How Many Solar Panels Do I Need To Power a House?

Dec. 06, 2023

Solar Panels on a Flat Roof: 5 Things to Know

Can you install solar panels on a flat roof? Yes, you can successfully install solar panels on the flat roof of your home or business....

When Is the Best Time to Buy Solar Panels?

The best time to own solar panels is when you receive an electricity bill for zero dollars. But when is the best time to buy...

How Much Energy Does a Solar Panel Produce?

One of the most important features of a solar panel is how much energy it can produce. After all, that’s what they’re designed to do!...

Why Is My Electricity Bill So High?

When it comes to paying for electricity, most households are battling a two-headed monster. One of the heads is usage. We are using more and...

Best Solar Panels and Inverters Brands of 2022

One of the most important parts of choosing solar equipment is having confidence that the manufacturer will be around in 25-30 years to honor their...

Is It Worth Going Solar in Your Golden Years? A Retired NASA...

For many homeowners, solar panels are a long-term investment in energy cost savings. On average, it takes between 7-10 years to break-even, leaving decades to...

What Is the Best Roof Design for Solar Panels and What If...

If you’re looking to go solar at home, chances are you’re going to put those panels up on your roof. Ground-mounted solar is a great...

The Best Roof Materials for Solar Panels - 5 Common Materials

One of the first questions you’ll be asked in the process of going solar is, “What is your roof made of?” Solar can be installed...

Hyundai IONIQ 5 Charging Costs: Solar Versus Utility

With awards for safety, design, and performance, the Hyundai IONIQ 5 is perhaps the hottest electric vehicle (EV) on the market and will likely attract...

Solar Panel Warranty Guide: What You Need to Know

Going solar is a long-term investment energy savings and a clean energy future. And there’s nothing to protect that investment like a long and robust...

What Are Solar Panels Made Of?

You might know what solar panels can do – convert sunlight into energy, save money, create energy independence, increase your home’s resale value – but...

California’s ADU Solar Requirements: Does My ADU Need Solar Panels?

In 2020, California became the first state to require new homes to be equipped with solar panels to offset the use of grid electricity as...

Do Solar Panels Work At Night?

Do solar panels work at night? The short answer is: no, solar energy systems only operate during the day. This is because the power from...

Charging a Tesla Model 3 With Solar Panels vs Grid Electricity

There are plenty of reasons to drive an electric car. Near the top of the list is saving time and money by charging right at...

How To Prepare for Your Introductory Call When Going Solar

An introductory call is the first step to saving money and powering your home with clean solar energy. As with any journey, the first step...

How Long Do Solar Panels Last on a House?

Like buying a house, solar panels are a long-term investment. The longer you own them, the greater the return on investment. In fact, if you...

Meet the Energy Companies Topping the Inc. 5000

Last month, the annual Inc. 5000 list was published on Inc.com. The list ranks businesses based on their revenue growth from 2013 to 2016, and...

How Many Solar Panels Does It Take To Charge an EV?

Solar panels and electric vehicles (EVs) go together like peanut butter and jelly, Batman and Robin, and peas and carrots. Charging an EV on solar...

Advantages of Using America's Most Trusted Solar Marketplace

Many people stumble upon Solar.com from a news article, a blog, a link while researching. But why would a homeowner use a service like...

Go Solar Now or Wait for Better Tech?

“Shouldn’t I wait to go solar until the costs are lower and the technology is better?” We get this question a lot at Solar.com – and...

The Value of Custom Designed Solar Systems

When customers come to us from other installers, they are always hesitant and anxious. Why? Because when you go straight to the installer they give...

When Solar Companies Compete For Your Project, You Win!

In the early years of the solar industry, the way homeowners were being sold was extremely unacceptable, and in some cases offensive. Salespeople going...

What To Ask A Solar Installer Before Signing On The Dotted Line

You’re probably reading this wondering: “What on Earth makes a Solar Company A different from Solar Company B or C?! What makes one solar installation...

3 Questions To Ask Before You Go Solar

Most solar installation companies provide financial projections to homeowners estimating what their savings will be twenty or twenty-five years after the time of installation....

4 Reasons To Use a Solar Marketplace When You Go Solar

If you’re a homeowner, chances are you’ve been approached by a solar company. Whether it was someone at your door, a salesperson in a home...

The Influence of Women in the Solar Industry

It’s International Women’s Day! Today we recognize and celebrate women all around the world. As a member of Solar.com’s female population, it’s necessary for me...

What To Look For When Choosing From The Best Solar Companies

Choosing the right solar installer can be tricky. Let’s say you are looking to remodel your home and have to decide between several contractors...

Who Are The Best Solar Panel Manufacturers?

You are a savvy consumer who wants to make sure you find the best solar panels for your home. In a lot of instances,...

How To Compare Solar Companies and Receive Solar Quotes Online

Comparing Solar Companies and Receiving Solar Quotes Online It’s easy and fun to get solar quotes online through Solar.com’s one-stop shop. Our solar online marketplace is...

Smart Panels offer Homeowners Advanced Energy Control

Solar panels and battery backup has brought home energy into a modern age. However, these advanced technologies typically tie into a rather antiquated gathering place...

Power Outages & Blackouts: How Solar + Storage Can Help

Over the last year, the US has seen an unprecedented number of power outages that left millions without power and helpless to extreme weather conditions....

2021's Top Solar Monitoring Systems

Household solar monitoring systems change the abstracts of power generation and consumption into graphics and numbers you can scroll through on an app. Hardware connected...

2021's Best Home Solar Mounting Systems

Solar panels and backup batteries get all the attention. But there’s another important piece of equipment to the home solar equation: mounting systems. These sturdy...

How To Choose The Best Solar Panels in 2023

Solar panels last a very long time and technology is always improving. How do you decide which panel is the right fit for you? Should...

REC Solar Panels: The Complete Review

Founded in Norway in 1996, REC Group is the leading European brand for Solar panels and has been providing sustainable and high-performance products, services, and, investments...

Our Solar COVID-19 Guidelines

Solar.com is committed to providing our customers with the best customer service experience in the solar industry. In light of the ongoing developments around the...

Microtops Sun Photometer Review

Solar Light’s Model 540 Microtops II® Sunphotometer is a lightweight, handy 5 channel gadget for measuring and assessing direct solar irradiance, aerosol optical thickness, and...

Top Solar Panels of 2018 & 2019

Top Solar Panels 2019 & 2018: An Overview As we’re wrapping up the year here at Solar.com, we’ve been reflecting on the last two years...

Going Solar in These Top 10 States Will Increase Your Home Property...

According to a recent report by Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the U.S. installed 2.1 GW of solar capacity in Q2. The solar industry reached...

Q CELLS Opens New 1.7 GW Factory in Dalton, Georgia

South Korean solar panel manufacturer, Q CELLS, recently celebrated a monumental milestone last month. The company opened their fourth solar factory in *drum roll please*...

4 Cool New Technologies from Solar Power International (SPI) 2019

Our team just returned from a very exciting trip to the Solar Power International 2019 Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah. We toured the floor...

U.S. Installed Solar Capacity: 2 Million Milestone

According to the most recent data released by Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the residential solar market in...

Solar Subcontractors: Should I use one to go solar?

So, you’re interested in starting a solar project and now you’re wondering, “who should be doing the installation work?” Well, more and more companies...

5 Most Popular Solar Panels Chosen by Homeowners in 2018

Homeowners demand a lot from the solar panels they select for their rooftop system. These panels need to look good and perform well over multiple decades! Here...

Better Looking Solar Panels: System Aesthetics Comparison

As a homeowner, solar panel efficiency and cost may not be the only two factors you’re considering when deciding whether or not to go...

SolarEdge Inverters: The Complete Review

SolarEdge is an Israeli-based company offering PV solar inverters. Currently providing almost 90 percent of all residential power inverter needs, SolarEdge has quite the...

Mission Solar Energy: The Complete Review

Mission Solar Energy, a U.S. Photovoltaic (PV) solar module company based in San Antonio, designs, engineers and assembles high-quality solar modules that are well suited...

Hyundai Solar: The Complete Review

Hyundai Solar began in 2005 by Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), a popular player in the heavy industries sector, with production centers in Eumseong, Korea. As...

Brooklyn Solar Works Solar Canopy: The Comprehensive Review

As everyone knows, space is tough to come by in New York City. The same holds true when designing rooftop solar arrays. The city is...

The 3 Most Efficient Solar Panels for Your Home

Modules have come a long way since the 1960s when the first solar panels maxed out at 14% efficiency. While higher efficiencies sound better, what...

8 Awesome New Technologies from Solar Power International 2018

Today, the Solar.com team took a break from our solar designs for a quick trip down to Anaheim for Solar Power International 2018. We...

JA Solar: The Comprehensive Review

Founded in May 2005 and later listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2007, JA Solar is a globally recognized manufacturer of solar...

Canadian Solar: The Comprehensive Review

While there are numerous solar panel companies on the market, Canadian Solar is definitely a top player in the industry. Beyond manufacturing quality panels, Canadian...

Bacteria-enhanced Solar Can Boost Production in Cloudy Skies

In May 2018, researchers at the University of British Columbia discovered a new way to build solar cells that incorporate bacteria. Yes, germs… But...

JinkoSolar: The Comprehensive Review

JinkoSolar is a manufacturer and global supplier of solar modules. They are headquartered out of Shanghai, China and employ over 12,000 across their 8 production...

Community Solar Farms Gaining Popularity in New York

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, by the end of 2018, there should be close to 2 million solar installations in the United States....

How Do Wind and Humidity Affect Solar Panel Efficiency?

Several factors play into solar panel efficiency. The type of solar cells and how the panels are constructed are the most important factors in how...

Does Solar Panel Temperature Coefficient Matter?

If you are trying to maximize the amount of energy that your solar panel system can generate, then your solar panel’s temperature coefficient is...

The Latest Update in Flexible Solar Cells for Your Smart Devices

As solar increases in popularity across the world, more investments are being funneled into the development of solar cell technology. The goal is to...

Do Solar Panels Work Less Efficiently at Certain Temperatures?

It’s easy to confuse heat energy and light energy since we often experience them in tandem. But when it comes to solar panels, there...

The Essentials of Passive Solar Home Design

In the process of designing a home, there are a number of strategies that can be implemented to minimize the amount of energy required to...

South Korea's Q CELLS to Open Georgia Solar Factory

In the wake of US tariffs on non-domestic solar modules, Q CELLS is opening a solar module factory in Georgia. The South Korean company announced...

Space-Based Solar vs. Conventional Solar - How Are They Different?

We all are familiar with residential and commercial solar panels. They can be found all around states like California, New York, Massachusetts, and more....

How Solar Panels Absorb and Store Energy

The sun’s energy is expressed in different ways, depending on what materials it interacts with. Solar panels are built with materials that physically interact...

Perovskite and Silicon Solar Cell Efficiency Reaches 25.2%

While around 90% of solar panels currently on the market are made out of silicon, adding a new material may soon make existing module design...

What Direction Should My Solar Panels Face?

When you make the decision to install a solar panel system at your home, there are going to be several questions on your mind. How...

How are solar panels manufactured?

You know solar panels as the futuristic-looking black or blue rectangles that soak up sunlight and bring down your energy bills. You might even get...

DIY Soda Can Solar Thermal Panels

Are you inclined to tinker on backyard projects? Is it something you’re curious about? Here’s a fun DIY solar project (featuring soda cans) that might...

India Gets Serious About Solar

According to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is on track to install 200 gigawatts of renewable capacity by 2020. The country is fully embracing...

Can My Solar Panels Withstand a Hurricane?

If you live in an area that experiences extreme weather like hurricanes, hail, thunderstorms, blizzards, heavy winds and more, then you should take the...

Why Are Solar Panels Blue?

If you have ever driven through a residential neighborhood in states like California, Arizona, North Carolina, or any of the other top states for solar,...

What Solar Options Are There Besides Rooftop Solar?

When you think of solar, you probably imagine a solar panel-lined rooftop. For many homeowners, rooftop solar is usually the way to go. But it...

Brand Battle: Hyundai vs. Panasonic Solar Panels

Hyundai and Panasonic are trusted brands and they’ve both expanded into the solar panel industry. Offering quality products for two different price points, each brand...

Why New York Loves SunPower Solar Panels

New York loves its Yankees — and its Sunpower solar panels. A recent review of the Solar.com platform showed that homeowners in New York state...

Should I Get a Solar Thermal System Instead of a PV System?

When you hear about installing solar, you’re most likely hearing about PV (photovoltaic) solar cell panels. They’ve become standard in the industry. PV solar cell...

Everything You Need to Know About Solar Carports

The increasing adoption rate of solar technology has led to both surprising innovations as well as obvious and practical applications. One such application of...

How to Conduct Due Diligence on Your Solar Project

Once you’ve decided to install a solar panel system at your home, the next thing to focus on is conducting the proper due diligence on...

California HOA Rules for Solar: New Law Makes Going Solar Easier

If you live in a condo, you may think that solar is beyond your reach thanks to homeowners association (HOA) regulations. After all, they didn’t...

Full Review of Sistine Solar Skins - MIT Startup Makes Solar (Even...

We at Solar.com already think solar panels are pretty beautiful – their cost savings and sustainability alone make them gorgeous in our eyes. However, The...

A Complete Review of the NEW SolarEdge EV Charging Single Phase Inverter

For electric vehicle (EV) owners, having convenient access to a charging station is as important as a normal driver having access to a gas station....

How Utility API Works With Your Utility and Solar Company

Utility API provides software to accelerate the clean energy movement. They do this, in part, by offering secure data on a homeowner’s energy usage to...

What's the Size of a Solar Panel? Solar Panel Size and Weight...

If you are thinking about installing a solar panel system at your home, one of the first things you must consider is how much...

Kitty Hawk's Cora: An Autonomous, Completely Electric Air Taxi Takes Flight

Flying cars have captured society’s imagination as a far-off possibility for decades, but that dream is quickly nearing reality. Earlier this month Silicon Valley startup...

American Solar Panel Manufacturers - 2018 Complete List

There are many reasons why a consumer may want to purchase their solar panels from an American manufacturer or from American Solar brands. They want...

A Guide to Solar Panel Mounts

Solar panel mounts are a common component of almost every solar panel array. Although there are newer solar panel technologies coming out that do not...

SoCal Edison's $10,000 BMW i3 Incentive

In February 2011, BMW introduced its new sub-brand, BMW i. This sub-brand’s purpose was to focus on marketing and selling a new line of plug-in...

Top 3 Solar Inverters Selected Through Solar.com in 2017

Solar panels are a fairly familiar concept and many of us have an idea on top solar panel manufacturer, but inverters are a little...

Top 5 Solar Panels Selected Through Solar.com in 2017

Curious which solar panels are selected most on the Solar.com platform? As an online marketplace connecting quality solar companies to customers, we stay neutral...

What Is A Solar Panel Farm?

Each year, there are newer and more powerful solar technologies made available for individuals and consumers. These solar solutions are not just limited to rooftop...

SunPower Solar Panels vs. LG Solar Panels - 2018 Update

SunPower and LG are two of the top companies making solar panels. You’ve probably come across them in your research, and you’re wondering which will...

Going Solar in San Diego Gas and Electric Territory

Did you know that 30 percent of San Diego’s power comes from renewable sources? Contributing to that growing number is easier than ever. Switching to...

PG&E Home Solar and Electric Vehicle Rates Rundown

After much deliberation, California’s Pacific Gas & Electric has begun rolling out its updated residential and commercial rates. As there is little opposition to the...

How Blockchain And Solar Can Work Together

Many would consider 2017 to be the year of cryptocurrency. Coins like Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ripple and dozens of others have shot up 1,000%+ and do...

The Craziest Solar Technologies Coming in 2018

Solar technology has been in existence since 1876 when William Grylls Adams and his student researcher discovered that you can produce electricity by exposing selenium to...

3 Solar Panel Innovations to Look for in 2018

Solar energy is taking shape across industries and geographies. Engineers at top solar panel companies are hard at work developing innovations making solar even more...

Why Your Solar Provider Needs to be NABCEP Certified

After picking the best solar equipment and design for your home, it’s time to pick the right installer. A good installer will make installation a...

6 of the Most Common Solar FAQs

Solar is now more affordable and practical for the consumer than ever before, and because of this, it is starting to make sense to think...

Top Portable Solar Panels for Under $200

As the fundamental technology behind solar improved, a number of new consumer devices started hitting the market. One such device was the portable solar panel....

EV Charging Everywhere: An Interview with Heather Hochrein, EVmatch CEO

We sat down with Heather Hochrein, CEO and co-founder of EVmatch, to learn more about her Santa Barbara company and the opportunity of EV charging...

An Overview of Panasonic's Solar Panel Offerings

With all of the advances in the solar industry, it is getting more practical and affordable to start using solar. In fact, the price of...

How I Found Top Solar Providers Near Me

The following post is a testimonial from a user of Solar.com’s Solar Savings Calculator. I never thought I would be someone to search for solar...

Smappee vs. Sense vs. CURB Home Energy Monitor Comparison

Whether or not you’ve made the decision to go solar, knowing exactly where your electricity is used can help you save on energy bills by...

Mass Solar Connect: Compare Solar Companies in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) has teamed up with Solar.com and local nonprofits Self Reliance and the Marion Institute to officially launch Mass Solar...

Monocrystalline Solar Panels vs Polycrystalline Solar Panels

Over six decades ago, New Jersey scientists announced their invention of a practical silicon solar panel. Solar panels have come a long way since then,...

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