We are jumping out of our skin today and finally ready to announce the launch of PK Solar, Inc. PK Solar will specialize in the design and installation of innovative solar products in Southwest Florida and beyond.

How did we get here?

The idea of solar energy is not new. Actually, we’re jumping on the proverbial ‘bandwagon’ of sustainable design. But we’re doing it with some pretty neat products.

About 6 months ago, the idea of a developing a solar carport prototype hit us. Why a carport?

Florida is famous not only for the warm weather outside, but also for the toasty temperatures inside your car. In fact, the National Safe Kids Association says a black interior can get to 192 degrees when it’s 78 outside! Frying an egg on your dashboard is not out of the question.

Other than the obvious comfort issues and A/C loads when you start your car, all that sun is bad for your interior finishes and bad for your exterior paint. A carport is also nice when you’re trying to get into the driver’s seat during a typical afternoon deluge, when the parking looks like the Mississippi.

On the money side, a carport is the most affordable form of car shelter you can build (a garage being the obvious alternative). It goes up quickly (like weeks quickly), and encounters little municipal resistance.

So what does all this have to do with solar?

By combining a solar solution with a carport, we can not only add functionality to an already functional piece of structure, but we can actually do it very economically.

Why? Because a carport with solar features qualifies for a whole lot of government incentives, while one without them does not. Aha! So…you get a carport (features above), and some solar (at little, no, or even negative cost), with the one feature we haven’t mentioned yet – Power.

Using net metering, the solar carport can offset about one-third of the power we use in our own 10,000 square foot office building. Run a quick calculation – that’s a lot of zeros saved at the end of the year.

There’s all the other ‘little’ stuff too, like ‘oh gee – my property value just went up,’ and ‘holy smokes, look at this tax deduction.’ No big deal, right?

PK Solar will also offer commercial retrofit services (like rooftop installations) and develop other custom solar solutions and products in the future. It’s going to be a fun ride!

Our mantra and focus is one-stop shop. We promise our clients that we’ll take care of everything for them, and we intend to come through on that promise. You give us money, we’ll give you a carport. Simple as that. No headaches, no problems.

The new company website is live at PKSolar.net. We encourage you to stop by and take a look.