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Solar guides
Twenty plain-English guides, each with real numbers and worked examples. Start with is solar worth it? if you're new. Look up any term in the glossary.
Getting started
What solar is, whether it pays, and whether your roof is ready.
- Is solar worth it in 2026? An honest answerLearn the six factors that decide if solar pays off, with worked payback math for California, Texas and Washington, plus when to skip it.7 min
- How solar panels work, explained simplyLearn how sunlight becomes electricity, what an inverter does, and how much power one panel really makes per day, with simple math you can follow.7 min
- Is your roof ready for solar? Orientation, shade and ageCheck your roof before going solar. See how direction, tilt, shade, age and material affect output and cost, and when a ground mount makes more sense.6 min
- Solar panel types: monocrystalline, polycrystalline, thin-filmCompare monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film solar panels, plus TOPCon, HJT and bifacial, with efficiency, wattage and warranty numbers.6 min
Cost, incentives and quotes
Prices, incentives, financing and how to compare installers.
- How much do solar panels cost in 2026?See 2026 solar prices per watt, total costs for 4 to 12 kW systems, where your money goes, battery prices and what pushes a quote up or down.5 min
- Solar incentives in 2026: what's left and whereThe US 30% homeowner credit is gone, but state credits, rebates, lease rules and programs in Canada, the UK, Australia and India still help.7 min
- Buy, loan, lease or PPA: how to pay for solarCompare paying cash, taking a loan, leasing or signing a PPA for home solar, with a worked 25-year example and the fine print that changes the math.7 min
- Net metering explained: how you get paid for extra solarSee how net metering, net billing and buy-all/sell-all work, how time-of-use rates and true-ups change your bill, and when a battery pays off.6 min
- How to read a solar quote line by lineLearn to read a solar quote: price per watt, system size, production estimates, equipment, financing fees and escalators, with three quotes compared.7 min
- How to choose a solar installer (and spot red flags)Learn how to check a solar installer's license, insurance and warranties, and how to spot pushy sales tactics, free solar pitches and inflated savings.6 min
Batteries and backup
Home batteries and keeping the lights on in an outage.
- Home solar batteries explained: cost, size and when they payHow home batteries work, what kWh and kW mean, typical installed costs, how to size one, and when a battery actually makes financial sense.7 min
- Backing up your home in a power outage: battery, generator or power stationCompare portable power stations, home batteries, generators and solar with storage for outages, with runtimes for common loads and safety basics.6 min
Plug-in, portable and off-grid
Solar for renters, balconies, RVs, vans and cabins.
- Plug-in and balcony solar: the complete beginner's guideHow plug-in balcony solar works, what an 800 W kit really makes, safety basics, typical costs, and where it is legal in the US and Germany.7 min
- Solar for renters: 5 ways to use solar without owning a roofRenting does not shut you out of solar. Compare community solar, plug-in panels, power stations, green plans and landlord deals by cost and effort.7 min
- Portable power stations: how to pick the right sizeHow to size a portable power station using Wh capacity, continuous and surge watts, inverter losses and solar charge time, with worked examples.7 min
- RV and van solar: a simple sizing guideSize an RV or van solar system step by step: daily energy budget, panel watts, battery bank, system voltage, charge controller, wiring and fuses.6 min
- Off-grid solar basics: what it really takesWhat an off-grid solar system needs: winter design, days of autonomy, battery sizing, generator backup, inverters, realistic costs and permits.7 min
Living with solar
Maintenance, winter performance and selling a solar home.
- Do solar panels work in winter, snow and clouds?Solar panels keep working in cold, cloudy and snowy weather. See how much less they make in winter and why northern homes still benefit.6 min
- Solar panel maintenance and cleaning: what actually mattersSolar panels need little care, but a few checks matter. Learn when cleaning pays off, how to do it safely and what to inspect each year.6 min
- Selling or buying a home with solar panelsSolar can help or complicate a home sale. Learn how owned, leased and financed systems differ, what documents to gather and what buyers should ask.6 min