Author Archives: MaryElizabeth Mooney

About MaryElizabeth Mooney

MaryElizabeth is an EnergySage writer focused on making clean energy accessible, covering topics from community solar to smart home gadgets. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Boston College in Communication and Economics. MaryElizabeth is passionate about making our world cleaner and more efficient and spends a lot of her time researching renewable energy solutions.

SunPower solar panels: the complete review

SunPower solar panels are one of the most frequently requested solar panel brands on the EnergySage Marketplace and for a good reason: SunPower panels are often the most efficient (read: powerful!) products on the market today, and they offer an industry-leading warranty. For many years, SunPower has been a fully-integrated solar shop, manufacturing solar cells and panels and then offering sales and installation services for residential and commercial applications. But, while they are considered some of the best panels, they do come at a premium price.

When evaluating your solar panel options, it’s essential to compare what’s available so you can be confident in your solar investment. Let’s look at SunPower’s solar panel technology and how it compares to other leading solar panel brands available today.

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Cheap solar panels: why quality equipment is so important

In order to really cash in on solar power, you may be looking for the cheapest solar panels available. And sure, when you install solar on your home or business, you can save thousands on your electricity bills. But going solar isn’t automatically cheap: buying solar panels to install on your roof typically costs thousands of dollars. It’s no wonder that the cost of solar is among the most important considerations for today’s homeowners. If you’re thinking about going solar and worried about keeping the overall cost down, you’re probably wondering: how can I get the best value for solar panels, and will home solar get even cheaper?

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How to choose a solar loan

If you’re considering solar, you’re likely wading through the different ways to pay for your new solar system. The options range from outright ownership by paying for your system upfront in cash to leasing your panels from the installation company – but the most common way to pay for solar is with a solar loan. Loans of any variety can be challenging to navigate, and solar loans are no exception! In this article, we’ll walk you through the basics of solar financing and how to determine what solar loan might be best for you.

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Panasonic solar panels: the complete review

As one of the world’s largest consumer electronics manufacturers, Panasonic is a household name that entered the solar industry in 1975. Panasonic solar panels are popular among EnergySage shoppers and installers – in fact, they’re the third most quoted brand in 2023! However, in 2021 Panasonic announced that they’ll no longer manufacture their own solar panels (they previously had a manufacturing deal with Tesla). But if you’re interested in Panasonic solar panels, don’t worry: unlike LG Solar, Panasonic is continuing to sell high-performing panels – manufacturing is now just outsourced to a third party.

When evaluating your solar panel options, it’s important to compare what’s available so you can be confident in your solar investment. Let’s take a look at Panasonic’s solar panel technology and how it compares to other leading solar panel brands available today.

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Guide to solar pool heaters: what you need to know

Pool owners are fortunate to have a place to cool down during hot, sticky weather, but owning a pool is not without its pain points. In an effort to keep pools open for as long as possible, pool owners may spend a good amount of money on heating the water to comfortable swimming temperatures.

If you have a pool and are paying a lot to keep your pool temperature warm, you should consider renewable energy options for heating, such as “pool solar panels” (commonly known as solar pool heaters). While relying on warm weather to passively heat your pool is a good solution during the height of the summer, solar pool heaters are a great option to consider if you want to save money while extending the swimming season earlier into the spring and later into the fall.

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A buyer’s guide to solar charge controllers

If you’re considering installing an off-grid solar project with a battery attached, you’ll want to look into a solar charge controller for your system. Charge controllers act as a gateway to your battery, and ensure that you don’t overcharge and damage your energy storage system. In this article, we’ll cover what a solar charge controller is and compare the two major types—pulse width modulation (PWM) and maximum power point tracking (MPPT).

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Sunrun solar reviews: should you go solar with Sunrun?

Since 2007, Sunrun has been evolving to meet the changing needs of the solar market – they first primarily offered solar leases and power purchase agreements and then expanded to become the largest solar installer in the U.S. Sunrun acquired Vivint Solar in 2020, which helped them reach their current market share of about 13 percent. They have recently begun offering solar-plus-storage to customers in almost all of their operating states, and are likely to expand as demand increases. Needless to say, Sunrun is definitely a name you’ll come across while searching for the best solar option for your home. Let’s take a look at what other consumers like you are saying about the largest solar installer in the United States.

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Have a flat roof? Why it could be the perfect setup for solar

Solar is a smart energy decision for homes and businesses with many different types of roofs, including those that are flat. However, with a flat roof, you’ll need to keep a few considerations in mind as you go through the installation process. We’ll walk you through what you need to know about solar for flat roofs before you install and how your flat roof solar system could end up being even more efficient than a traditional solar system.

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LG heat pumps complete review

Air source heat pumps are much more efficient than most other heating & cooling options – and they provide both in one system! If your current HVAC system is aging, you may be able to switch to air source heat pumps for higher efficiency, lower overall utility bills, and, depending on where you live, some extra savings through rebates and incentives. (Bonus: if you have solar, you can heat and cool your home using the sun!)

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ADT Solar: the complete review

The ADT logo can be found on homes across the United States, broadcasting that they’re protected by the home security system of a trusted and reliable company. Solar probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think about ADT, but in 2021, they entered the residential solar market with the acquisition of Sunpro Solar, creating ADT Solar. So what does going solar with ADT Solar look like? Let’s dive in.

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