Tampa Bay Woman Installs Solar Shingles

A Pinellas County woman is taking a big step toward making her home more energy efficient.

Karen Elfallah of Seminole is the first person in the Tampa Bay area to have solar shingles installed in her roof, Bay News 9 reports.

“I’m the second person in Florida [to receive these panels],” Elfallah tells the station.

The panels were installed by local contractor Dow Powerhouse Solar Shingle, and the installation is expected to cut her energy bill by more than half its rate.

Florida is considered a hot-spot for easy living and tourism, but the state is not quite known for taking advantage of the sun’s energy.

Florida Power & Light, the largest provider of energy to the state’s homes and businesses, harnesses less than 1 percent of its total energy production from the sun.