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.
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Simon Sage is a green tech contributor at Digital Trends. He looks at all sorts of devices that can help reduce emissions through electrification, like power stations, solar panels, smart thermostats, and LED lighting. He's also keen on exploring right to repair and sustainable transportation.
Simon started journalism 17 years ago in the mobile tech space, covering the meteoric rise and fall of BlackBerry. Since then he's dipped his toe in mobile gaming, app reviews, and sponsored content. He's been to his fair share of trade shows, such as Mobile World Congress, the Consumer Electronics Show, E3 (RIP), the Game Developer Conference, and a smattering of smaller shows. He's done multiple TV interviews, the most surreal of which was explaining how Pokémon Go works on a morning show. Simon's also hosted over 100 podcast episodes.
Previous publications include BlackBerry Cool, IntoMobile, and Mobile Nations sites like Android Central, iMore, CrackBerry, and Windows Central.
Simon's based in Ottawa, Ontario, where he is constantly clawing against the gravitational pull of becoming a government drone. He studied English at Carleton University there, including a stint at Lancaster University in the UK. He has since levelled up his education in sustainability through the Climatebase platform. Simon spends way too much of his free time playing games, especially Magic: The Gathering.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
Technology evolves every day, transforming how we live and work. Our devices are becoming more than tools we use. They are increasingly capable companions that help streamline day-to-day routines and spark creative ideas. If you have been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your tech setup, the Discover Samsung Shopping Event offers an opportunity to explore what connected, AI-powered living can look like.
With AI progressing so fast, it's only a matter of time before we start getting AI companions like the ones we used to see in movies like R2-D2, Wall-E, or Baymax. Now, Singapore-based OKA Technology has unveiled Mori, a cute little AI companion that looks less like a conventional home robot and more like someone turned the Pokémon Foongus into a table lamp.
Mori isn't meant to clean your house or control your smart home, but to serve as what OKA calls a "Nature Companion." It uses subtle movements, warm lighting, nature-inspired sounds, and small reactions to make its presence around the house feel calming rather than distracting. Mori can sit quietly while you read, sway along to music, welcome you when you enter a room, or encourage you to slow down for a moment without requiring a screen or a conversation.
Quick Recap: Life with twins and a pile of bottles