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.

solar panel kits

Solar panel kits for sale: how they cost and how to compare them

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Reading Time: 6 minutes

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 solar, you’ve probably come across some of the DIY solar products 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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electric water heater pros and cons

Pros and cons of electric water heaters

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Reading Time: 5 minutes

Heating water in your house requires a lot of electricity. In fact, roughly 12 percent of an average home’s energy consumption is spent heating water.  How much energy your own water heater consumes depends not only on how much hot water you use but also on the type of water heater you install. As such, when it’s time to install a new water heater in your home, it’s important to compare multiple options before making a final purchasing decision.

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decotech solar roof review

DecoTech Roof-Integrated Solar System: a solar roof from GAF, America’s largest roofing manufacturer

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Reading Time: 6 minutes

Homeowners across the country have their eye on Elon Musk’s Tesla Solar Roof, a much-heralded innovation for the solar energy industry. However, Tesla is just one company offering a roof-integrated solar option for homeowners and businesses. Roofing company GAF’s solar tile solution, DecoTech, hit the market in early 2017 and promises to be “the beautiful affordable alternative to typical rack-mounted solar systems.” Here is EnergySage’s complete review of everything you need to know about DecoTech solar, from performance to price to warranties.

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sol systems srec review

Sol Systems review: what you need to know

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

Solar energy renewable certificates (SRECs) are some of the most attractive solar incentives available in the country. Many states with renewable portfolio standards (RPS) have special “solar carve-outs” that require a certain amount of a utility’s energy production to come from solar. In these states, utility companies meet the requirement by purchasing SRECs from people producing solar energy.

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how many solar panels do i need

How many solar panels do I need for my home?

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Reading Time: 6 minutes

Determining the size of your solar energy system starts with a simple question: how many solar panels do I need? As most people want to produce enough energy to completely eliminate their electricity bill, the first step is determining what size solar system will produce enough power to meet your household consumption levels. Ultimately, you will be calculating how many kilowatt hours of power you will need and finding the correct system size and number of solar panels to power your house.  Continue reading →

heating and cooling degree days

Heating and cooling degree days

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Reading Time: 5 minutes

Degree days are a way to measure how warm or cold a region is. When it comes to energy, knowing about the heating degree days or cooling degree days your location experiences can help you understand how much energy you might need to use for home climate systems. In this article, we take a look at both cooling degree days and heating degree days and their impact on your energy use, plus potential ways to shift your behavior based on the degree days in your region.

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“Free solar panels”: Are they really free?

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

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

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Smartflower solar review

Smartflower solar: the complete solar flower review

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Reading Time: 5 minutes

The Smartflower solar flower is an all-in-one ground-mounted solar system with a tracker that follows the sun. However, it doesn’t look like the solar panels you might be used to. Learn all about the product’s revolutionary technology, how it compares to other solar options, and whether you should consider one for your home in EnergySage’s Smartflower solar review.

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Panasonic solar panels review

Panasonic solar panels: the complete review

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

Panasonic is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of consumer electronics and an increasingly popular choice for U.S. homeowners installing solar. Whether you’re trying to decide between SunPower vs. Panasonic solar panels or simply evaluating your solar PV options, thoroughly reviewing the product options available to you is the best way to be confident in your solar investment. EnergySage’s Panasonic reviews take a look at the technical specifications of Panasonic solar panels to evaluate how they compare to other manufacturers on the market.

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