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. 

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Solar trends to watch in 2021

Over the past year, in the face of constant and unprecedented headwinds, ranging from COVID-19 to an unfriendly presidential administration, the solar industry has proved incredibly resilient, with home solar installations growing 7 percent in 2020. But what does 2021 have in store for solar? Will this growth continue? In this article, we look at the three areas that will determine the industry’s fortunes in the coming year: business trends, technology, and government policy. 

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Community 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: 

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What is a solar inverter? How does a solar inverter work?

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.

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Don’t snow on Texas: diving into the 2021 blackouts

Much has already been written about this week’s power outages in Texas, and the devastating impact they’ve had on the millions of people who are left in the dark and the cold. Unfortunately, a large portion of the original reporting about the cause of the blackouts contained misinformation. So we want to join the growing chorus of articles setting the record straight on what actually happened in Texas, as well as to take a look at how to prepare to keep the lights on during severe weather events in the future. 

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Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV): what you need to know

When you think of solar, rooftops or open fields with panels generating renewable electricity probably come to mind. However, solar products have evolved – and now, there are many options available under the umbrella of “building-integrated photovoltaics”, or BIPV. BIPV products merges solar tech with the structural elements of buildings, leading to many creative and innovative ways to generate solar electricity.

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