Guides
Solar, explained straight.
Plain-English answers to the questions homeowners actually ask, from someone with nothing to sell you but a $15 report. Every number traces to NREL, EIA, the IRS, or DSIRE.
Payback
How long do solar panels take to pay for themselves?
The one number that decides it, and the five things that move it.
Worth it?
Is solar actually worth it?
Fast in sunny, high-rate states; slow where power is cheap. The honest decision factors.
Cost
How much do solar panels cost in 2026?
The $/watt benchmark, typical system prices, and how to spot a fair quote.
Tax credit
The federal solar tax credit ended in 2026
What §25D was, why buyers now get $0, and the lease workaround that still captures it.
Net metering
Net metering, explained
Full retail vs partial vs California NEM 3.0, and why it changes your payback.
Sizing
How many solar panels do I need?
From your kWh usage and local sun to a system size and panel count.
By state
Solar payback by state
Where solar pays back fastest, and where it drags, compared side by side.
Home value
Do solar panels increase home value?
What the research says about owned vs leased systems at resale.
Batteries
Are solar batteries worth it?
When a battery earns its keep, and when it just lengthens your payback.
Quotes
How to read a solar installer's quote
The $/watt yardstick, the line items that matter, and the tactics to ignore.