Resources
Guides, explainers, and tools to help you understand solar before anyone tries to sell you anything.
Four guides that answer the questions most homeowners have before their first installer conversation.
Getting started
Roof direction, shading, age, and energy usage all factor in. Learn what matters most before you get a quote.
5 min readIncentives
The federal residential solar credit was eliminated for new purchases. Learn which state, utility, and financing incentives remain.
4 min readBuying guide
Don't just compare price per watt. Equipment tier, warranty terms, and company longevity matter just as much.
7 min readFinancing
Each option has different long-term economics. This guide walks through the math so you can decide.
6 min readYou don't need to become an engineer to buy solar. But understanding the basics helps you ask better questions and spot weak proposals.
How solar panels generate electricity
Photovoltaic cells convert sunlight into DC electricity. Your inverter converts it to AC for home use. Surplus flows back to the grid (or into a battery).
What a typical home system includes
Panels, a string or microinverter, racking hardware, AC disconnect, utility meter, and optional battery storage. Most installs take 1–2 days.
Net metering and the grid
When your panels overproduce, excess electricity is sold back to your utility at a set rate. Net metering policies vary by state — they affect your payback period significantly.
Rule of thumb
1 kW of panels ≈ 1,200–1,600 kWh / year
in most US locations
Available incentives
Federal credit (purchased systems)
Section 25D ended for 2026+ installs
Average state incentive
Varies by state
Utility rebates
Where available
Property tax exemption
Added home value not taxed
Sales tax exemption
No sales tax on equipment
Many states offer their own solar tax credits, cash rebates, and property tax exemptions. Utility rebates and net metering programs can further reduce your net cost and improve payback.
Available incentives vary significantly by state and utility. The federal residential solar credit (Section 25D) was eliminated for purchases made in 2026 or later. Your installer will know which programs apply to your address.
Know what you're looking at before you compare proposals.
kWp
Kilowatts peak — the maximum output of a solar system under ideal conditions. Used to compare system sizes.
kWh
Kilowatt-hours — a unit of energy. Your monthly electricity bill is denominated in kWh consumed.
Payback period
The number of years until your cumulative savings equal your net system cost. Typically 7–10 years for US homeowners.
Net metering
A billing arrangement where excess solar energy is credited against future electricity consumption from the grid.
ITC
Investment Tax Credit — a federal tax credit historically worth 30% of solar system cost. The residential version (Section 25D) was eliminated for systems installed in 2026 or later.
String inverter
A single inverter that converts DC from all panels to AC. Less expensive but performance drops if any panel is shaded.
Microinverter
A small inverter mounted on each panel. More expensive per watt but each panel performs independently.
Shade tolerance
How well a system maintains output when part of the array is shaded. Microinverters and power optimizers improve shade tolerance.
Most residential panels come with a 25-year performance warranty and are expected to operate for 30+ years. Degradation is typically 0.5% per year, meaning panels produce about 87% of their original output after 25 years.
Solar panels still generate electricity on cloudy days — typically 10–25% of their rated output. Germany, one of the world's largest solar markets, averages far fewer sunny days than most of the US. Your annual production estimate accounts for local weather patterns.
No. Most homes connect to the grid and export surplus electricity through net metering. Batteries make sense if your utility doesn't offer net metering, if you have frequent outages, or if your utility charges time-of-use rates. Batteries add $8,000–$15,000 to a system cost.
Studies suggest solar adds roughly 4% to a home's sale price on average, though this varies significantly by market. In 38 states, the added value is exempt from property taxes.
Very little. Panels are self-cleaning in most climates with regular rainfall. An annual visual inspection is recommended. Inverters typically need replacement once in the system's lifetime (10–15 years). Most installers include monitoring so issues surface early.
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