Solar buying guides & explainers

Independent guides for homeowners shopping for solar — written to cut through marketing noise, not generate leads.

Buying guides · 4 min read

How to Read a Residential Solar Quote in 2026

Every line item that should be in a residential solar proposal — and the red flags that suggest you should walk away from a quote that's missing them.

Battery storage · 4 min read

Battery Storage Sizing: What Size Battery Do You Actually Need?

How to right-size a home battery for backup, time-of-use savings, or whole-home autonomy — without overspending.

Hiring guides · 4 min read

NABCEP Certification, Explained: Why It Matters When Hiring a Solar Installer

What NABCEP certification is, what each credential level means, and how to verify your installer actually has it.

Incentives · 4 min read

Residential Solar Incentives by State, 2026

Federal tax credit, state-level rebates, and net metering rules that change the math on residential solar — broken down state by state.

Buying guides · 5 min read

Off-Grid vs. Grid-Tied Solar: Which Is Right for You?

The real cost and lifestyle tradeoffs between off-grid solar, grid-tied solar with battery backup, and standard grid-tied — and how to pick.

Financial planning · 5 min read

What Is a Solar Payback Period — And Why Yours Might Be Different Than the Sales Pitch

How payback period is calculated, why installer pitches often understate it, and how to compute your own honest number.