The most important part of a solar panel system is the solar array. It holds all of the panels in your system, which is where sunlight is collected and converted into electricity. Here are some common questions to ask yourself before installing a solar panel system on your home, and to make sure you get the most productive array possible.
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Solar system components and setup: what you need to know
Once solar panels are set up on a property, they’ve relatively maintenance free. This is because the majority of solar panel systems have no moving parts; as long as they’re receiving sunlight and the products aren’t faulty, they will be a reliable source of electricity for at least 25 to 30 years.
Because of their ease of use, most people don’t think about the actual setup of a solar panel system. What parts are required? And how do they all connect to produce power for your property? Here’s a quick intro to the most important solar system components, and how they’re set up on your home or business.
Continue readingDepth of discharge (DoD): What does it mean for your battery, and why is it important?
Batteries are becoming a popular add-on to solar systems thanks to the extra benefits they can offer for solar system buyers. Batteries offer backup power benefits when the grid goes down, increases the usefulness of off-grid systems, and improves solar economics if you have less than ideal net metering policies or time-of-use (TOU) rates.
With an increasing amount of companies offering storage options, more questions are arising about how to compare the batteries: which is the best, or which one is right for you? One of the most important factors to consider when shopping for battery backup for your home is the depth of discharge (DoD).
Continue readingTop myths about solar
At EnergySage, we hear a lot of solar myths. Here are some of the top ones most in need of busting.
Continue readingThe most popular solar panels on EnergySage in 2022
Before going solar, one of the biggest decisions you’ll need to make is which equipment to install. But there are hundreds and thousands of solar panel products – so where’s the best place to start? In this article, we’ll explore the most popular solar panels on the EnergySage Marketplace.
Continue readingHow electricity rates impact solar savings
Have you heard that solar panels only make sense in sunny states? Well, don’t believe it for a second – while it’s true that solar panels typically produce more electricity in sunnier areas of the country, how much you can save from installing solar panels rests heavily on one major factor: the costs you avoid paying your utility company for electricity.
People all over the country–even those that live in cloudy areas–can reap solar savings. Generally speaking, the higher your electricity rates, the more money you can save by switching to solar.
Continue readingShould I install a solar battery now, or add it later?
Energy storage is the rising star of renewable energy. And with this popularity comes an increasingly common question: should I install a battery with my solar panel system now? Or, should I wait and add one later on? In this article, we’ll dive into some of the most important factors to consider when making that decision.
Continue readingWhy is my electric bill so high?
If you own a home, you’ve probably experienced the shock of opening your monthly electricity bill in the mail and seeing a dollar total that is higher than you expect. It’s a common part of home ownership, and one that you can hear homeowners lamenting as electricity rates increase – “Why is my electric bill so high? Why does it keep going up?”.
Luckily, there are steps you can take to find the source of high electricity bills and resolve them so that you can minimize the impact on your wallet. Here are some ideas to start the troubleshooting process, along with some suggestions on what to do about your high electric bill.
Continue readingSolar developers: what you need to know
In 2021, the U.S. installed more solar than ever before – with one out of every 600 U.S. homeowners installing solar each quarter! And impressively, more than half of those additions came from utility-scale projects. The companies that build these projects aren’t the same type of installers you receive quotes from on EnergySage – while they technically install projects like residential solar companies, we in the industry most often refer to them as solar developers.
In this article, we’ll give you a quick overview of solar developers, the role they play in the solar industry, and highlight some of the top solar developers today.
Continue readingHow much does a Tesla cost?
Tesla’s constantly innovating and releasing new electric car tech to the market, and today can boast of four commercially available car models, each with its own unique set of perks: the Tesla Model S, Tesla Model X, the Tesla Model 3, and the Tesla Model Y. In this article, we’ll break down the car prices for each of the different Tesla EV models, and explain how you should compare them.
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