The best free solar education, checked and kept current
16 videos and 22 guides we would send a friend. Every link is checked twice a year, and anything that predates the end of the homeowner tax credit is flagged.
Start here: how solar works
Twenty minutes that make every quote easier to read.
Is it worth it?
One sceptic, one owner a year in, and the export-rule change that moved the numbers.
The 2025 tax-credit change
The 30% homeowner credit ended on December 31, 2025. What that means, and what it doesn’t.
Sales tactics, loans and liens
Watch these before anyone sits at your kitchen table.
Home batteries
What a battery does, what it costs, and when it doesn’t pay.
Do it yourself
Grid-tied DIY is legal in most places with a permit and an inspection. Know what you are signing up for.
Official and independent sources 13
The primary sources behind the rules and the prices. Start with the IRS page if anyone mentions a tax credit.
IRSStart hereResidential Clean Energy CreditThe primary source: the 30% credit covers only systems installed by December 31, 2025.irs.gov IRSFAQs on the law that ended the homeowner creditEdge cases, such as what “installed” means for a system paid for in 2025.irs.gov NC Clean Energy Technology CenterDSIRE incentive databaseState, utility and local incentives and net-metering rules. Confirm with the programme before you count on one.dsireusa.org Consumer Financial Protection BureauIssue Spotlight: Solar FinancingDealer fees typically add 10–30% to the cash price, sometimes more than 50%.August 2024: its tax-credit references predate the law change.consumerfinance.gov FTCSolar energy is rising in popularity. So are the scamsThe red flags: “free” panels, “the government pays”, pressure and upfront fees.consumer.ftc.gov FTCHow to avoid solar and clean-energy scamsCallers impersonating utilities and government programmes.consumer.ftc.gov National Laboratory of the Rockies (formerly NREL)PVWatts calculatorThe reference production model. We validate against it; you can use it to check any quote.pvwatts.nlr.gov Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryTracking the SunThe best public data on what Americans actually pay for solar, by state and financing type.emp.lbl.gov U.S. Department of EnergyChoosing a solar installerHow to compare quotes and check an installer.energy.gov U.S. Department of EnergyPermitting and inspection for rooftop solarWhat the permit and inspection steps involve, and why they take time.energy.gov U.S. Department of EnergyCommunity solar basicsSolar savings without panels on your roof: for renters and shaded homes.energy.gov U.S. Department of EnergyHomeowner’s guide to going solarA decent overview of the steps.Out of date on tax credits: it still shows a schedule that no longer exists.energy.gov NABCEPNABCEP professional directoryFind certified solar professionals and check an installer’s credentials.directories.nabcep.org
State consumer-protection guides 3
Two big solar states now require sellers to hand you a standard disclosure. Read it before you sign.
California CSLBStart hereSolar requirements and disclosure formsThe disclosure document every California seller must give you, plus cancellation rights.cslb.ca.gov California PUCNet energy metering and net billingThe official explanation of California’s export rules.cpuc.ca.gov Texas TDLRResidential solar consumer brochureWarning signs and rights under Texas’s new solar-seller rules (contracts from September 2025).tdlr.texas.gov
Communities worth reading 4
Where installers, DIYers and owners answer questions for free. Post your quote (with the address removed) and ask.
r/SolarDIYStart hereDIY Solar System Planning: From A to ZThe subreddit’s beginner guide: loads, sun hours, array and battery sizing, inverters and permits.reddit.com Redditr/SolarDIY wikiBattery chemistry, volts and watts, charge controllers, used panels and U.S. permitting.reddit.com Redditr/solar FAQUseful concepts, and a community that reviews quotes for free.Its price-per-watt figures are old; use ours or LBNL’s.reddit.com DIY Solar Power ForumBeginners Corner and Safety CheckThe largest DIY solar community, with a pinned beginners’ resource thread.diysolarforum.com
Useful, but know how they make money 2
Good information from organisations that earn money when you buy solar. Read them knowing that.
Quote marketplaceStart hereEnergySageGood market-data reports. Installers pay to receive the quote requests it collects.energysage.com Solar industry trade groupSEIA consumer guide to solarA solid list of contract and warranty questions, written by the industry.January 2025: predates the tax-credit change.seia.org
Know a better video or guide? Tell us. For the numbers on your own roof, build your plan.