Author name: Daniel

Since the 19th century, our civilization has been field testing and improving our ability to harness the sun’s rays. Why? Because solar power represents the most abundant energy resource that we have on Earth. While humans have been working on harnessing solar energy for centuries, it’s only recently become so widely available. Thanks to advancing technology, today, we enjoy a more efficient solution to harness solar power and convert it to electricity for our homes. While many people have heard of solar power, several still ask the question, “how does solar power work?” How Do you Get Solar Energy? Solar power for your home starts with solar panels. Solar panels work because of the photovoltaic (PV) cells that reside inside of them. These photovoltaic cells create the key to solar electricity. When sunlight hits the PV cells, they absorb the energy from the resource,  in this case, the sun. As the PV cells absorb the sunlight they are simultaneously converting the power into electricity. This electricity is initially output as a direct current (DC), and unfortunately cannot be used by most houses, appliances, or just about anything that gets plugged in. Luckily, humanity has a solution for that. Making the Energy Usable Once the solar panels convert sunlight into DC electricity, the electricity travels from the panels into an inverter. Inverters typically reside on the side of any building with solar panels. Their primary role in solar power is converting the DC power from the solar panels into alternating current (AC) electricity for your home. AC electricity is the type that houses, appliances, and nearly everything else utilize on a daily basis. Finally, after the inverter converts the DC power to AC, it sends the power into the electrical service panel. The service panel then distributes the electricity throughout your home. What if I Make More Than I Need? If you make more solar power than you need, the power returns back to the local electrical grid instead of your home. In most places, including Burleson, TX and the greater Dallas, Fort Worth area, laws exist ensuring power companies reimburse you for this extra energy. Between being reimbursed from the electric company, creating your own electricity, and the tax write-offs that solar power brings, homeowners often recoup the cost of the initial solar investment. They do so because solar power eventually eliminates your electrical bill, therefore, establishing a positive investment. How Does Solar Power Work at Night? Without sunlight to power your home, you may be wondering, “how does solar power work at night?” Since the photovoltaic cells can’t create electricity, the regular power grid takes over to power your home. Your solar system transitions seamlessly between solar power and traditional grid power. Fortunately, you won’t notice a difference in power to your home at night versus throughout the day. The only noticeable change solar power brings is a lower electric bill. Call a Professional Solar power not only lowers your electric bill but also helps the environment. By utilizing PV cells, solar panels convert sunlight into electricity. After the electricity passes through an inverter, your home maximizes the newly-created AC power. Solar represents a worthwhile investment for any household. If you are interested in getting solar power on your home, or a no-pressure educational conversation about solar power, contact us! Honey Bees Roofing &  Solar is an expert at installing solar on all types of roofs, including metal. If you want a free estimate on solar power for your roof or a free roof inspection to determine your roof’s condition, Contact Honey Bees Roofing & Solar online or give us a call today at 817-668-6131! 

With Texas being the fourth sunniest state in the country, getting solar power is an incredible resource for any home. It has a ton of benefits, both to your pocketbook and to the environment. Plus, the solar tax benefits that Texans enjoy are numerous. However, creating your own energy may seem confusing on the surface. If the sun powers my solar panels, what happens to my power at night? And how does my solar power interact with my electric company? Where Does the Power For My Home Come From? During the Day With solar power, you create electricity for your home passively throughout the day. As long as the sun shines it produces enough energy to power your home. The solar panels installed on your roof harness this energy and the inverter transforms it into usable, AC electricity. If you’re not creating enough energy to run your entire household, don’t fret. Although your home still utilizes solar power, the energy grid stays connected as a backup. This means, your electric company provides you with any excess power you need for your home. That way, if you’re using more energy than normal, or producing less than normal you won’t notice a difference in how your power “feels” while using it. During the Night At night, your solar panels can’t create energy for your home. Once again, your local electric company has you covered. While the sun is down, your home will be powered using the traditional electrical grid that once was used to power your home. The transition from creating your own power to using the electrical company remains seamless. The only thing you’ll notice with solar power concerning your power is the lowered electrical bill. If your solar panels aren’t generating enough energy then the electric grid helps power your home. But what if you’re making more than enough energy? Where Does the Excess Power Go? How does your electric company interact with your solar power when you’re overproducing? Well, the extra power flows into your local electric grid. In most states, there’s a system in place for you to get credit towards future electric bills when you’re overproducing solar power. In Texas, there are programs like the TXU Energy Renewable Buyback. These programs ensure that excess energy isn’t wasted, and you’re appropriately compensated for it. Call a Professional How does solar power interact with your electric company? Solar power allows you to create your own electricity for your home. However, when you can’t make enough due to the weather or the time of day, your electric company powers your home for you. If you’re overproducing power, your electric company should compensate you for the extra energy put into the electrical grid. Solar power not only lowers your electric bill but also helps the environment. It’s a worthwhile investment for any household. If you are interested in getting solar power on your home, or a no-pressure educational conversation about solar power, contact us! Honey Bees Roofing &  Solar is an expert at installing solar on all types of roofs, including metal. If you want a free estimate on solar power for your roof or a free roof inspection to determine your roof’s condition, Contact Honey Bees Roofing & Solar online or give us a call today at 817-668-6131! 

Solar energy opportunities are abundant in North Texas. In fact, Texas is the fourth sunniest state in America! Combine that with several government rebates currently available, and there’s never been a better time to learn whether solar power works for your home. However, it isn’t easy to just jump headfirst into solar. With this in mind, we’ve collected some of the top solar resources in Texas to help you learn more about this renewable energy option and find out if it’s right for you and your home. Calculating Solar Potential One of the major things that will affect your home’s ability to generate solar power is its “solar potential.” In short, the solar potential represents the metric that determines how suitable a home is for solar energy production. It’s based on the size, shading, direction, and location of the roofing of the building. A good solar calculator helps homeowners determine their home’s solar potential prior to investing too much time into solar. Simply input your address and the solar calculator will estimate your potential energy savings from switching to solar. It’s a great initial resource when you’re considering a renewable energy option. In fact, solar energy calculators were funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office to help consumers start the solar process. Help with Tax Credits Did you know the U.S. government incentivizes people to switch to a renewable energy option? They offer tax credits as a major benefit to solar power. Getting those tax credits may seem like a mystery, but there’s plenty of help. For the Federal Tax Credit for Solar Photovoltaics, you can go to the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s website and go to their guide for the tax credit. They have the exact requirements, as well as answers to many questions about the tax credit that often come up for homeowners considering solar energy for the first time. Keeping track of how to get the tax credit back makes the Homeowner’s Guide to the Federal Tax Credit for Solar Photovoltaics one of the top solar resources for Texas. Learning About Solar Finding your solar potential and your tax credit possibilities often sparks interest in learning more about solar in general which is important. Fortunately, there are a ton of resources available. The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s website provides another great resource for homeowners in North Texas. This site showcases key information, like photovoltaic basics for example. This information will establish a fundamental vocabulary around solar and generate potential questions to ask qualified solar companies later. Honey Bees Roofing & Solar Speaking of qualified solar companies… Honey Bees Roofing & Solar prides itself on being one of the top solar resources in Texas. We’re experts with solar energy and can help you with anything you need. Honey Bees Roofing & Solar helps you figure out what tax credits you qualify for locally and federally. We also help our customers find and maximize their home’s solar potential. As installers of solar power in Texas, we provide a unique understanding of solar power’s relationship with not only the local area but also the tax laws. Our solar experts will help you learn about solar panels, their function, and how they transform sunlight into usable energy. No matter what you need regarding solar, Honey Bees Roofing & Solar has your back. If you’re interested in getting solar installed in the Dallas – Fort Worth area or no-pressure educational conversation about solar power, Contact Honey Bees Roofing & Solar online or give us a call today at 817-668-6131!

Texas is one of the best states for solar energy. If you’ve lived in Texas, you’re entirely aware of how often the sun beats down on the Lone Star State. In fact, Texas is the fourth sunniest state in America! What’s best, with all of the government rebates, there’s never been a better time to get solar power for your home. However, picking the right solar company can be difficult. Luckily, we’ve compiled some tips so you’ll know how to pick the right solar company for your solar installation project. Decide Between a Local or National Solar Installer The first major decision you have to make is whether you want to go with a local installer or a national installer. It may seem like common sense to go with a national installer, but you’d be surprised. National installers are massive companies with lots of moving parts. This means these companies often experience high turnover rates in employees and communication issues between different parties. For these reasons, we recommend you go with a local installer. Local installers are generally more reliable than national installers. They offer a more personal and better experience. Furthermore, they have more experience with local weather, supply chains, and labor markets. As a result, they often perform better work on solar projects than national companies. As an added bonus, using a local solar company helps boost the local economy at a time where local businesses need support! Check Multiple Solar Companies It’s a good idea to review multiple solar companies when making your decision. Many charge different rates for solar installation or offer different service options. Getting multiple quotes can get you a better idea of the general price, and also make sure no one is trying to charge you a ridiculous price. Picking the right installer for you becomes more critical when you realize that solar is a big investment. Make Sure the Installer is A Licensed Solar Company Solar is a rapidly growing industry, and there are always people trying to make a quick buck. Some solar companies may not be properly licensed and insured. These companies may be severely underqualified to install solar on your home. Even worse, they may also be scammers trying to take your money without plans to deliver their promised service. A good solar installer will be licensed and insured. Read Online Solar Reviews One of the best things you can do is read online reviews. A company’s online review profile can be very telling. A company with a lot of reviews has been around long enough to earn the trust of locals in the community. Furthermore, a good company prides themself on developing a reputation for 5-star service. The reviews a solar installer has can help you determine how the company treats its customers, as well as the quality of their work. If a company has several negative reviews, it might not be a good idea to hire them. A good solar installer should also be able to show you systems they installed for other clients. Contact a Professional If you’re wondering how to pick the right solar company, check out Honey Bees Roofing & Solar. Honey Bees Roofing & Solar is a Texas-owned and operated roofing and renewable energy company. We combine environmentally safe solutions and intelligent product selection with an educational process to offer our clients the best recommendations for their power needs. We are the only roofing & solar company in Texas that offers green solutions from beginning to end. Simply put, we handle everything from start to finish. Our foundations started in roofing, so we can help with any roof repairs or replacements needed before adding solar. In addition to offering repair and replacement, we understand how solar and roofing interact and specialize in both. If you’re interested in getting solar installed in the Dallas-Fort Worth area or no-pressure educational conversation about solar power, Contact Honey Bees Roofing & Solar online or give us a call today at 817-668-6131!