Author Archives: Sara Matasci

solar panel kits

Solar panel kits: a complete overview

Most home solar panel systems are installed by a qualified solar installer, but more DIY-minded homeowners are exploring options like solar panels for sale online and solar panel kits for home available for purchase in hardware stores. If you’re one of the millions of Americans considering joining the transition to renewable energy by going solar, you’ve probably come across some of the DIY solar products and off-grid solar systems available – but do you know how to choose the best product out of all the solar panels for sale? Here’s your complete guide to finding the right option for your home.

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best solar panels 2018 graphic

Best solar panels in 2023: top products compared

With renewable energy from the sun becoming easier to tap into, finding the best solar panels for your home can feel like a daunting challenge. There are more than a hundred different brands of solar panels and other solar equipment such as battery storage on the market at any given point. In this article, we’ll discuss how solar panel manufacturers stack up to one another, and who makes the highest quality panels for your home solar panel installation.

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top renewable resources

What are renewable resources?

Renewable resources are those natural resources that will gradually be able to replenish themselves despite some depletion. The era of renewable resources and alternative energy has arrived. It’s cheaper now than ever before to generate electricity from renewable resources, catapulting them from fringe options to the fastest-growing energy resources in the country. These renewable resources include alcohol, water, methane gas, natural oils, and thermal generation. In 2017, renewables set a record in the U.S. by generating 15% of all electricity, predominantly due to hydropower, solar and wind. What are some other examples of renewable energy? We’ll go down the list.

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solar panel size and weight

Solar panel size and weight explained: how big are solar panels?

Solar panel systems are an increasingly common sight on rooftops all across the U.S., but unless you climb up onto a roof, it can be difficult to figure out how big solar panels are and how much they weigh. In this article, we’ll help you understand solar panel size, solar panel weight, and whether your roof can support a solar panel system that produces enough wattage to meet the daily energy needs of your household. 

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generator vs. battery

Home battery backup power vs. generators: which is right for you?

If you live in an area with frequent power outages, you already know the benefits of having a backup power supply for your home. Propane, diesel, and natural gas-powered generators have long been the system of choice for homeowners and businesses that want to ensure that the lights stay on when the power goes out in the neighborhood. Now, an increasing number of people are considering newer, cleaner battery options like the Tesla Powerwall.

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solar panel cost and efficiency over time

How solar panel cost and efficiency have changed over time

Solar panel technology has been around in some form for a long time – Bell Labs invented the first useful solar cell more than 60 years ago, and scientists have known for centuries that the sun can be used to produce energy. However, it’s only in the last ten years or so that solar photovoltaics (PV) has really taken off as a renewable energy source. There are two major factors influencing the technology’s growth: the steady improvement of both solar panel cost and solar panel efficiency over time.

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buy now or wait for solar

Should I go solar now or wait?

For those asking themselves “should I go solar”, the cost of solar installation continues to fall. According to data from the EnergySage Marketplace, installing a residential solar energy system costs almost 13 percent less than it did just five years ago, which is great news for today’s solar shoppers. But the ever-decreasing costs of solar create a conundrum: should I go solar now or wait? For many, daily headlines that declare lower and lower prices can stir them to action. For others though, these same headlines can cause them to wait a few more years in hopes of saving even more money. So who’s right?

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