Category Archives: Solar 101

Articles all about solar, from common questions to overviews of different aspects of a solar energy installation.

solar panel output energy production

What is the output of a solar panel?

Most solar panels on the market in 2023 produce between 250 and 450 watts of power. You might come across these solar panel output numbers from your solar installation quote, which will typically include “245W”, “300W”, or “345W” next to the name of the panel. They are all referring to a solar panel’s wattage, capacity, and power output.

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diy solar panels

DIY solar panels: pros, cons and installation guide

Going solar has major financial benefits: it reduces your monthly electric bill and can even increase the value of your home. Tax incentives and rebates, like the federal tax credit for solar and local net metering rules, can reduce your net cost by 30%, but solar is still a big investment, and the price tag can result in sticker shock.

To save money, it’s no surprise that many homeowners are considering “do it yourself”, or DIY, solar. You can install solar panels yourself, but there are some advantages and disadvantages to doing it alone. In this article, we’ll break down the top pros and cons that you need to know about do-it-yourself solar panel systems before making a decision.

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residential solar panels

Looking to go solar? Here’s everything you need to know in 2023

Whether you want to save thousands on electric bills, lower your carbon footprint, or fully electrify your home, going solar is a great place to start. Adding solar panels to your home is an easy and popular way to boost your home’s value and energy savings. 

While solar panels are certainly a sound long-term investment, they’re also a big purchase, so it’s important to be confident in your decision. We’ll explain how to determine if solar will work for your home–and how to get solar panels at the best price. (Spoiler alert: comparing quotes is the way to go.)

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solar panel generating electricity for a home

How do solar panels work?

Solar panels harness the sun’s energy to generate usable electricity. At a high level, solar cells absorb incoming sunlight to generate an electrical current through what’s known as the “photovoltaic effect”. This electrical current is captured by plates and wires and turned into a usable energy current that is sent to your home and appliances. In this article, we’ll break down exactly how solar panels produce renewable energy for your home.

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solar farm

Solar farms: what are they and how do they work?

The solar industry has seen rapid growth over the past decade, with more individuals and businesses all over the world finding ways to tap into clean energy. A major contributing factor has been the surge in solar farms popping up across the globe. As more ways emerge to go solar, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and combat climate change, there can be a lot to keep track of and you’ve probably got some questions. In this article, we’ll explain the types of solar farms, how much they cost, and how to find one near you.

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how much do solar panels save

How much do solar panels save? Solar savings by state

Most solar shoppers can save between $20,000 and $97,000 on electricity over the lifetime of a solar panel system. Solar panels aren’t just good for the environment – you can benefit from serious savings which can vary based on a number of factors including your location, current energy usage trends, and the size of your solar panel system. Most importantly, solar savings are influenced by the price you pay for electricity.

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solar panel cleaning

How to clean your solar panels

While a solar energy system is generally a “set it and forget it” system that allows you to passively produce renewable energy for your home, you may need to freshen up your panels occasionally. While it’s not absolutely necessary to clean solar panels, you may be losing out on value and efficiency by not doing so. In this article, we’ll provide answers to some common questions solar panel system owners have about solar panel maintenance and how to perform it safely.

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commercial and industrial solar installation

Commercial and industrial solar panel installations: an overview

Commercial and industrial (C&I) property owners can benefit from installing solar energy on business or factory roofs or as ground-mounted systems on a campus. Many corporations have massive manufacturing facilities and commercial buildings with expansive, flat roof space – the perfect place to generate clean, inexpensive solar power while reducing their carbon footprint.

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do solar panels work during winter graphic

Do solar panels work in the winter? Solar snow performance explained

Memories of cold, snowy winters past can be discouraging even for the hardiest homeowner. If you’re considering going solar, you might be wondering whether solar panels and snow are a bad combination. On the contrary, EnergySage marketplace data has indicated that solar shoppers can often find the lowest quotes during winter months when competition is reduced. After all, if you look at solar as an investment, then it should be able to generate returns throughout the year as other investments do. Luckily, plenty of people have both solar panels and snow, and some of the most popular regions in the U.S. for solar have snowy winters. Don’t let winter weather discourage you from going solar!

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