Is Solar Worth It For Me?
Answer 5 quick questions about your state, electricity bill, roof, and plans. Get a personalized green / yellow / red verdict on whether solar is worth it for your home in 2026.
How this calculator works
- Answer five quick questions: your state, monthly usage, whether you may move in 5 years, roof suitability, and how you would pay.
- The quiz scores your situation against real 2026 state data and returns a green (go), yellow (depends), or red (hold off) verdict with the specific reasons and next steps.
- It factors payback, moving risk, roof quality, financing method, and state incentives — the same judgment calls a good solar advisor makes.
Example scenarios
Long-term owner, good roof: Best-case profile: green in most high-rate states.
Plans to move in 3 years: Heavy penalty — you likely won't reach payback.
Lease option only: Lowest long-term value — incentives go to the lessor.
Data & algorithm
- Base score 50; +20 fast payback, +10 strong SREC, +5 state credit, +5 no-moving, +10 good roof, +5 cash.
- −25 moving within 5 years, −20 poor roof, −15 long payback, −10 lease.
- ≥65 = green, 40–64 = yellow, <40 = red.
Official data sources
- EIA 2026 (rates), NREL PVWatts v8 (production), DSIRE 2026 (incentives).
All figures dated 2026. Incentives and rates change — verify current values with your utility and the administering authority before making decisions.
Frequently asked questions
Why does moving within 5 years matter so much?
Solar takes 7–15 years to pay back in most states. If you sell in 5 years, you usually haven't recouped the cost — and leased systems complicate the sale.
Why is cash better than a lease?
Cash gives the highest IRR (9–13%) and you keep all incentives. A lease gives day-1 savings but you never own the system, and the tax credits go to the leasing company.