{"id":10900,"date":"2026-01-04T09:48:52","date_gmt":"2026-01-04T14:48:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shearwater-sailing.com\/?page_id=10900"},"modified":"2026-04-08T21:06:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T01:06:02","slug":"2026-new-solar-power-visit-to-disney-and-sarasota","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/shearwater-sailing.com\/index.php\/2026-new-solar-power-visit-to-disney-and-sarasota\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 New Solar Power, Visit to Disney and Sarasota"},"content":{"rendered":"

Solar Roof Complete<\/a><\/h2>\r\n

Our New Solar Power<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/h3>\r\n

With several years of planning behind us, our new solar roof and Tesla PowerWall 3 battery and controller finally went operational late in 2025. The system is producing over half our power now and should produce all our necessary electricity once break-in is complete. Our contractor was not completely cooperative, but Joan’s persistence and patience has so far won out over their yelling and anger. More remains to be done during break-in so we will see how this evolves. We are pleased at saving the world one Watt Hour at a time, and glad to be ahead of Florida Power and Light’s 4 years of guaranteed rate increases.<\/p>\r\n

Our solar roof was designed as an integrated project to incorporate the solar components as the roof was being built. Frequently, the solar cells are just glued on the roof, often failing in the first severe storm. We took a different approach.<\/p>\r\n

\"\"<\/p>\r\n

The building and inspection of a roof takes places in phases with a county inspection after each phase. The first major inspection comes after the old roof is removed, any water damage fixed, and a new waterproof barrier is installed. Our roof was done somewhat differently. Since it is an integrated system, the solar support components were installed prior to waterproofing the roof. This builds a much stronger overall system with extended water penetration and increased wind resistance.<\/p>\r\n

Fly over the complete roof with us:<\/p>\r\n

https:\/\/shearwater-sailing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/8306-solar-roof-complete.mp4<\/a><\/video><\/div>\r\n
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Tesla application showing our roof<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n

Sunlight making power that is flowing to the Gateway. The Gateway supplies the sun’s power, in yellow, to the home and the Powerwall, charging the battery for use when there is little or no sun.<\/p>\r\n

Later in the day when the sun goes down, the Powerwall returns the power it has stored, further reducing our electric bill.<\/p>\r\n

2026 January 1: Happy New Year<\/h2>\r\n

On Dec. 31 we had driven from home to Kissimmee for another stay at the Tropical Palms RV Park, a free week thanks to a gift from the Thor company (manufacturer of our new motor home). After a wonderful New Year’s Eve dinner at the home of Miguel’s cousins Erica and Rick, we returned to our campsite at Tropical Palms<\/p>\r\n

\"\"<\/a>We spent New Year’s day at the Old Town down the road from us, about \u00bd mile away. We had been there once before, and encouraged Rebecca and family to join us there – which they did the next day.<\/p>\r\n

We dined at a very special restaurant, an Ethiopian one, and loved every bit of our meal, which by Ethiopian tradition, comes on a large round platter to be shared and to be eaten with injera, a crepe-like gluten free “bread” made of teff flour<\/a> that is used to pick up the food.<\/p>\r\n