As people transition to a more environmentally friendly lifestyle, solar energy becomes more prominent. It is no surprise that Tesla is one of the leading figures in providing the tools for solar energy use, but what about the other, less known, companies producing solar panel tools?
Tesla makes a strong case for being the go-to option for solar panels. Not only are they known for their environmentally-friendly electric cars, but they practice the eco-friendly standards that they preach. Along with solar panel tiles for existing roofs, Tesla even offers the Tesla Roof, an entirely new roof for your home made of solar tiles.
So considering all the positive factors pointing in the direction of Tesla solar, does that leave any room for the competition? Of course. While companies do compete to get you to purchase their solar tiles, the fight for a greener environment is a joint battle. So before you decide on buying Tesla solar, take a look at what the competition offers!
Tesla Solar
As a company, Tesla is consistently in the headlines for its innovative projects and ventures. As a leader in the fight against global warming, Tesla has developed several products to help consumers reduce their carbon footprint and use their natural sources rather than fossil fuel. When it comes to solar, Tesla offers two options.
Tesla’s solar panel tiles work the way traditional solar tiles work. Upon installation, the tiles conveniently placed on strong access points of sunlight will begin to work in tandem with your solar inverter to convert the energy stored from the sunlight to power the lights and appliances inside your home.
The sleek black design of Tesla’s panels seamlessly blends in with the rest of your roof. The panels sit very low on your roof at a premium angle for sunlight. The panels also have built-in side skirts to help prevent them from picking up any debris. From an efficiency standpoint and an aesthetic point of view, Tesla panels are a great choice.
Why Tesla Solar?
Aside from its design and efficiency, Tesla offers services and a warranty to make sure its consumers aren’t left out to dry after purchase. Tesla offers a 10-year comprehensive warranty option that means they will process claims and perform the labor on your product at their dime. This includes performance or maintenance issues such as
- Leaks and roof mounting
- Powerwall
- Solar Inverter
If you are thinking about an even longer-term investment, Tesla also offers a 25-year panel performance warranty. This warranty states that you are guaranteed at least 80 percent nameplate power capacity for the first 25 years of your purchase. If your panels fail and do not produce power reliably, Tesla will perform the repair labor on their dime.
Perhaps one of the most critical factors that separate Tesla from its competitors is its price match guarantee. This shows Tesla’s commitment to being a prominent figure in the battle for a more eco-friendly environment. In the U.S. alone, Tesla has powered well over 430,000 homes and businesses at a cost-efficient price.
Does Tesla Offer Discounts on Solar?
Tesla solar panels are already the lowest price solar panels on the market, but are there any other ways to save money when ordering?
In short, the only way to get a discount on Tesla solar panels is by using an existing Tesla owners “referral link” when ordering your Tesla solar panels.
Tesla has did this same “referral program” concept with it’s vehicles and essentially it allows new customers to get a discount on their purchase by using an existing customers personal referral link.
In regards to Tesla solar discounts, using a Tesla referral link when ordering will save you $300 off solar panels or $500 off solar roof.
The referral discounts are typically only available for a limited time before Tesla stops offering the discount, so take advantage of the savings while you can.
Tesla Roof
The Tesla Roof is one of the company’s most impressive innovations. A complaint that many people have when switching to solar energy is that they do not like the way the panels look on the roof of their home. With the Tesla Roof, your entire roof will be rebuilt and replaced with a completely solar-powered roof.
Rather than the tiles layered on top of your roof, you will have both a sleek-looking roof and a larger solar power energy source all in one. Going the route of the Tesla Roof does require added maintenance at first, but the long-term benefits are tenfold. Some of the more valuable features that come with purchasing a Tesla Roof are
- Sleek design – One of the more frequent complaints about traditional solar panels is how they look when scattered across the roof of your home. Not only is the Tesla Roof a great choice aesthetically, but it will also boost the property value of your home in the long run.
- Durability – Solar tiles are susceptible to more damage. Using tempered glass, Tesla makes its roof durable and strong. These tiles are three times stronger than the tiles of a standard roof and are designed to survive severe weather such as rain, hurricanes, and heavy snowfall. Think of it as an extra layer of protection.
- Warranty – Despite promoting a durable product, some may still be skeptical. Tesla guarantees an infinite warranty or a warranty equivalent to the lifetime of your home for its roofs. Their warranty offers a stress-free investment should something go wrong.
The Competition
As great as Tesla’s solar options are, the competition in the solar panel market is steep. Tesla was a late addition to the solar panel market and comparatively, other tech companies have been releasing solar tiles for most of the last decade. Before choosing Tesla, take a look at some of the other solar options to consider.
- SunPower
- Luma Solar
- Sunflare
- Solaria
- SolarTech Universal
These are only a few of several competing companies in the solar energy market. Over the next few sections, you will get to know more about some of these alternatives to Telsa, and by the end of the article, you should have a better idea of what the best fit for your solar power needs is.
Luma Solar
Luma Solar has been installing solar systems for years and has solar roofs in over 20 U.S. states, as well as work in the Caribbean and parts of Canada. Its innovative design allows for airflow underneath each shingle, which allows its system a 21 percent solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency.
Like the Tesla Roof, Luma Solar gives you the option for a complete roof makeover. Its style is customizable and they specialized in luxury homes with sloped roofs. Luma Solar also offers a lifetime warranty for its shingle roofs and was one of the first companies to introduce a completely solar roof into the market.
Luma Solar is a niche option as it is not compatible to work with every home. The market for solar energy is large enough to have many companies like Luma Solar that will handle even your most specific solar energy needs. With its durable guarantee and lifetime warranty, Luma Solar is a great choice for your luxury home.
SunPower
SunPower is considered to have one of the most efficient panels on the market. The debut of their 415-watt panel saw an efficiency percentage of nearly 23 percent, a record-breaking high. Aside from its efficiency, it is also very competitive from a durability standpoint, known to have panels that work efficiently for over 25 years.
As mentioned earlier in the article, solar aesthetics is a major talking point when purchasing solar panels. SunPower has one of the sleekest designs in the industry and although they do not make solar roofs, their tiles do not overtake the whole look of a roof. SunPower also delivers one of the most comprehensive warranties on the market.
Between its warranty, top-rated efficiency, and durability, SunPower delivers one of the most reliable solar products on the market. When compared side-by-side with early adaptations of Tesla’s solar panels, SunPower’s 415 model beat out Tesla’s Hanwha 315 model in nearly every category.
Solaria
Solaria might sound like a familiar name to some. They have been around for over 20 years and have been an innovative fixture in the solar energy industry. A solar company that is committed to providing the best and most efficient solar panels on the market. Solaria prides itself on three things:
- Quality – Constantly developing new designs for better quality, Solaria offers one of the most efficient products paired with sleek designs to give its consumers plenty of options to choose from.
- Durability – Considering how long Solaria has been around, it is no surprise to hear that they have one of the most durable solar panel products on the market. Known to last well over 25 years at an efficient and well-working rate.
- Performance – Among one of the highest-rated solar panels on the market. Its Monocrystalline X series had an efficiency rating of 22 percent, one of the highest in the solar panel market.
Solaria is a great choice for anyone who believes in company values and longevity. Many of today’s most popular solar panel manufacturers have looked to Solaria for ideas and inspiration. Solaria continues to evolve and redesign its product to deliver the best quality at the best price.
Sunflare
A relatively new company that is working on designing its version of the Tesla Roof that will be using a combination of active and inactive tiles. Sunflare currently specializes in tiles for warehouses and companies located in open areas. These companies use Sunflare to switch to solar and take advantage of the natural sunshine in their areas.
Sunflare has a diverse set of industries they have worked with. Every competitor has a unique quality that sets them apart from the rest and for Sunflare its reach. Although they are ideal for bigger buildings and warehouses, they also create solar tiles for several other occasions and locations such as
- Residential
- Recreational (Cars and RV’s)
- Solar contractors
With such a diverse portfolio, Sunflare finds itself near the top as one of the most convenient and recommended solar companies in the industry. One factor that separates them from their competition is the fact that they make solar panels for the roof of your car.
SolarTech Universal
An innovative company that markets itself as having the most advanced cell connection technology in the world. SolarTech promises an industry-leading 30-year linear performance warranty and guarantees an efficient, durable, and high-powered product that is powerful even in severe weather and at nightfall.
One of the favorable factors for SolarTech is that it offers up-front financing for its product and installation and you may even qualify for no initial costs. Using state-of-the-art technology, SolarTech offers a truly competitive product suitable for your home or workplace.
Competition Is King?
As you can see there is no shortage of competition to Telsa in the solar energy market. Many of these companies will offer you similar products at comparable prices, but it is the durability and efficiency of each that separate them from each other. Keep in mind that some solar companies specialize in specific solar needs.
If you are looking to invest in solar energy for your business or warehouse, look for solar companies that specialize in that area so you can save on cost and have a better idea of what to expect. If you want solar panels for your home, the options are endless and it comes down to your preference. If you are having trouble, use this article for help.
As using solar energy and eliminating the need for fossil fuel energy becomes more of the norm, companies will continue to innovate and develop worthy solar panel products. At the end of the day, tech companies are competing for your services, but as one company releases the next best innovation in solar power, another is soon to follow.
Before concluding the debate on Tesla solar vs the competition, there is one more factor to consider before making your final decision. The best choice for you may not be the best choice for someone living on the other side of the country. It is always important to keep the variable factors in mind when going solar.
Variables
There are several variables to consider before making your purchase. Whether your decision comes down to one company vs another or solar tiles vs a solar roof, you will need to consider the bigger picture around your investment. Some of the factors to consider before making your decision include
- Yearly weather
- Investment plans for your home
- Is your home solar compatible?
- Shade surrounding your home
These, among other factors, will limit the potential of your solar system. Your solar system needs sunshine and great weather to work efficiently. Someone in Florida will get more usage from their panels than someone in a rainy area like Seattle would. Make sure to invest in panels that are durable and produce power regardless of the weather.
If it is not the weather, it may just be your actual home. Warranties may be meaningless to you if you do not plan on owning or living in that house much longer. If you have an older home, your roof may not be compatible with solar panels and you may have to get a new roof or floor panels to install working panels.
If your home is naturally covered by trees or by bordering buildings and structures, it can have an impact on the efficiency of your panels. It is recommended to speak to a local solar energy expert for an idea of what you should expect from your location and how efficiently you should expect your panels to work.
What Should Your Choice Be?
Now that you are aware of the determining variables of efficient solar energy and you have had time to look over some of the best solar options in the market besides Tesla, it is time to make a decision. Tesla solar vs the competition. What is the best choice for you and your solar needs?
A lot of factors go into this decision, but when you consider the current standing of Tesla within not just the solar energy market, but the eco-friendly market as well, it is hard to argue against its product. Having the convenience to choose between solar tiles and a solar roof makes the conversation more about Tesla vs Tesla.
If that is not enough, the solar aesthetics of Tesla has never been in question as their developers focus on the look of all their products ranging from their cars to their roofs. The biggest determining factors are the long warranties and accessibility to support, as well as the ability to price match with any competitor on the market.
Switching to solar energy is a victory in itself, but when choosing Tesla solar, you are setting yourself for long-term success alongside one of the most innovative tech companies in the world. With durability and longevity guaranteed, Tesla solar is an excellent choice for any of your solar needs.
Conclusion
As always, the decision comes down to your preference and there is no shortage of options to choose from, but a company like Tesla that has become one of the most successful tech companies in the world all while inventing products that help people erase their carbon footprint is always a great choice for solar energy needs.
Companies like SunPower, SunFlare, Solaria, and Luma Solar all offer dependable products at market-worthy prices, but they do not possess the resources to keep up with the innovation of Tesla. The reality is that there is almost no wrong choice and converting to natural energy is easier today than its ever been before.
Make sure to also consider all the variables surrounding your home or business such as weather, shade, compatibility, and investment longevity. Once you have an idea of how efficiently solar energy will work for you, make your decision and start reaping the benefits of natural energy.