Solar panel guides for US homeowners (2026)
Plain-English 2026 solar guides: how many panels you need, whether a battery pays off, payback periods, loan vs lease vs cash, and home value.
- basics Best states for solar incentives (2026) With the federal credit gone, state programs decide your return. A 2026 ranking of the best states for solar incentives — credits, net metering, and rebates. Read guide →
- value Do solar panels increase home value? Owned solar usually raises sale price, but premiums have shrunk as system prices fell. What Berkeley Lab, Zillow, and Fannie Mae found, and how to protect it. Read guide →
- finance Duke Energy PowerPair rebate 2026: the $9,000 check, explained PowerPair pays up to ~$9,000 for new solar + battery in North Carolina. As of October 2026 DEP is closed and DEC is nearly full. Terms, cohorts, and taxes. Read guide →
- finance Solar tax credit 2026: did the 30% federal credit expire? Yes. The residential solar tax credit (§25D) ended for systems installed after Dec 31, 2025. What that means for 2026 buyers, leases (§48E), and carryforwards. Read guide →
- basics Free solar panels in 11 states? What the ads really sell (2026) There is no government program giving homeowners free solar panels in 11 (or 12) states. What the ads actually offer, and the real no-cost programs in 2026. Read guide →
- sizing How many solar panels to power a house? (2026) Calculate how many solar panels your home needs using 2026 US figures, a worked example, and a comparison table for different states and usage levels. Read guide →
- storage Is a Solar Battery Worth It in 2026? A 13.5 kWh home battery runs about $15,000 installed in 2026, with no federal tax credit. When one actually pays off — and when it doesn't. Read guide →
- finance Solar loan vs lease vs cash in 2026 Compare solar loan vs lease vs cash in 2026 after the §25D credit expired — with cost breakdowns, ownership details, and a real worked example. Read guide →
- basics Solar panel buying guide 2026: what to check before you sign A 2026 solar buying guide for US homeowners: fair $/W ranges, the quote checklist, warranties that survive a bankrupt installer, dealer fees, and red flags. Read guide →
- sizing Solar panel cost for a 2,000 sq ft house (2026) Most 2,000 sq ft homes need a 7–9 kW solar system costing about $18,000–$30,000 in 2026 — and the 30% federal tax credit no longer applies. Read guide →
- basics Solar payback period: about 7.5–16.5 years in 2026 How long until solar pays off? Get the real formula, a state-by-state rate comparison, and the common traps that make payback look shorter than it is. Read guide →