Tag Archives: solar performance

underperforming solar panels

Underperforming solar panels: common causes and solutions

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

The number of solar panels installed worldwide increases substantially each year with advancements in technology, increasing environmental awareness, and decreasing costs. Solar is more accessible than ever, making it a more and more attractive energy option for businesses, residents, and utilities.  However, as more solar panels are produced, the chances of them malfunctioning or underperforming increases as well. In this article, we’ll explain why your solar panels may be underperforming and the actions you can take to mitigate and monitor your risk. 

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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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do solar panels work during winter graphic

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

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Reading Time: 3 minutes

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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shade solar panels

Do solar panels work in shade?

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Reading Time: 4 minutes

If the sun isn’t shining on your solar panels, they won’t be able to produce energy. When trees or other obstructions are shading solar panels, efficiency losses and reduced power generation may become problematic. In this article we will examine the effects of shade on solar panel production and efficiency.

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SolarCity warranty explained

SolarCity Warranty & Performance Guarantee Explained

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Reading Time: 5 minutes

A solar panel system is a 20- to 30-year investment in your home, and having a strong warranty to support your solar installation is one of the best ways to be confident in your investment. SolarCity, the largest solar leasing company in the country, claims that their coverage “is the best in the industry, with repairs and a production guarantee at no additional cost.” So how does their warranty measure up? Read on for our complete review of SolarCity’s warranty offerings.

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