Category Archives: Buyer’s Guide

Articles about solar products and companies to help consumers understand more about solar equipment/companies and best compare their quotes and options.

Comparing energy management systems: how to understand the differences between products

Energy management is a rapidly growing industry – and for good reason! Home electrification is a crucial step towards a clean energy future and more and more people are participating by upgrading their home setup with solar panels, battery storage systems, heat pumps, and electric vehicles (EVs)! Many of these people are looking for additional insight into their electricity usage, whether to reduce their carbon footprint, or to see savings on their electricity bills. 

But energy management systems can vary significantly by product, making it difficult to compare the various options available. In this article, we’ll explain some of the top companies in the energy management industry and explain the differences between their systems. 

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What are the best solar batteries available? Top brands and products of 2022 compared

Storage systems are becoming increasingly attractive home upgrades for homeowners across the country. Whether you’re looking for self-consumption, rate arbitrage during peak hours, or back-up power in case of emergencies, storage systems can provide greater independence, resiliency, and savings–especially if you have solar panels and live in a state without net metering. 

Because storage systems have become so popular, many companies are now in the market, making it more challenging to compare and decide between the different brands and products available. In this article, we’ll explain some of the most important factors for comparing solar batteries and we’ll discuss some of the best brands and products available now.

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Amorphous solar panels: what you need to know

When searching for the best solar panels for your home, there are many factors to consider including size, weight, and efficiency. As the solar industry continues to grow, so too do the product offerings – there are a variety of different types of solar panels available on the market today, some of which have unique advantages over traditional solar panels. One alternative to conventional panels are amorphous solar panels: thin-film solar panels that are constructed to be bendable while also using less material. In this article, we’ll explain what you need to know about this exciting technology. 

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Most efficient solar panels: solar panel cell efficiency explained

In the past years, solar technology has been making huge leaps and bounds towards higher solar cell efficiency, higher power output, and overall higher quality. For those looking for the most efficient solar panels for their solar energy system, the first thing you need to know is how to compare efficiency metrics for different manufacturer brands. Solar panel efficiency is one useful metric used to determine how much power a solar panel produces compared to other products.

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CertainTeed solar panels: the complete review

CertainTeed is a large North American manufacturer of building materials, including solar panels. Established in 1904 as the General Roofing Manufacturing Company, it is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Saint-Gobain SA, a 300-year old materials company based in Paris. They typically manufacture their solar products in either Vietnam or the United States. 

Whether you’re debating the merits of CertainTeed vs. SunPower panels or simply trying to evaluate your solar PV options, a thorough review of solar panel product specifications is the best way to be confident in your solar investment. EnergySage’s CertainTeed solar panel review breaks down all of the details to evaluate how CertainTeed compares to other solar panel brands on the market.

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Panasonic solar panels: the complete review

Panasonic is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of consumer electronics and an increasingly popular choice for U.S. homeowners installing solar. Panasonic’s heteroinjuction technology (or HIT) is included across their product lines, providing a unique take on the solar cell. Their HIT, HIT+ and HIT AC series are all high performers on EnergySage, with Panasonic the most quoted solar panel brand on EnergySage in 2019.

Whether you’re trying to decide between SunPower and Panasonic solar panels or simply evaluating your solar PV options, thoroughly reviewing the product options available to you is the best way to be confident in your solar investment. EnergySage’s Panasonic reviews take a look at the technical specifications of Panasonic solar panels to evaluate how they compare to other manufacturers on the market.

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SunPower solar panels: the complete review

SunPower solar panels are one of the most frequently requested solar panel brands on the EnergySage Solar Marketplace, and for good reason. SunPower panels are often the most efficient (read: powerful!) products on the market today, and they offer an industry-leading warranty. For many years, SunPower has been a fully-integrated solar shop: manufacturing solar cells & panels, and then offering sales and installation services for residential and commercial applications as well. Recently, SunPower announced that they’re spinning off their manufacturing arm into a new company–Maxeon–to focus on installing solar panels.

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Q CELLS solar panels: the complete review

Q CELLS is one of the world’s largest solar panel manufacturers, and is headquartered in Germany. Q CELLS has a number of different product lines in the Q.PEAK DUO series: from the G5 up through the G7, and including a number of sleek, all-black panel options. The combination of aesthetically pleasing and high performing panels at a low cost has made Q CELLS an increasingly popular choice for solar shoppers comparing their options on the EnergySage Solar Marketplace.

The best way to be confident in your solar investment is to thoroughly review the product options available to you. To make your solar research process easier, EnergySage has developed Q CELLS reviews. As the leading online marketplace for homeowners considering solar, EnergySage is uniquely positioned to evaluate the technical specifications of Q CELLS solar panels and help you compare them to other manufacturers on the market.

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REC Solar panels: the complete review

REC Group is Europe’s largest manufacturer of solar panels, and has offices in Europe, the United States, Asia, and Australia. The company was founded in Norway in 1996 and manufactures its solar panels in Singapore. With their Alpha and Alpha-black series of solar panels, REC has introduced a high-powered solar panel that competes with other excellent brands in the market. As a result, REC solar panels are an increasingly popular option in quotes to shoppers comparing solar offers on the EnergySage Marketplace.

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