948-4765, or visit them on the
web at www.SolarEnergyMgmt.com.
space. One of the most attractive benefits
of having a solar PV system is that it
allows customers to levelize their energy
costs, thus substantially reducing the
ongoing electrical costs of their home or
office.
One Tampa Bay company that has led
the way in solar photovoltaic technology
is Solar Energy Management. This local
business, which operates throughout
Florida and the Caribbean, has been
recognized as the solar power leader in
the state of Florida for their work at
Great Bay Distributors in St. Petersburg.
Alvarez Homes, First Housing, Medallion
Homes, USF, Tampa Bay Trane, and
Wallace Welch & Willingham are among
their extensive list of Tampa Bay clients.
One of the many benefits of Solar Energy
Management’s model is that they are able
to provide you with a detailed solar
power design, which will calculate the
energy production from your potential
solar PV system; your return on investment;
and the carbon offset it produces.
Solar Energy Management also has
many years of experience working with
architects and builders to design a solar
PV system that can meet your desired
energy reduction goals and budget. This
firm is known for its attractive solar
power designs that use premium quality
112 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE JULY/AUGUST 2015