Tax credit ending! Tax credit was cut from 30% to 26%. It will go be reduced again to 22% next year, and then it’s gone!

Fortunately, if you haven’t begun your solar project yet, The Federal Solar Tax Credit (also known as the Investment Tax Credit or ITC)is still available to you. The tax credit will “sunset”. This means it will gradually decrease in the percentage of the project’s total cost applied to your tax bill over the next two years.

• 2020 projects are granted a 26% tax credit,
• dropping to 22% in 2021,
• 10% in 2022,
• and zero for residential solar after that.

As far as commercial installations go, the commercial solar tax credit is the same as the residential tax credit up until the end of 2021. After January 1, 2022, the commercial and utility solar ITC will reduce and hold at 10% indefinitely. If no new legislation is implemented, the ITC will disappear for residential projects in 2023.

While a 4 percent drop may not seem like much, it means thousands of dollars in savings when you’re investing ina solar panel system. For some, the difference between claiming the ITC in 2020 and 2021 may be less than $1,000. But the larger your system is, and the higher the cost of solar is in your area, the more you stand to lose from the ITC decrease.

Most importantly, the solar tax credit helps you save money even during the installation of the solar system. You start saving money from day one.

Installation costs include the system, labor, fees, taxes and certain corrective costs to enable installation of the system. Even the fees that go into consultations with a professional solar energy expert count as part of the installation costs.

How is the ITC calculated?

The credit is a dollar for dollar income tax reduction.

This means that the credit reduces the amount of tax that you owe.You simply subtract your credit amount from the total tax the IRS says you must pay.

How do you qualify?

You must meet a few requirements during the tax year:

• You mustinstall it by Dec. 31, 2020.
• You must own and not rent the home or business -a rental property does not qualify.
• You must own the solar panels. Leasing disqualifies you.

You claim the investment tax credit for solar when you file your yearly federal tax return, by completing IRS forms 1040 and 5695 (please consult your accountant during so).

To get a free estimate on a home improvement project and see if you qualify for the ITC, visithttps://floridasmartenergy.com/

Our planet’s temperature is rising at an alarming rate, and faster than we initially thought. Everywhere across the globe there are severe droughts, flooding, and intense storms. These extreme weather patterns cause chaos in the environment, economy, and society. It has become a part of the human experience and will be for years to come.

Unless we act now, by the year 2030 there will be even more extreme drought, wildfires, floods and food shortages for hundreds of millions of people due to the rise in temperature from dangerous greenhouse gas emissions. Entire countries face catastrophic consequences from the changes in our planet’s atmosphere and ecosystem. There is no room for argument; sustainable energies like solar power reduce air pollution and get our planet back on track for future generations. The time is now to reduce carbon emissions.

Carbon dioxide from burning toxic fossil fuels like coal, natural gas and oil is the worst offender; it is responsible for most of the pollution we breathe. CO2 remains in our climate system for a very long time. How long? Thousands of years states the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Solar plants produce zero emissions or waste. That pretty much says it all.

Solar Power Makes a Global Difference

We can state the obvious: power from the sun is free, sustainable, clean, renewable, and it’s not going away. Better yet? There are no dangerous emissions from energy generated through solar panels.

On the contrary, fossil fuels are not renewable. They are expensive to produce, they are damaging to our environment, and they’re finite.

Solar panels do not contaminate, they generate renewable energy, last over 25 years, are recyclable, don’t produce any gas emissions.

Here are five of the environmental benefits of renewable solar energy.

1. Reduces air pollution
2. Reduce water usage
3. Reduces dependence on nonrenewable energy sources
4. Improves humanity’s health in the long run
5. Helps fight climate change

Making a Positive Change with Solar Energy

It is not only up to governments to fight for the future of our planet. Everyone can make a difference. Sustainable energy companies, homeowners, landlords, utility companies… together we can implement solar panels one rooftop at a time. This is how the environment will get rid of carbon emissions and our planet will get a healthy, bright future.

Installing solar panels, using solar lights and solar powered home products, all help towards reducing carbon emissions. Maybe the reductions are minimal, but every home counts. Done at large scales, it can really make a long-term difference.

Whether you would like to make the world a greener place or you simply want to save money on your utility bills, Smart Energy Florida is here to help you.

 

In recent years, we’ve seen a steep increase in residential solar photovoltaic installations across the nation. As utility prices for residential energy generally continue to rise, homeowners have been looking for ways to curb utility costs and get energy security. While solar photovoltaic systems have come down in price and market dynamics naturally continue to favor renewable energy, it can still be a big step to invest in a solar system for your home.

Before pursuing a new solar installation, we advise taking a deeper look at the current energy efficiencies. Therefore, when customers call us with questions regarding solar, we often guide them toward receiving a full energy assessment of their property first.

This includes assessing the proper air sealing and insulation, A/C, windows, doors, proper thermostat programming and effective ventilation. These are the main causes of the energy you spend. Our customers find that its always time well spent to invest in a home’s efficiency first before making an investment in a new solar system. Think of it this way, if we can help you reduce what your home consumes in energy, you’ll need to spend less on a solar system to meet your needs.

More info about our Solar Power Systems.

If you’re considering going solar for your home, we fully endorse that decision and are excited to help you reach that goal. The time is now to take action on your home’s energy efficiency and conservation. Please contact Smart Energy at 888-236-3599 to learn more.

When planning a solar installation project, homeowners face a long list of worries and concerns. How much will it cost? Will it take too long? Is this really the right move? But there is one question that homeowners could benefit from asking more often: how do I hire the right contractor?

Too many homeowners are spending thousands of dollars on home improvement projects, only to be left disappointed in the quality of the work done. Even worse, they might have to spend more money covering up and repairing the deficiencies of the initial contractor.

We are easy to talk with. Our team has more than 15 years of experience in the solar industry. We will provide you with a detailed explanation on all your questions or concerns that you might have.

• We do have a have a system and a process in place for projects like these
• We will help you with ideas and design
• We are responsible for any permits required
• You will have assigned personal project manager

Smart Energy is best rated for business choice:
You may save some money by choosing the lowest bid, but the risk of poor workmanship is too high to be worth it. The most important thing when evaluating a contractor based on price estimates is to balance between cost and value.

Smart Energy is providing the best cost and value according your budget!

Our main goal is to provide highest value of our services and a complete solution for your home improvement. Therefore, we have carefully chosen selected partners to cooperate with by providing you with best financial offer and the highest quality of products which are USA made with 25 years of warranty.

Smart Energy is your long-term partner, because we care!

Among technology and scientific research, scientists successfully found ways to preserve resources. They have discovered alternates to renewable energy and one of these is solar energy.

By combining modern day technology and sunlight, the production of solar energy has become a possibility.

Large solar panels are used to absorb the powerful solar rays emitted from the sun and convert into power resources used to provide electricity to residential and commercial areas.

Due to shortage, inflation has led to energy costs rising. Furthermore, the use of hydro-generated electricity and fossil fuels has led to excess energy being produced. This leads to over-billing for electricity that is not used.

Net metering has become possible through solar panels. When energy is produced through the panels, it is directly converted from sunlight. Therefore, there is no wastage of water and excessive production is not problematic. This is because net metering allows you to reserve the energy.

Solar power is a remarkable progress in alternate energy solutions. It is not only cost-efficient, it helps conserve finite resources. Furthermore, the sun’s rays are an unlimited source. Therefore, unlike fossil fuel, coal or water, it is not on the edge of exhaustion.

If you are looking for solar panel installation, consult our experts or call us at (888) 236-3599.

Every year the sun beams to the earth energy to sustain global needs of energy for the entire year. Solar energy is a technology used to convert solar energy into other forms like electrical energy to meet global requirements. As of now only one tenth of global energy needs is supplied by solar energy but the potential for the future is mind boggling.

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Solar Energy is non-polluting, clean, reliable and renewable source of energy. We all should come up together to save environment in a healthier way and reduce the risk of damaging our planet Earth.

Many are familiar with so-called photovoltaic cells, or solar panels, found on things like spacecraft, rooftops, and handheld calculators. The cells are made of semiconductor materials like those found in computer chips. When sunlight hits the cells, it knocks electrons loose from their atoms. As the electrons flow through the cell, they generate electricity.

On a much larger scale, solar-thermal power plants use various techniques to concentrate the sun’s energy as a heat source. Solar energy technologies use the sun’s energy to light homes, produce hot water, heat homes, etc.

The main benefit of solar energy is that it does not produce any pollutants and is one of the cleanest sources of energy. The only limitation that solar energy possess is that it cannot be used at night and amount of sunlight that is received on earth depends on location, time of day, time of year, and weather conditions. Nevertheless, it is a renewable source of energy and requires low maintenance.

Switching to solar energy is a major decision that will affect your quality of life as well as your family’s. You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who regrets going solar, however, some are still hesitant to make the switch as it’s a big financial investment. We believe that an educated consumer is an empowered consumer so here are the top five reasons more and more people continue to go solar and why it would be wise for you to make the switch.

1. Solar benefits the environment.
You’ve heard it a million times – fossil fuels are bad, solar is good, but why? Simple – The sun is always there, therefore solar utilizes renewable energy where fossil fuels are formed from decayed plants and animals that have been converted to crude oil, coal, natural gas, or heavy oils by exposure to heat and pressure in the earth’s crust over hundreds of millions of years – hence, not renewable and require drilling and further damage to the environment. Since solar is a clean source of energy, the pollution it creates is significantly less than other energy sources. It doesn’t produce greenhouse gasses and other harmful emissions which temper with nature.

2. Solar saves (and makes) you money.
Although the initial financial investment may be significant (there are many payment options and tax credits that make it completely affordable,) you are paying a fixed rate based on the energy you use rather than a continuous increased rate given by your utility company. As rates consistently increase, you will pay the same amount month after month for energy you’re actually using. Going solar also increases the property value of your home, so it’s a sound investment if you’re planning to sell as well.

3. Solar energy can be used anytime of the day. 
There’s this myth that you can only use solar power when the sun is up there in the sky. However, the truth is most of the providers of solar energy will get you connected to the grid so you don’t risk a power outage at night. Aside from that, if the solar panels you’ve picked have a battery backup system, you’re able to store power that you can use in case of emergencies.

4. Solar is reliable.
Solar panels are robust and designed to stand up to the elements—including zero-moving-part components and lacking sub-components that could be prone to failure. Florida Smart Energy uses USA made Solar World panels that have up to 25 year warranty on them, so they’re not only viable, but reliable.

5. Solar energy is the future.
Going solar embraces social and eco-consciousness.  Plus, there’s nothing cooler and sexier than powering your entire home using energy from the sun.

While going solar requires careful thought and consideration, the benefits you’ll reap are undeniable. See for yourself how you can start saving money and energy today while protecting the environment and transforming your way of life.

There are numerous small steps you can take to conserve energy that pay off in a big way. The best way to start saving on your energy bill is simply by getting smart with how you use electricity. Making small changes can lead to savings of as much as $500 per year.

Here are some our top 5 simple tips to help you reduce your electricity use and save you money or your next utility bill.

1. Turn off Unnecessary lights and use natural light when possible.
   Switching off your 60-100Watt lightbulbs for an average of 2-4 hours a day could save you about $9-12/year. Using task lighting such as table lamps instead of overhead lights can also save between $6-10 per year.
   Similarly, using your south-facing window, can illuminate 20-100x its area. Strategize your light usage throughout the day for optimal savings while enjoying natural light. Exposed sunlight will also help warm a certain area so be strategic with your window coverings as well. The right shades will promote airflow throughout your home while blocking the afternoon sun which could lead to a $10-40 difference over summer months.
2. Cut water usage by taking shorter showers and turning off the water when not in use.
   Hot water can be very expensive. If as little as two people in your home cut their shower time by a minute each, you could save as much as $30 a year!
   Turning water off when doing everyday things like shaving, washing hands and brushing teeth can also reduce your usage by an extra 5% resulting in and extra $20 over the year.
3. Unplug electronics that are fully charged or not in use.
   Standby power can account for 10% of an average household’s annual electricity use while unplugging can save you an extra $50 a year. In fact, it’s vital to be wise about the electronics you’re using in general. If you’re using an old desktop – consider switching to a laptop to save an extra $10-15 a year from that alone. If you watch your shows online and don’t use your TV, you might want to consider recycling or donating it as well – it’s costing you an extra $10 per year.
4. Get real with your laundry cut one load of laundry per week by doing full loads only and use cold water when possible. By doing both you could easily save an extra $50 per year. If you do about 8 loads of laundry per week and hang half of them to dry, you could be saving an additional $45 per year. If you must use your dryer, toss a dry towel in your dryer to absorb the moisture and significantly reduce drying time. Doing this on your 8 loads per week can save you about $30 per year.
5. Be efficient with your kitchen appliances.
   There are a few simple things you can do to cut everyday use of electricity when it comes to your go-to kitchen appliances. For food that can be heated up in a pinch, consider using a microwave. Your crockpot and toaster oven are easily costing you an extra $20 a year. Even skipping the heat-dry setting on your dishwasher can put an extra $35 in your pocket. If you have a second fridge in the house or garage, unplugging it when it’s not in use can save you close to $100 per year!
   While each step may save only a few extra bucks per month, when you add up the entire the cost that accumulates throughout the year, you notice a big difference. And you can always use your extra savings towards other energy efficient services that could save you even more!
   Upgrading your windows and doors to be energy efficient can save you up to thousands per year depending on the size of your house. Proper insulation keeps your heating or cooling indoors so it doesn’t escape through the walls or openings in your home. Or join the millions of homeowners this year who are going solar to save even more on their energy bills and secure a set amount they can continue to save for the future. Check out the numerous services we offer to help you stay at the top of your game by being the ultimate eco-ninja.