Solar panel installation guide: installing solar panels in 5 steps

Reading Time: 6 minutes

More than a million homes have already gone solar in the U.S., and many more homeowners are considering installing solar. If you’re in the market for solar, you probably want to know what actually happens during a solar panel installation, or even how to install solar panels yourself. There are five big steps that need to happen after you sign your solar contract before the solar panels on your roof can actually power your home, and a lot of it is behind the scenes. To show you what you can expect, we’ve outlined a simple five-step guide for the typical solar installation process.

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Solar energy vs. wind energy: which is right for you?

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Installing a renewable energy system on your property is one of the best ways to save money on your electricity bills while reducing your impact on the environment. Often, your decision will be between solar energy and wind energy. If you’re a homeowner weighing your renewable energy options, you already know that thorough research is the best way to find the right system for your home. Here’s everything you need to know about the benefits of residential wind vs. solar so that you can make your decision with confidence.

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What the new Tesla inverter means for solar

Canadian Solar panels: the complete review

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

Canadian Solar is one of the world’s largest manufacturers and installers of solar panels and operates on six continents. The company was founded in 2001 and manufactures its solar panels in Canada, China, Indonesia, Vietnam and Brazil. Canadian Solar provides a range of options for both home- and business-owners alike. Canadian Solar panels are a regularly quoted solar panel brand in quotes to solar shoppers comparing their options on the EnergySage Solar Marketplace.

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How to calculate solar panel payback period (ROI)

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

The financial benefits of going solar are now well documented. Solar panel systems actually function as investments with strong rates of return, and homeowners generating solar electricity can avoid paying increased utility rates by eliminating their electricity bills. According to a 2015 report by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, installing solar panels on your home can even increase your property values. If you’re reviewing multiple quotes, there are plenty of metrics that can help you make a decision about which solar option is best for you, but studies show most solar shoppers rely on one metric in particular: the solar panel payback period or break-even point.

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How much do solar panels cost?

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Reading Time: 8 minutes

You’ve probably heard about how solar energy can reduce your electricity bills, but what solar panel cost should you expect to see? The easiest way to calculate the average cost of solar panels is to look at its price in dollars per watt ($/W), which is relatively consistent across the United States.

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Cheap solar panels: how to get the lowest price per watt on the market

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Reading Time: 5 minutes

You may be looking for cheap solar panels available in order to really cash in on solar power. 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 prices, you’re probably wondering: what are the best value solar panels and will solar get even cheaper?

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Solar distributors: who are they, and how do they impact your shopping experience

Should I go solar now or wait?

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

For those asking themselves “should I go solar”, the cost of solar installation continues to fall. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), installing a residential solar energy system costs 70% less than it did in 2010, 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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What are the top solar panel companies & manufacturers?

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Reading Time: 5 minutes

Who are the top solar companies in the world and in the USA? Industry analysts from SPV, SEIA and other organizations offer their top rankings, based on updated shipping forecasts from each of the companies included. *Note: if you are looking for information about the Trump Administration’s tariff on U.S. solar panel imports, read our complete analysis here.

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