Sunlink Solar Energy, LLC
4000 SW 35 Terrace , Gainesville, Florida, United States

Sunlink Solar Energy was created in 2014 by Charlie Squires and his wife, Karen Squires. Charlie began installing solar hot water systems in Miami Florida in 1982. Eventually relocating to Gainesville Florida in 1989, where he began installing solar systems for a local solar company, who was Floridas first licensed solar contractor. Charlie obtained his state of Florida Contractors license in 2010- CVC 56812.  After investing over 25 years,  beginning as an installer and eventually becoming  the President of  ECS Solar Energy Systems, in 2014 the company had a change of ownership and it became time to move on.     Karen has been in the construction industry for over 30 years, and has absorbed a vast amount of knowledge regarding solar technology. Karen oversees the day to day activity of our company. She has been "hands on"  with many service calls and installations.     Charlie has an extensive background in all aspects of the solar industry, from solar pool heating and solar hot water, to solar electric systems. After designing, and installing thousands of solar energy systems from Miami to Tallahasse we have a thorough working knowledge of all solar technologies currently available. Our goal is to provide the highest quality equipment available with prompt, friendly service at affordable rates.     Recently ECS Solar Energy Systems  closed its doors due to financial circumstances. Sunlink Solar Energy is a Ultrswim Master Dealer, and is approved by Aquatherm Solar Industries to service all existing homeowners with ECS Solar installed equipment, as well as ECS customers with solar water heating, and photovoltaic systems.

Our Services

We are a full service Solar Contracting Company. We have over 25 years of experience in the Solar Industry, and are ready to assist you with a new installation or evaluate and maintain your existing system. We have extensive knowledge of Solar Pool Heating , Hot Water, and Solar Electric Systems.

Solar Pool Heating

In North Central Florida a heated pool is a neccessity, not a luxury ! Imagine investing in a home without air conditioning, or for that matter an automobile costing over $35,000. For most of the year you would not be pleased, The same holds true for a swimming pool. If you have a pool without a source of heat, you owe it to yourself and your family to explore solar pool heating.     Our solar pool heating systems are manufactured by Aquatherm Industries, proudly manufacured  in Lakewood New Jersey. Our pool collectors carry a ten year transferrable warranty similar to systems offered by the now defunct ECS Solar Energy Systems of North Florida.     Most pool owners will agree that their pool is  used most often when the water temperature reaches 80 degrees and above. This can occur from May through June, however as the hot Florida summer continues, your pool can become uncomfortably warm!   We can solve this problem with a solar pool heating system ! A properly sized SolarPool Heater can give you a temperature increase of 15 to twenty degrees, allowing for increased enjoyment during the spring and fall. With a comfort control system installed you can controlthe temperature of your pool much the same as setting the thermostat for your home air conditioner! Solar equipment will last far longer than fossil fuel burning heat sources. The Initial investment in a solar system is typically a little more than a gas or electric heat source, but a solar system has no planned maintenance, no increase in operational cost, and after all, Solar Energy is free !   So again, we have a non-pollouting, no maintenance, solution that will allow you and your family to fully enjoy the comfort of a solar heated pool. Thats what it comes down to-maximizing the usage of your backyard family fun place!

Solar Water Heating Basics

    With all of our solar options we have to look at the needs of each individual client in order to properly size a solar system. Solar water heating systems typically consist of one or more glazed flat plate collectors which are typically located on a roof surface, preferrably facing south, but an east or west facing surface is also acceptable.We size our systems based on the number of occupants of the home. A Solar storage tank will replace the existing water heater, most families will require an 80 gallon storage tank which is plumbed into the existing plumbing system. The collectors on the roof are then connected to the solar strage tank with matching components in order to obtain a complete solar system. All systems installed in the state of Florida must meet the standards set forth by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) This assures that the installed system has been tested and approved so that homeowners are not investing in equipment that is not appropriate in our region.

Make your own electricity

Solar electric systems (PV) are an excellent way to use the power of the sun to work for you by ceating electricity for use in your home or business. It is an environmentally friendly investment and will save money on your power bill as well as increasing your property value, without an inrease in poperty value as most home improvements do.

How it works 

 We are able to convert sunlight into electricity using solar cells. Every day the sunlight strikes your roofs solar panels, bombarding them with Photons (particles of sunlight). The Solar modules convert these photons into DC electric current. The electrons flow through the solar array to a solar power inverter which change the DC current into usable AC power which is fed into your homes service panel to be used by your home  A bi-directional meter, supplied by your power company keeps track of what is produced. When your power demand is low, say when you are at work and the kids are at school, the unused power is fed back to the utility giving you a kilowatt hour credit. During night time hours or inclement weather you are using excess kilowatt credit that you gained during the day, in essence the utility becomes your backup power source.At the end of each billing cycle you will be charged for the power used and credited with the excess power that was generated. Similar to "roll over minutes" on a cell phone. At the end of a yearly cycle if you have produced more than you have used the utility pays you what they refer to as "avoided cost" or a wholesale rate for your excess production.