Solar & home-energy cost guides
Straight answers on what solar and home-energy upgrades cost in 2026 — panels, the tax credit, payback, batteries, EV chargers, and heat pumps. Honest ranges, no sales pitch.
Energy-Efficient Window Cost (2026)
Energy-efficient window cost in 2026: $400-$1,200 per window installed. Pricing by type, what drives cost, energy savings, and the incentive picture.
Read the guide →Community Solar: Cost & How It Works (2026)
How community solar works in 2026: subscription model, typical 5-15% bill savings, no upfront cost or rooftop needed, and who it's a good fit for.
Read the guide →Generator vs Battery Backup (2026)
Generator vs battery backup in 2026: generators run $5,000 to $15,000, batteries $10,000 to $20,000. Compare cost, runtime, fuel, and which fits your home.
Read the guide →Geothermal Heat Pump Cost (2026)
Geothermal heat pumps cost $15,000 to $40,000 installed in 2026. See pricing by loop type, what drives cost, savings, and why buyers get no federal credit.
Read the guide →Solar Tax Credit in 2026: What Changed
The 30% federal solar tax credit was repealed for homeowners who buy in 2026. Here's exactly what changed, who still qualifies, and what it means for your cost.
Read the guide →EV Charger Installation Cost (2026)
Installing a Level 2 home EV charger costs about $500 to $2,000 in 2026. See what drives the price, hardware costs, and when you need an electrical upgrade.
Read the guide →Heat Pump Cost in 2026
Air-source heat pumps cost about $4,000 to $8,000 installed in 2026; geothermal runs $15,000 to $35,000. See what drives the price and how to lower it.
Read the guide →Home Battery Storage Cost (2026)
Home battery storage runs about $10,000 to $20,000 installed in 2026. See what drives the price, cost per kWh, and why there's no federal credit for buyers now.
Read the guide →Home Energy Audit Cost in 2026
A professional home energy audit costs $200 to $700 in 2026. See what's included, what drives the price, DIY options, and why the federal credit no longer applies.
Read the guide →Home Standby Generator Cost (2026)
Home standby generator cost in 2026: $5k-$15k installed. Pricing by size, what drives the cost, fuel types, and how it compares to a home battery.
Read the guide →Home Insulation Cost in 2026
Home insulation cost in 2026: $1-$7 per sq ft, or $2k-$10k whole home. Pricing by material and area, what drives cost, and the energy savings payoff.
Read the guide →How Many Solar Panels Do You Need?
How many solar panels you need in 2026: most homes run 15-25 panels (6-11 kW). How to size a system from your usage, roof, and sunlight.
Read the guide →How Much Can Solar Save You?
Solar saves most homes $1,000 to $2,500 a year in 2026. See what determines your savings, lifetime totals, and how the repealed buyer credit affects the math.
Read the guide →Is Solar Worth It in 2026?
Solar still pays off in 2026 for many homes — but the repealed federal buyer credit changes the math. Here's how to tell if it's worth it for you.
Read the guide →Net Metering in 2026: How It Works
How net metering works in 2026, what your solar exports are worth, why credits vary by state, and how California's NEM 3.0 changed the math.
Read the guide →Smart Thermostat Cost & Savings (2026)
Smart thermostats cost $100 to $300 plus install in 2026. See pricing, real energy savings, what drives the cost, and why the federal credit no longer applies.
Read the guide →Off-Grid Solar System Cost (2026)
Off-grid solar cost in 2026: a full system with battery bank runs $30k-$70k+. What drives the price, sizing, and how it compares to grid-tied solar.
Read the guide →Solar Generator Cost (2026)
Solar generator cost in 2026: portable units run $500-$5,000 depending on capacity. Sizing, what drives price, and how they compare to home batteries.
Read the guide →Solar Inverter Cost & Types (2026)
Solar inverter cost in 2026: string inverters $1k-$2k, microinverters add $1k-$1.7k, plus hybrid options. Which type fits your roof and budget.
Read the guide →Solar Financing Options in 2026
Cash, solar loan, or lease/PPA in 2026? Compare the pros, cons, and real costs of each — including why the federal credit now only helps leases and PPAs.
Read the guide →Solar Lease vs Buy in 2026: Which Wins?
Solar lease vs buy in 2026: how $0-down leases compare to owning, what the repealed federal buyer credit changed, and which path saves more long term.
Read the guide →How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in 2026?
A 2026 breakdown of solar panel costs: price per watt, total cost by system size, what drives the price, and why the federal tax credit no longer helps buyers.
Read the guide →How Long Do Solar Panels Last?
Solar panels last 25 to 30+ years and degrade about 0.5% a year. See what a warranty really covers, what shortens panel life, and when to replace them.
Read the guide →Solar Panel Maintenance Cost (2026)
Solar panels are low-maintenance: cleaning runs $150 to $400 and an inverter swap $1,000 to $2,500. See the real ongoing costs of owning solar in 2026.
Read the guide →Solar Panel Types Compared (2026)
Monocrystalline vs polycrystalline vs thin-film solar panels in 2026: cost per watt, efficiency, lifespan, and which type fits your roof and budget.
Read the guide →Solar Panel Cost by State (2026)
How much solar costs in 2026 across major states, why prices vary, and which states still offer their own incentives now that the federal buyer credit is gone.
Read the guide →Solar Pool Heater Cost (2026)
Solar pool heaters cost $3,000 to $8,000 installed in 2026. See pricing by pool size, what drives the cost, how it compares to gas and heat-pump heaters.
Read the guide →Solar Water Heater Cost in 2026
What a solar water heater costs in 2026: $3,000 to $10,000 installed, the difference between active and passive systems, what drives the price, and payback.
Read the guide →Spray Foam Insulation Cost (2026)
Spray foam insulation costs $1.50 to $4.50 per sq ft in 2026, or $3,000 to $12,000 for a typical project. Compare open vs closed cell and what drives price.
Read the guide →Solar Panel Payback Period in 2026
Without the federal buyer credit, solar payback now runs about 10 to 15 years. Learn how to calculate yours and what makes it shorter or longer in 2026.
Read the guide →Tesla Powerwall Cost in 2026
Tesla Powerwall cost in 2026: roughly $10k-$16k installed for one unit. What's included, what drives the price, and how it compares to other home batteries.
Read the guide →Whole-Home Battery Backup Cost (2026)
Whole-home battery backup costs $12,000 to $30,000+ in 2026. See pricing by capacity, what drives the cost, and why buyers get no federal credit this year.
Read the guide →Tesla Solar Roof Cost in 2026
Tesla Solar Roof costs $40,000 to $100,000+ in 2026 because you're buying a whole new roof plus solar. See pricing, what drives it, and how it compares.
Read the guide →See what solar would cost you in 2026
Use our free calculator to estimate your system size, out-of-pocket price, monthly savings, and payback period — from just your electric bill. No email required.