The decision to install a solar energy system is not one to be taken lightly. It’s a significant investment, one that requires advance research and considerable thought. It’s also not inexpensive (although it is an investment that pays off in many ways, over time). While it is not our style to hurry a home or…
By Bill Johnson, President, Brilliant Harvest Earlier this month, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a report that asserts the 2020s are “ground zero” in the battle to save our planet from widespread devastation. In short, the report says that humanity faces global food shortages, the flooding of coastal cities, climate-related poverty, and…
We’ve all read the horror stories regarding the dangers of using an unlicensed contractor, whether it has to do with poor workmanship or work paid for and never completed (or done at all). As the solar industry has continued to grow, bad actors are operating in our industry now, too. We can’t urge you enough:…
Tesla Powerwall Updates If you have the Tesla Powerwall home battery, then you know what it can do: provide backup power in the event of a utility power outage, and self-power your home by storing excess solar power produced when the sun is shining and using it at night. Through the Tesla mobile app, you…
Once you’ve made an investment in a solar energy system, you’re probably going to be concerned about protecting that investment. The weather in Florida introduces many causes for concern, including hurricanes, tornadoes, hail and lightning (oh my!). One question we get fairly often is this: “Can my solar energy system be protected from lightning strikes?”…
By Bill Johnson, President, Brilliant Harvest In 2016, I earned my certification as a solar PV (photovoltaic) installation professional from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). NABCEP is the most recognized and esteemed certification the solar industry has to offer. So what is the NABCEP certification all about and why should that matter…
When you think about a typical solar energy installation, what comes to your mind first is probably a rooftop array. But there are a number of ways to take advantage of renewable energy when your roof isn’t an option or if you’re seeking something more unique. Sometimes it’s just not possible or cost-effective to install a…
As warmer weather arrives and flowers begin to bloom, many Americans will begin the annual rite of spring cleaning. A 2017 poll by Sparefoot, a self-storage industry news site, found that 78 percent of Americans plan to tackle spring cleaning projects, spending an average of four days on the process. So what if anything – should…
Since 2016, Brilliant Harvest has been a Certified Tesla Powerwall Installer, undergoing a grueling certification process that included significant study and performance review by Tesla field technicians. Since that time, we have seen how lithium-ion storage batteries – in particular, Tesla’s Powerwall – are revolutionizing home energy usage and storage for homeowners. The Powerwall is changing…
Wouldn’t it be great if a new building could be designed and constructed with a future solar installation in mind? Just think of the time, effort and money that could be saved if your home or business could have solar installed with relative ease. We frequently find ourselves lamenting various elements of a home or…
A new attack is building on the solar industry: the extreme reduction or eliminating net metering benefits (the credits earned by solar adopters for energy sent to the grid from solar power) by electric co-ops throughout Florida. Unlike the major utilities, such as FP&L, Duke Energy and the Florida Municipal Power Agency, co-ops do not need…
Before a solar system is designed, before the first solar panel is installed, and well before we flip the switch on a solar array, we provide any home or business owner considering solar power with documentation that estimates the proposed system’s monthly and annual electricity production, and the resulting monetary savings. Have you ever wondered…
We are reaching out to clients of Brilliant Harvest to see how their solar arrays fared during and after Hurricane Irma. We have been tracking things online and nearly every system seems to be functioning properly but we wanted to check in to see if there were any issues with your solar array, any damage…
As anxious Floridians carefully track the path of Hurricane Irma, we have been getting a lot of questions about hurricane preparations for those who have solar energy systems on their home or business. Most of these questions relate to the durability of solar panels and what actions those who have solar power should take in advance…
If you already installed a solar power system, then you have probably already benefited from the Consolidated Appropriations Act. Signed in December 2015, the legislation extended the expiration date for a 30% federal tax credit – also known as the investment tax credit (ITC) – for installing PV and solar thermal technologies. If you have not…
Bill Johnson, president of Brilliant Harvest, LLC, has been elected to the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association (FlaSEIA) 2017-2019 board of directors. Since its founding in 1977, FlaSEIA has been dedicated to protecting and promoting the interests of the solar energy industry in Florida. This longevity, along with stringent contractor licensure and system certification standards, is…
So you’ve taken the leap, installed a solar power system and flipped the switch. You are now enjoying low (or no) power bills and the satisfaction that comes from knowing you have reduced your reliance on fossil fuels. But you will probably have questions about your system, important questions such as: How much energy is being…
For some home or business owners, there may be a desire to install a solar power system but the funds aren’t available to purchase it outright and impediments to financing – such as a lack of equity or past bad credit – keep the opportunity out of reach. A new avenue for financing called PACE…
When Florida voters – 74%, or nearly 2 million of them – voted “yes” on Amendment 4 last year, we celebrated joyously. This measure would exempt solar and wind energy devices from being added to a property’s assessed value for property tax purposes for businesses. It would also remove Florida’s “tangible personal property tax,” which…
By Bill Johnson, President, Brilliant Harvest Sarasota Solar Co-Op Initiative By now, you’ve probably heard about the new Sarasota Solar Co-Op initiative. The co-op program is co-sponsored by a coalition including environmental, advocacy and social action groups, and supported by two local foundations. All homeowners in Sarasota are eligible to participate. I’ve been asked by a…
Environmental Stewardship and Energy Security For Rotraut Bockstahler and her husband, Larry, environmental stewardship and energy security have driven their energy choices. The couple has an 8.32 kW solar array, nothing too flashy – but the cool factor jumps to 11 once you check out the Tesla Powerwall 1.0 home battery in the garage. The…
It was a warm and engaged crowd as Brilliant Harvest hosted the holiday edition of Sarasota Green Drinks. Attendees enjoyed craft beer, light appetizers and a brief talk and Q&A with Brilliant Harvest president Bill Johnson. Thanks to all who attended!
Tesla Powerwall 2.0 The Tesla Powerwall 2.0 is officially here and making an even bigger splash in the home energy market than its first-generation predecessor. It can be indoor/outdoor, wall or floor-mounted, holds 13.5 kWhs per battery, will power a continuous 5 kW of energy and surge to 7 kW, you can stack NINE batteries…
While we may have won a major battle in defeating the anti-solar measure, Amendment 1, in the November election, the battle over solar is far from over in Florida. Our state is third in the nation in solar potential but we rank a woeful fourteenth in installed capacity. Advocates of clean, renewable energy need to…
We wanted to share some important information with you. We ask that you share this with everyone you know – Amendment 1 could mean the end of the solar industry in Florida! Utilities are trying to limit the expansion of solar in Florida in order to preserve their monopoly on electricity sales and limit customer-owned solar….
