Report: solar could increase your home value by $39,500 to $79,000
Report: solar could increase your home value by $39,500 to $79,000

A new study of more than 5,000 home sales showed homes with solar panels installed sold for 5-10% more than comparable homes without solar. If you’re doing the math, “(that’s) an eye-popping $39,500 to $79,000 boost.”

more…

EV driver shares surprising, real-world data after installing solar panels
EV driver shares surprising, real-world data after installing solar panels

Are you wondering how much it would cost to charge up your EV if you added a home solar system to your roof? One EV owner did just that. After 14,000 miles of driving, he’s sharing his results online — and the real-world data might surprise you!

mo…

How long do solar panels last? New study shows it’s longer than you think!
How long do solar panels last? New study shows it’s longer than you think!

Like EVs, solar panels are sold with warranties – but what happens when the warranty runs out? A Swiss university study of solar installations from the 1980s and ’90s found many still generating most of their original power.

more…

Electric take on winter weather while Tesla’s sales slide continues
Electric take on winter weather while Tesla’s sales slide continues

On today’s icy cold episode of Quick Charge, the only thing colder than the air outside most Americans’ homes is the demand for Tesla Cybertrucks – so we’ve got some EV-focused tips on making it through the cold while Elon begins shipping CTs overseas….

Home solar in rural America: how much battery do you need in a winter storm?
Home solar in rural America: how much battery do you need in a winter storm?

There’s no shortage of advice on how to size a home solar and battery system, but most of it assumes a suburban home with city services and outages measured in hours, not days. Rural homes play by different rules, especially during major winter storms….

Home solar in rural America: how much battery do you need to run a well pump?
Home solar in rural America: how much battery do you need to run a well pump?

There’s no shortage of advice on how to size a home solar system, but most of it assumes a suburban house with city water and a long list of optional loads. Rural homes play by different rules, and when your water comes from a well, keeping the lights …

The 30% solar tax credit is dead — long live the 30% solar tax credit!
The 30% solar tax credit is dead — long live the 30% solar tax credit!

The Trump Administration’s decision to repeal of the 30% home solar tax credit in 2025 looked like the end of the road for subsidized rooftop solar projects, but it looks like the home solar tax credit is still alive — you just have to know where to lo…

It’s time to start recommending some Tesla Powerwall alternatives [update]
It’s time to start recommending some Tesla Powerwall alternatives [update]

NOTE: since most of the US is currently getting hit with a huge winter storm, I’m republishing this list of home batteries as a reminder to be prepared for the next one – particularly for folks who are looking at hours or days without power.

For yea…

Home energy upgrades you’ll regret not doing while installing rooftop solar
Home energy upgrades you’ll regret not doing while installing rooftop solar

Adding a rooftop solar array to your home or business can be exciting and expensive. As such, it might be tempting to cut corners to keep costs down — but some upgrades are simply much cheaper to do while your solar system is being installed than they …