Florida Solar Panel Installations & Information

Did you know that it’s possible to save money by upgrading your roof? Florida solar panel installations have successfully saved property owners money for years, but a lot of people still have questions about how solar works in Florida. Whether you’re still wondering how solar panels can put extra money in your pocket or you just need to find the right solar panel installer, we’ve got all the information you need about Florida solar panels.

How to Save Money with Florida Solar Panels

Many Floridians are surprised to learn that several ways installing solar panels can save them money. For most people, the obvious way that solar saves money is by reducing the electricity bill. And this is absolutely true—in fact, Florida homeowners can save up to $1,910 per year by using solar energy to power their homes. But solar energy savings are just the tip of the iceberg.

Solar Panels Increase Your Home’s Resale Value

If you’re not an expert in Florida solar panels, then you probably don’t realize just how much solar roofing can increase your home’s value. A report published by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, a government-funded research institute, states that for every dollar your solar roof saves you per year, the value of your home increases by $20. So, using the number above, installing solar panels on your home could increase your property’s value by up to $38,200. It’s important to remember that this is the maximum increase in value based on your home only using solar energy, but this still indicates how much solar can save you.

And research shows that Florida solar panels can also make your home more attractive to potential buyers. Zillow reported that homes with solar panels sold, on average, for about four percent more than comparable homes without solar panels. With many buyers on the market concerned about being eco-friendly, there’s reason to suspect that installing solar panels could also help sell your home faster.

Solar Roofing Is More Affordable Than You Think

Okay, so solar panels in Florida are likely to lower your electricity bill and increase your home’s value. But how much do Florida solar panels cost?

There are a number of factors that influence how much a solar installation in Florida will cost. These include things like:

• Size of the panels being installed
• Solar panel manufacturer
• Labor costs for experienced solar installers

Given all of these factors, there is no one singular cost of solar panels in Florida. However, there are government incentives that make Florida solar panels more affordable than you might think.

• The Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC): This federal tax credit has been in place since the passing of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. And while its rates fluctuate year-to-year, it can represent big federal tax savings. In 2023, this ITC offers a tax credit of 30% of your total Florida solar panel installation costs. So, once you’ve filed your taxes, a $12,000 solar energy system could only end up costing you $9,000.
• Solar and CHP Sales Tax Exemption: Put simply, this tax exemption means that you don’t have to pay Florida’s typical six percent tax on your solar panel installation. If you’re paying for high-wattage solar panels, this can save you hundreds to thousands of dollars on your Florida solar panels.
• Property Tax Abatement for Renewable Energy Property: Normally, a major home improvement effort like installing a solar energy system would increase your property taxes. However, Florida gives its residents a 100% tax exemption on added property value to residential solar energy systems and an 80% tax exemption for non-residential systems. While this tax abatement is temporary, you’ll still have many years left to enjoy it, since it doesn’t expire until December 31, 2037.

As you can see, Florida solar panels are more affordable than many people realize. And given the many financial incentives to install a solar energy system, if you commit to using solar energy for years, it’s easy for your system to pay for itself. In this way, free solar panels in Florida are not hard to come by, given that solar energy systems pay for themselves over time.

Picking a Solar Energy System Installer in Florida

Once you understand the many financial benefits of Florida solar panels, the only thing left to do is find a solar panel installer near you. But how do you know who’s reputable? Keep reading to find out what makes a great solar energy system installer.

Look for High-Quality Solar Energy Systems

The unfortunate truth is that solar panels vary in quality. So when you’re choosing the roofing experts to install your solar panels, you have to make sure that they’re installing a reliable, reputable solar energy system.

At Classic Roofing & Construction, we use DecoTech solar panels for all of our solar panel installation projects. And several features make these panels much more appealing than conventional Florida solar panel options.

First and foremost, DecoTech solar panels don’t install like traditional, bulky solar panels. Instead, they install like a skylight: set into the roof instead of sitting on top of it. And this comes with a host of benefits, including better curb appeal for your home and better water-shedding without places for water to be trapped. This sleek, elegant design is perfect for property owners who don’t want to sacrifice looks for function with their solar energy system.

Look for Experience in Local Solar Installations

But if DecoTech’s solar panels are so much better than competitors’, why do people still use bulky, heavy solar panels that jut out from their homes? Well, probably because their roofing contractors don’t have the right qualifications to complete high-quality Florida solar panel installations.

Only GAF-certified roofing contractors can install these in-roof solar panels. And the certification process isn’t easy—it requires proof of the best quality and safety practices, and it must be renewed every year. But this challenging process is worth it because it comes with many benefits in addition to being able to install leading solar technologies; roofers with this certification can also extend stronger warranties to their customers.

That’s why we recertify through GAF’s Master Elite program every year. And if you’re still unsure about us as roofing system installers, that’s fair. It’s a big investment, and there are a lot of people out there that provide rushed, sloppy work. To prove we’re different, we proudly display hundreds of reviews where our community members share their stories of how we helped complete their roofing project quickly, with high-quality results, and for a very reasonable budget.

Look for Price Transparency in Your Florida Solar Panel Contractors

If a roofer hesitates to provide an estimate for your Florida solar panel installation, run. Experienced contractors have teams dedicated to looking at all the factors and providing you with a quick, easy estimate so that you can make the right decision for yourself and your property. That’s why at Classic, we make it simple and easy to get your free roofing estimate. And once you have your estimate in hand, our highly trained team will be happy to talk over any details with you and work with you to find a budget that makes sense for your Florida solar panel installation.