Solar panels aren’t the only component that you should be thinking about when you evaluate your solar system equipment. Solar power inverters play an equally important role in a solar system: they convert the electricity your solar panels create into a form that can be used by the appliances, lighting, and other electronics that are in your home. Once you understand how solar inverters work, and the different types of inverters available for solar, the EnergySage Solar Marketplace can help you compare solar quotes with different inverter types.
Continue readingAuthor Archives: sara
Solar power as a home improvement strategy
When you make improvements to your home, it’s smart to take into consideration how they will impact your home’s value. The conventional wisdom from HGTV and home improvement magazines is that updating your kitchen, renovating your bathroom, or building an addition are the smartest ways to increase the value of your property. But there’s another home improvement that you may not realize adds to your property’s value: installing a solar energy system on your roof.
Continue readingSunTegra solar shingles: a solar roof tile option for your home
Homeowners across the country have their eye on Elon Musk’s Tesla Solar Roof, a much-heralded innovation for the solar energy industry. However, there are already roof-integrated solar panels available on the market, also known as solar shingles. SunTegra is one of two major companies producing and installing solar shingles in the United States.
Continue readingSolar panel insurance: does solar increase your home insurance?
Millions of homes have solar installed on their roofs. Investing in a solar PV system has a variety of benefits: solar panels will reduce your electricity bills by generating electricity on-site for 25 years or more. A solar energy system can also increase your home value by tens of thousands of dollars. Home solar is a significant investment in your home, which leaves many homeowners wondering: do I need to get solar panel insurance or will my system be covered by my home insurance?
Continue readingTesla solar panels: the complete overview
Tesla’s plans to make solar panels have been known for years. The company is constructing a factory in Buffalo, NY, specifically to produce Tesla solar panels and the Tesla Solar Roof, but until recently not much more was known about their plans.
Continue readingSmartflower solar: the complete solar flower review
The Smartflower solar flower is an all-in-one ground-mounted solar system with a tracker that follows the sun. However, it doesn’t look like the solar panels you might be used to. Learn all about the product, how it compares to other solar options, and whether you should consider one for your home in our Smartflower solar review.
Continue readingMass Save rebates 2019: get an energy assessment in MA
The Mass Save energy assessment program is Massachusetts’ all-encompassing energy efficiency campaign, and is sponsored by both your electric utility and energy efficiency providers. The program is available to renters, homeowners, and businesses across Massachusetts. Here’s the complete breakdown of all the different measures that you can take to reduce your energy use and resultant utility bills through the Mass Save program in 2019.
Should you buy Grape Solar panels from Costco or Home Depot?
Installing solar panels is fast becoming a home improvement project that any homeowner can take on. Now that you can buy solar panels at Costco and Home Depot, you may even be considering installing a home solar energy system yourself. One of the most popular DIY options is to purchase a solar panel kit from Grape Solar, an Oregon-based solar panel manufacturer whose products are for sale at Costco and Home Depot. But before you make a Costco solar purchase, we recommend you learn more about how Grape Solar panels compare to other solar panel brands.
Continue readingYgrene Energy Fund financing: everything you need to know
Thanks to the expansion of solar financing options, it’s easier than ever for homeowners and businesses to buy and install a solar panel system. Across the country, more than half of all new solar installations are bought in cash, with a solar loan, or through a specialty financing option.
Continue readingCalifornia net metering: everything you need to know about NEM 2.0
Net metering in California is part of what makes the Golden State the undisputed leader for solar in the country. In fact, California saw 26,232 megawatts (MW) of solar installed as of the end of Q3 2019, about five times as much as #2 state North Carolina.
Continue reading