Category Archives: Buyer’s Guide

Articles about solar products and companies to help consumers understand more about solar equipment/companies and best compare their quotes and options.

Black solar panels on a blue and white background with text saying CertainTeed solar panels the complete review

CertainTeed solar panels: the complete review

CertainTeed is a large North American manufacturer of building materials, producing everything from drywall to roofing materials. Established in 1904 as the General Roofing Manufacturing Company, it is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Saint-Gobain SA, a 300-year-old materials company based in Paris. They bring years of experience and understanding in the roofing industry to solar, designing products that can be installed by both experienced roofers and solar professionals. CertainTeed manufactures its solar products, which include solar panels and solar roofing tiles, in either Vietnam or the United States.

A thorough review of solar panel product specifications is the best way to be confident in your solar investment. Our CertainTeed solar panel review breaks down all of the details to help you evaluate how CertainTeed compares to other solar panel brands on the market.

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Image shows a white house with an attached garage. The home has rooftop solar panels.

Tesla solar panels: the complete review

Tesla entered the solar industry in 2016 when the Elon Musk-led company acquired SolarCity and began offering home battery storage and solar installations. Making the jump from electric vehicle manufacturer to a broad clean energy solutions provider, Tesla continues helping homeowners achieve energy independence. In addition to their popular Solar Roof, which replaces traditional roofing materials with small photovoltaic solar shingles, Tesla also offers traditional solar panels. In this review, we’ll dive into the specifics of Tesla’s solar offerings and what it looks like to go solar with Tesla. 

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 Tesla’s solar panel technology and how it compares to other leading solar panel brands available today.

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Image of a black solar panel on a white and blue background. The text on the image reads Q CELLS the complete review

Q CELLS solar panels: the complete review

Founded in Germany in 1999 by a group of German engineers and acquired by Hanwha Group in 2012, Q CELLS (formerly Hanwha Q CELLS) is one of the world’s largest solar panel manufacturers. Now headquartered in South Korea, they produce panels in the United States, Malaysia, and China. In North America, they are based in Dalton, Georgia, where they have the largest solar manufacturing facilities in the Western Hemisphere! The combination of aesthetically pleasing and high-quality panels at a relatively low cost has made Q CELLS an increasingly popular choice for solar shoppers comparing their options on the EnergySage Marketplace

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

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Image of a black solar panel on a white and orange background. The text on the image says LA Solar Group the complete review

LA Solar Group solar panels: the complete review

LA Solar Group has been installing solar panels since they were founded in the Los Angeles area in 2011, with current installations spanning three states: California, Nevada, and Texas. During the past 12 years, they’ve installed over 25,000 systems and approximately 625,000 solar panels. In 2019, they took their years of experience as solar installers and expanded their business to offer their own line of solar panels. So, how do their panels compare to other leading panel brands? In this article, we’ll explain what you need to know about LA Solar Group and the products they offer.

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rec solar panels review

REC Solar panels: the complete review

REC Group is Europe’s largest solar panel manufacturer, with offices in Europe, the United States, Asia, and Australia. The company was founded in Norway in 1996 and manufactures its solar panels in Singapore. REC is known for pioneering half-cut cell technology in 2014, which improved the performance of solar panels by cutting solar cells in half. 

In 2022, REC launched its newest series of solar panels: the Alpha Pure-R. They now offer four series of high-power solar modules for residential applications, including Alpha Pure-R, Alpha Pure, N-Peak 2, and Twinpeak 4. REC solar panels are growing increasingly popular – they’re now some of the most quoted and most selected panels on the EnergySage Marketplace.

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Image of a solar panel with text that says SunPower: the complete review

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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solar shingles on home

Solar shingles: what you need to know

You don’t have to install solar panels on your roof to go solar – solar shingles are an innovative solar technology that can also help you save on your energy bills just like traditional solar panels. In this article, we’ll review the key differences between solar shingles, also called solar roof tiles, and their solar panel counterparts, as well as weigh the pros and cons of a solar shingle installation.

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free solar panels

Free solar panels: are they really free in 2023?

If you’ve been shopping around for a solar panel system, you’ve probably heard at least one company advertise ‘free solar panels,’ implying that they’ll install a solar energy system on your roof for free. But, much as with anything, remember that there’s no such thing as a free lunch – and there’s no such thing as free solar panels.

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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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Image of Panasonic solar panel with text

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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