energy savings
Solar Quote to Invoice: How to Avoid Surprise Costs and Hidden Fees
Solar installation hidden costs — panel upgrades, permit fees, equipment swaps — push final invoices 15–30% above quotes. Here's what to check before you sign.
Energy Savings
34 articles
energy savings
Why Your Solar Quote Might Change: How to Get an Accurate Price Upfront
Solar quotes in DC change 20–40% after signing more often than homeowners expect. Here's why it happens and what a price-accurate quote actually looks like.
energy savings
Solar Production Guarantees: How to Verify Your System Will Actually Deliver What's Promised
Solar systems producing 25–50% below estimates is an industry-wide pattern. Here's how to verify a solar panel production guarantee before you sign — with DC-specific numbers.
energy savings
How to Lower Your Electric Bill in DC: 2026 Guide
DC homeowners pay 16.1¢/kWh on Pepco's 2026 SOS rate. Here's what actually moves the needle on your electric bill — from DCSEU rebates to rooftop solar.
energy savings
Solar Financing Options in DC 2026: Loans, PPAs, Cash, and Hybrid Approaches
Solar financing in DC changed in 2026 with the federal tax credit gone. Compare cash, loans, and PPAs — and see which path keeps DC SREC income in your pocket.
energy savings
Pepco Peak vs Off-Peak Pricing in DC: How to Save Without Solar (and How Solar Changes the Math)
Pepco's DC generation rate jumped 7.1% on June 1, 2026. Here's how to cut your bill without solar — and how solar changes the math entirely.
energy savings
Selling a DC Home with Solar: What Buyers Actually Pay Extra For in 2026
DC homes with solar sell for 3–4% more — but only if the system is owned, permitted, and SREC-ready. Here's what buyers actually pay extra for in 2026.
energy savings
DC Weatherization Rebates and Programs: How Homeowners Save in 2026
DC weatherization rebates in 2026 range from $250 to $5,000 through DCSEU. Income-qualified households may pay nothing. Here is how to apply before the September 15 deadline.
energy savings
DC Row House Renovation Order: What to Do First, What to Defer (and Why Solar Should Be First)
DC row house renovations cost $250–$480/sq ft — and most homeowners do them in the wrong order. Here's why solar should come first.
energy savings
Solar PPA Contracts in DC: Pros, Cons, and Who They Actually Make Sense For
Solar PPA DC pros cons explained for 2026: no upfront cost sounds good, but DC homeowners forfeit $2,500+/year in SREC income. Here's who PPAs actually make sense for.
energy savings
DC Home Insulation: What Actually Pays Back (and When Solar Beats It)
DC home insulation costs 35% above the national average in 2026. Here's what actually pays back — and when solar beats it on payback period.
energy savings
DC Home Energy Audits: Worth the $300? What an Auditor Actually Tells You
A DC home energy audit costs $150–$400 — and for most row houses, the findings pay back that fee within a year. Here's what an auditor actually tells you.
energy savings
Cost of Solar Per Watt in DC 2026: What's a Fair Price?
Solar costs $3.00–$3.40 per watt installed in DC in 2026. Here's what drives that price, how DC incentives change the net cost, and what a fair quote looks like.
energy savings
Solar Savings Calculator DC: How Much Will Your Home Save in 2026?
A 7 kW DC solar system saves $4,000–$4,900/year in 2026 — electricity offset plus SREC income. Here's how to calculate your specific number.
energy savings
DC Property Tax + Home Improvements 2026: What's Exempt and Why It Matters
DC's solar property tax exemption, Homestead Deduction, and senior relief programs can save DC homeowners hundreds to thousands annually. Here's what applies in 2026.
energy savings
How to Lower Your DC Pepco Bill in 2026: 7 Strategies That Actually Work
Pepco's 2026 rate is 42% above the national average. Here are 7 concrete strategies DC homeowners can use to lower their Pepco bill — from free assistance programs to solar.
energy savings solar energy
Best Solar Loan Rates DC: Financing Options for 2026
Solar loan rates in DC range from 4.5%-8.5% APR in 2026. Compare secured, unsecured, and dealer financing with SAPP rebate savings.
technology energy savings
Battery Storage Incentives in DC 2026: Every Credit and Rebate
Every DC battery storage incentive for 2026: SAPP rebates, DCSEU programs, SREC optimization, net metering, and property tax exemption. The federal credit is gone — here's what's left.
energy savings technology
Washington Gas vs Heat Pump in DC: Which Saves More?
Heat pumps cut DC heating costs to $600-$1,000/year vs $1,200-$1,800 with Washington Gas — and replace your AC too. See the full cost comparison.
energy savings solar energy
Solar Payback Period in DC: How Long Until Panels Pay for Themselves?
DC solar systems pay for themselves in 2-3 years — 3-5x faster than the national average. See the full math with real 2026 numbers.
solar energy dc neighborhoods energy savings
Solar in Petworth & Brightwood: A Ward 4 Homeowner's Guide (2026)
Petworth and Brightwood are two of DC's best neighborhoods for rooftop solar — mostly outside historic districts, good south-facing rear roofs, and a history of community group buys. Here's the 2026 guide.
energy savings solar energy
DC SREC Prices 2026: What Are They Worth and Who Buys Them?
DC SRECs are worth $360-$455 per credit in 2026. See real contract pricing, who buys them, and how to maximize your solar income in Washington DC.
solar energy energy savings technology
Heat Pumps + Solar in DC: The Complete Guide to Going All-Electric (2026)
Pair solar panels with a heat pump and you can eliminate your gas bill entirely. Here's how the all-electric combo works in DC, what it costs, and how to capture 2026 rebates before they expire.
solar energy energy savings
Solar + EV Charging in DC: How to Power Your Car From Your Roof
DC homeowners with EVs can eliminate both their electricity and gas bills with solar. Two incentives expire in 2026 — here's the sizing guide, cost breakdown, and DC-specific incentive stack.
solar energy energy savings community
Solar Advantage Plus (SAPP): DC's $10,000 Solar Rebate Before It Runs Out
Income-qualified DC homeowners can get up to $10,000 back through Solar Advantage Plus (SAPP) — but funding is first-come, first-served. Here's who qualifies and how to apply.
solar energy energy savings
DC Solar Incentives in 2026: What's Left After the Federal Tax Credit Ended
The 30% federal solar tax credit is gone — but DC's SREC market, SAPP rebate, and Solar for All program keep DC solar economics strong in 2026.
solar energy energy savings
High Pepco Bill? Here's What DC Homeowners Are Doing About It in 2026
DC electricity bills are up 85% since 2020. Here's what DC homeowners are doing about it — solar savings, net metering, SRECs, and $0-cost-to-you options explained.
solar energy energy savings
Maryland Solar Incentives in 2026: Every Program, Real Numbers
Maryland homeowners can offset 40-55% of solar costs through stacked incentives. Here's every program and what you actually qualify for in 2026.
technology energy savings
Home Battery Backup in DC: Costs, Brands & Is It Worth It?
Home battery backup in DC costs $10,000–$20,000 installed. Compare Tesla, Enphase, and top brands, plus DC incentives and real ROI numbers.
solar energy energy savings
Pepco Net Metering in DC: How Solar Credits Work and What You Actually Earn
Pepco net metering lets DC solar homeowners earn credits at the full retail rate for excess power. Here's exactly how the credits work, what you'll save, and the DC-specific rules.
community energy savings
Solar for All DC: Free Solar for Low-Income Homeowners
Solar for All DC offers free solar panels for qualifying households. Learn eligibility, how to apply, and why 2026 is the last year for $0 installations.
solar energy energy savings
DC SREC Guide: How to Earn $3,000+/Year From Your Solar Panels
DC SRECs pay $400+/MWh — the highest in the US. Learn how to register, sell, and maximize your solar income in Washington DC in 2026.
solar energy energy savings
Solar Panel Cost in DC: Why Free Panels Aren't the Best Deal
DC solar panels cost $22K–$34K before incentives, with a 4.5-year payback driven by DC's SRECs worth $4,000+/year. The federal ITC ended Jan 2026 — learn why owning still beats "free" panels.
energy savings community
Pepco's $123M Rate Hike Thrown Out: What DC Homeowners Need to Know
DC Court of Appeals struck down Pepco's $123.4M rate hike. Learn what happened, if you'll get a refund, and how to protect against future increases.