Latest Breaking News on Solar Energy

Wayne's Solar has recently added solar window screens and solar window films to its arsenal of energy saving upgrades for your home or business.  We are also preparing to unveil our newest offering, insulation services, so stay tuned.  The latest solar rebates from Florida Power and Light are still active and the utility company will begin accepting applications for next year soon.

If you are interested in news and reports within the world of solar energy, we invite you to follow us on Twitter @solarpowerfl where we share links regarding this exciting and constantly changing renewable energy source, used all over the world.  In addition, the following sites provide frequently updated solar energy news items and opinion pieces that you may find of interest:

CleanTechnica

Solar Energy - Inhabit: Green Design Will Save the World

Mother Nature Network: Solar Energy

The Vote Solar Initiative Blog

Solar Channel: GreenTech Media

Industry News: Solarbuzz - Solar Market Research & Analysis

When you are ready to go solar or investigate other money saving ways to heat your pool, light your home, cool your attic, and more - contact Wayne's Solar.  We provide sustainable energy solutions all over northeast and central Florida including solar for Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Palm Coast, Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach, New Smyrna, and Port Orange.


Amazing News and Facts About the Sun and Solar Energy

What is true and what is new under the sun?

- Florida Power and Light (FPL) recently announced some exciting rebate incentives for new solar hot water and PV system installations for its residential and commercial customers.  The application process can begin after information is obtained from an initial consultation with a licensed solar contractor; application submission is online only and begins June 29th, 2011.

- The sun is clearly the largest object in our sky: it contains more than 99.8% of the total mass of the solar system.

- In Greek mythology, the sun was deified as the god Helios; to the Romans it was Sol. Before the Egyptians went on to worship multiple gods, they focused on just one: the sun god called Ra.

- Presently the sun is about 70% hydrogen and 28% helium; the remaining less than 2% is composed of oxygen, carbon, iron, neon, nitrogen, silicon, magnesium, and sulfur.

- The sun is about 4.5 billion years old.  It will continue to radiate for another 5 billion years or so, although its luminosity will approximately double in that time. Eventually it will run out of fuel.

- On August 1, 2010 many interconnected solar activities occurred at once: multiple flares, filament eruptions, long-distance interactions all over the sun, and strong thermal variations.

- Photovoltaic (PV) technologies convert light from the sun into electricity.  The use of solar energy does not cause greenhouse gas emissions.

- During the 15th century, Leonardo da Vinci devised plans for solar energy collectors in his notebooks. He conceived of a method using mirrors which would reflect sunlight to heat water.

- In just one hour, the earth receives more energy from the sun than the entire world uses during a whole year.

- About half of worldwide production of solar panels is consumed by the country of Japan, mostly for grid connected residential applications.

- Fannie Mae recently replaced its Energy Efficient Mortgage feature with a new Energy Improvement incentive for the upgrading of an existing home through a purchase or re-finance mortgage. Only single family homes qualify.  Contact Wayne's Solar to take advantage of this energy and cost savings opportunity.


Increasing Property Value the Smart Way: Go Solar

Solar power isn't just for hippies anymore. Case in point: the Daytona Beach News Journal recently published this profile of a Maserati-driving, private jet-owning eye surgeon who retrofitted his entire home with solar installations by Wayne's Solar. This gentleman is the new face of the solar customer: someone who wants to be energy independent because he has an eye on the future. He is also increasing the property value of his home exponentially. Consider this:

According to statistics from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, a property's value rises $20,000 for every $1000 in reduced yearly electricity cost.

When a home goes on the market, it is much more attractive if it has solar power and therefore low (or non-existent) utility bills. Or imagine if your home is the one that actually earns credits from the energy company, basically making it an income-earning property.

Aesthetics have changed with the times. Whereas some people used to think that solar panels actually detracted from the appearance of a home, the new green thinking turns the space age looking glass panels on the roof into a design plus.

Contact Wayne's Solar if you are in Duval, Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, Volusia Counties, or the surrounding areas of Florida to make a significant improvement to your home or business with solar energy.

What You Need to Know About Home Energy Audits

A home energy audit can be very helpful in determining the best ways to save money by increasing your home's efficiency in a variety of ways.  Some companies offer free home energy audits but the consumer must be aware that this service is sometimes followed up the same company using the audit as a way to sell their own energy-saving products.  This is not necessarily a bad thing - except that unfortunately quite often these products, such as solar hot water heaters, are extremely overpriced compared to what a solar contractor such as Wayne's Solar can install for you.

Although it is possible to find a free energy audit, you may opt to spend a few hundred dollars to have this valuable service performed with all the possible elements such as a door blower test to determine air flow and leaks, as well as infrared thermography to check the levels of insulation throughout the house.  Your auditor will perform a checklist of tasks and you will be given a written report of their findings.  It is a good idea to be present during the inspection so you can ask questions and point out specific areas of concern.  Be aware that it is almost never worth replacing all your windows for energy efficiency - the savings are just not as measurable as installing a solar hot water heating system.  

Home energy audits are a great way to get started on your road to a green home!  Just remember to shop around when you know what you need - Wayne's Solar provides complete and dependable solar energy solutions to Volusia, Flagler, Duval, St. Johns, and Putnam Counties at affordable prices.


Guinness World Records for Solar

The power of the sun enables incredible feats all over the world and in space - contact Wayne's Solar when you are ready to be amazed by the amount of money you can save by switching to solar power for your Florida home energy needs.



Fastest solar powered vehicle Australia - January 7, 2011

The record for the fastest solar-powered car was 55 miles per hour and was achieved by Sunswift IV, built by the University of New South Wales Solar Racing Team and driven by Australian Barton Mawer at the naval base HMAS Albatross near Nowra, Australia, on January 7th, 2011.


Largest solar powered building China - December 2009

In December 2009, China unveiled an office building in Dezhou, Shangdong province, that meets almost all of its energy needs with its rooftop solar panels. The building covers 807,000 square feet and contains research facilities, display areas, and a hotel.



Longest journey by solar electric vehicle Canada - September 15, 2004

The Midnight Sun solar car team from the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, traveled a distance of 9,364 miles through Canada and the United States, departing from Waterloo on August 7th and finishing in Parliament Hill, Ottawa, Canada, on September 15th, 2004.



Most distant solar powered spacecraft Space - November 2, 2000

On April 18th, 2002, NASA's Stardust spacecraft, en route to sample comet Wild 2 in January 2004, was a distance of 253 million miles from the sun. Solar powered spacecraft are usually used to explore the inner solar system, as the more distant planets do not receive enough sunlight to efficiently power spacecraft at those distances from the sun.



Fastest crossing of the Atlantic by solar power Atlantic Ocean - February 2, 2007

The fastest transatlantic crossing made completely under solar power is 29 days by sun21 (based in Switzerland) and its crew of five from Las Palmas, Gran Canaria to Le Marin, Martinique, from January 4th, 2007 to February 2nd, 2007.



Largest solar panel array in space Space - 2009

The primary source of electricity on board the International Space Station is its massive solar arrays. Delivered and installed over four separate shuttle missions from 2000 to 2009, they have a combined surface area of about half the size of an American football field. Sunlight reflected from these arrays makes the International Space Station an extremely prominent object in the night sky as it passes overhead every 91 minutes.



Most powerful solar chimney Spain - February 8, 2005

Enviromission's prototype solar chimney power station in Manzanares, Spain, produced 50 kilowatts of electricity between 1982 and 1989. It consisted of a large area of greenhouses, in which air, heated by the Sun, expanded upwards through a 656 foot central tower, powering turbines as it escaped into the atmosphere.



Longest flight by solar powered spy plane United States - July 23, 2010

Zephyr is a High-Altitude Long-Endurance Unmanned Aerial Vehicle made of ultra-lightweight carbon-fiber. It flies on solar power generated by amorphous silicon arrays covering the aircraft’s wings, no thicker than sheets of paper. It is powered day and night by rechargeable lithium-sulphur batteries that are recharged during the day using solar power. On July 9th, 2010, Zephyr was launched at 0641hours and set three new world records. The flight took place above the US Army's Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona and the aircraft was landed on the morning of July 23rd.



First flight of manned solar powered aircraft Switzerland - April 7, 2010

On April 7th 2010, Marcus Scherdel flew the Solar Impulse - the world’s first, manned solar-powered aircraft - for a one and a half hour test flight at Payerne in Switzerland. The aircraft is powered by 12,000 solar cells driving four electric motors. The aim is to construct a version that will enable a flight to be undertaken around the world by solar power.

Solar Products Made in the United States

Wayne's Solar is a locally owned and operated American company headquartered in Ormond Beach, Florida - Ormond Beach is a beautiful Volusia County city that borders on the racing capital of the world: Daytona Beach, Florida. In fact the car races on the beach that eventually evolved into the Daytona 500 were held in Ormond Beach, Florida, which is why it is also known as "The Birthplace of Speed".

Wayne's Solar has provided sun powered energy solutions for over 25 years and our current products include solar hot water heating, pool heating, sun tunnels/tubular skylights, pool pumps, photovoltaic systems, attic fans/garage ventilation kits, salt water pool systems, and repairs of all solar installations. Wayne's does not use any type of subcontractors: all technicians are employees of the company. Solar customers are welcome to visit Wayne's at our storefront at 287 South Yonge Street (also known as Route 1) or check out our web site and fill out the contact form for solar power in Florida.

Not all solar companies can say that the products they install are American made: Wayne's Solar can proudly offer every type of energy solution that is made in the United States. Purchasing solar made in America also cuts down on the energy wasted by overseas shipping, as well as insuring the processes used in manufacturing are carefully regulated in terms of the impact on the environment. Wayne's Solar provides:


Would you like more information, a brochure, or even a free in home estimate on energy and money saving solar for your home or business? Talk to Wayne's Solar!