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Best solar panels

By Simon Sage January 26, 2022

Solar panels are a great addition to any home, but it takes a bit of work to find the right ones. You’ll need to consider whether you’ll be off-grid, how much sun you’re anticipating, your total home energy needs, and how much battery storage you’ll want. With the right solar panels, you’ll be able to efficiently capture sunlight and keep your home humming with renewable energy.

We’re sorting through these panels based on warranty, cost per watt, efficiency, and temperature coefficient.

Further reading

LG NeON 2

NeON 2 Bifacial(updated version)

LG is widely regarded as one of the best solar manufacturers there is, and it’s easy to see why. The efficiency of their panels can break 21%, while others hover closer to 16%. The bifacial layout allows these panels to soak up indirect light from their underside, which helps you maximize your power input on overcast days. It’s especially useful in snowing conditions where the top of the panel may be covered, but the snow is still reflecting a bunch of light underneath. The 25-year warranty gives you peace of mind that once installed, they’ll last for the long haul.

REC Solar Alpha

This is the REC Alpha Series (ENG)

REC Solar is well-known for the robust testing of its solar panels, and as such has developed a reputation for reliability. The frame of the Alpha series panel can support loads of up to 7,000 Pa, and maintain a guaranteed 92% power output in its 25th year of usage. REC has eliminated soldering, which can degrade over time and cut connections, while increasing the wire count through the panels to improve electrical flow.

Panasonic EverVolt

How Panasonic EverVolt™ Works

Panasonic has made a name for itself in solar panels thanks to high temperature coefficients. This means its panels can keep operating at peak efficiency even in higher temperatures which could affect performance. While many solar panel manufacturers have this coefficient as high as -0.5%, Panasonic can get up to -0.26%. Panasonic solar panels generally enjoy efficiency rates between 19% and 20%, and this 380W EverVolt model goes up to 21.7%. EverVolt solar panels play nice with Panasonic’s energy storage solution and companion mobile app, providing a seamless transition from the sun beating down on your roof to charging your phone.

SunPower Equinox A-Series

Introducing A-Series Solar Panels: The Next Big Step in Solar

SunPower gives other solar panel options a run for their money when it comes to efficiency. It offers panels that can reach up to 22.7% efficiency, which makes them a great choice when you have limited room. SunPower offers the whole end-to-end experience including installation, battery storage, and a mobile app to manage the system once it’s all set up. The company takes particular pride in its mounting solution which minimizes the visibility of cabling.

Canadian Solar HiHero

Canadian Solar and Clenergy @ The Smart Energy Lab

Canadian Solar provides high-quality solar panels at very reasonable prices. You can expect to pay as little as $2.70 per watt. Canadian Solar’s latest offering provides highly competitive efficiency and temperature coefficient rates to other leaders in the solar space. It has also made efforts to minimize the effects of microfractures in the panel which can otherwise put a dent into performance.

Solar panel shopping tips

What is the longest-lasting solar panel?

Many solar panel warranties last for 25 years, and are expected to last well beyond that timeframe. Even after 20 years of use, you can expect solar panels to continue to operate at 90% of their starting output.

How many solar panels are needed to run a house?

The number of solar panels needed in a home will vary depending on its location, energy usage, and the solar panels used. Assuming average use and capacity, you can expect to need between 25 and 30 panels to keep your home completely powered by solar.

How many solar panels are needed to power a room?

In addition to the factors mentioned previously, figuring out the power usage per room will vary based on the room type. You could estimate that it would take between seven and eight solar panels to power a single room on average.

Do you really save money with solar panels?

Solar panels absolutely save you money in the long run. Depending on electricity prices and your solar set-up, solar panels can effectively pay for themselves after between five and ten years.

That should provide a baseline of options to work with when building out a solar array that can keep your smart home working worry-free. Solar panels are a long-term investment, but it’s a great move for the environment and one that will ultimately pay off.

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Simon has been publishing in tech since before the first iPhone was released. When he's not busy lighting a candle for the bygone BlackBerry glory days, he's digging deep into how to upgrade the smart home to be greener. Follow him for news on battery tech, solar, LED lighting, and smart thermostats.

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Best Instant Pot deals: Pressure cookers, air fryers and grills on sale

A stew cooks in the Instant Pot Precision electric Dutch Oven.

Being one of the most well-known brands, Instant Pot has a lot of various types of kitchen appliances that you can pick up, and if you're already a fan of the brand, that will give you some extra peace of mind. For those who aren't familiar with Instant Pot, it makes some of the best best air fryers and the best pressure cookers on the market, so whatever you get, you're still getting quality, even if it's something more budget-oriented. That's why we've collected some of our favorite Instant Pot deals below, but if you'd like a few more options, you could check out these air fryer deals, Vitamix deals, and Ninja Foodi deals as well.
Instant Pot RIO 7-in-1 Electric Multi-Cooker -- $90, was $100

Not all Instant Pot devices need to cost a lot of money, and this budget-friendly Instant Pot Rio will give you a lot of functionality for less than $100. While it primarily functions as a pressure cooker, you can also use it for cooking rice, making yogurt, warming food, and even sauté. The controls are also pretty simple, so you don't have to worry about pressing through complex menus, and the fact that the lid and internal pan are dishwasher safe means it's really easy to wash as well, which is a huge plus.

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Best Memorial Day Keurig Deals: Get a coffee maker from just $59

A marketing image for the Keurig K-Iced Essentials Iced and Hot machine.

If there is one item we need all year long, it is coffee. That makes Memorial Day a perfect time to shop for a Keurig machine and K-Cups, as both are on sale at the moment. You can even get an iced coffee machine from Keurig for the long, hot days of summer. There's a lot to choose from, though, and a ton of imitation products out there as well. So, if you want one of the best coffee makers on a discount, try one of these Keurig Memorial Day deals.
Our favorite Memorial Day Keurig deal

If there is one thing that we want to do this summer, especially if you're in the south where temps are already rising fast, it is to stay cool. Yet, coffee is also alluring as a hot beverage, too. This Keurig coffee maker, the Keurig K-Iced Essentials Iced and Hot Single-Serve K-Cup Pod Coffee Maker, gives you the best of both worlds. If you're feeling up for a cool cuppa you can get 12 oz. of it from a brilliant method of brewing that starts ultra hot and tapers down to slow ice melt, giving you a cup that feels full strength despite being on ice. Feeling more classic? Throw in the ceramic mug and get a hot serving of 6, 8, or 10 oz. The Keurig has a large reservoir of 32 oz., giving you enough time to get get a few cups of coffee in between fillings.

Smart Home

Best Buy has tons of Dyson cordless vacuum deals for Memorial Day

The Dyson V15 Detect cordless vacuum with its laser.

Memorial Day is just around the corner, but you can already take advantage of Dyson deals from Best Buy if you're planning to purchase one of the brand's popular cordless vacuums. They don't come cheap, so you wouldn't want to miss the retailer's discounts for the upcoming holiday. Here are our favorite bargains: the Dyson V8 for $350, for savings of $120 on its original price of $470; the Dyson Outsize for $500, for savings of $100 on its original price of $600, and the Dyson V15 Detect Extra for $600, for savings of $200 on its original price of $800. If any of these offers catch your eye, you should complete the transaction as soon as possible as there may not be enough stock to keep up with the demand for these cordless vacuum deals.
Dyson V8 -- $350, was $70

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