Many solar installers advertise solar leases or power purchase agreements (PPAs) as an easy way to reduce your electricity bill. And they’re not wrong; if you’re interested in a simple, low-maintenance way to install a solar panel system for your home, leasing solar panels may be a good option for you.
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We read CertainTeed’s warranty so you don’t have to
Let’s face it – warranties aren’t the easiest (or most gripping) documents to read. There are often a lot of details and fine print included that can be hard to digest, leaving many to wonder: what does the warranty actually cover? Am I vulnerable? Anything I might be missing?
To make it as easy as possible, we’ve read warranty documents for the top solar equipment manufacturers–and talked to them to confirm what is and isn’t included–and plan to point out the most important aspects of each in a series of articles. For our second article in this series, we’re diving into the warranty of a company well-established in both solar and roofing: CertainTeed.
Continue readingCommunity solar billing: top 4 things to know
If there’s one thing that’s less-than-appealing about community solar, it’s the billing process; there are a number of companies and steps involved, so it can be difficult to grasp exactly what will come in on that first monthly bill. To make it a bit easier, we’ve broken down the top four most important things to know about community solar billing:
Continue readingPower purchase agreements (PPAs): what you need to know
There are many $0-down financing options available for going solar, including both ownership (i.e. solar loan) or third-party-owned (i.e. leases) solutions. Many homeowners looking for an easy, low-cost, maintenance-free way to install a solar panel system move forward with a power purchase agreement (PPA). In this article, we’ll talk about what solar PPAs are and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this financing solution.
Continue readingCommon misconceptions about community solar
At EnergySage, we get a lot of questions about community solar. And that’s to be expected: community solar is a relatively new energy option for many states, and there’s a lot of misinformation about how it works. Well, we’re here to set the record straight – here are some of the top misconceptions about community solar:
Continue readingEnerBank USA solar loans: the complete review
Solar loans are the fastest growing method of financing a solar panel installation. Across the country, the majority of new solar installations are purchased with either a cash purchase or through a solar loan. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, EnerBank USA is a popular company in the home-improvement lending industry. If you’re comparing solar quotes from a few different solar installers, you may have received a loan option from EnerBank.
Continue readingWe read Silfab’s solar warranty so you don’t have to
Let’s face it – warranties aren’t the easiest (or most gripping) documents to read. There are often a lot of details and fine print included that can be hard to digest, leaving many to wonder: what does the warranty actually cover? Am I vulnerable? Anything I might be missing?
To make it as easy as possible, we’ve read warranty documents for the top solar equipment manufacturers–and talked to them to confirm what is and isn’t included–and plan to point out the most important aspects of each in a series of articles. We’ll kick things off with a warranty review of a popular Northern-American solar panel manufacturer: Silfab.
Continue readingTop EnergySage articles of 2020
Let’s all breathe a big sigh of relief – 2020 is almost over! Despite some hurdles, solar energy had a strong year full of exciting news and milestones; in their 2020 World Energy Outlook report, the International Energy Agency (IEA) proclaimed that solar will be the “new king of electricity,” the world’s largest solar plant went live in October (2.2 gigawatts!), and just this week, the federal government extended the 26 percent solar tax credit for another two years.
To finish off the end of a long year, we’ve pulled together a list of our most popular articles of 2020, as chosen by you, our readers.
Continue readingCommunity solar: which project should you subscribe to?
So there are a few community solar options available in your area – which one should you subscribe to? Whether you’re trying to decide between multiple community solar offers or considering just one, here are the most important questions to ask when choosing the right project for you.
Continue readingCancelling a community solar contract: what’s involved?
In the past, long-term contracts have been a major barrier to widespread community solar adoption: 10, 20, or 25-year long agreements left many hesitant to subscribe, and understandably so considering how unpredictable the future is (2020 being the BEST example of that).
Fortunately, this has changed: community solar contracts today are much more flexible than they used to be, and many options allow you to sign up with no commitment and opt-out early for free. That said, there is still no standard when it comes to community solar cancellation policies – they can vary by project, utility, and community solar company, so it’s important to review the specific cancellation terms of your community solar agreement prior to signing on the dotted line.
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