About OwnerHandbook
Updated
OwnerHandbook exists for one reason: homeowners deserve honest numbers before they spend thousands of dollars on solar panels or a home battery.
Solar quotes are hard to compare, incentives change every year, and much of what you find online is written to sell you a system. We do the opposite. We show the math, cite primary sources and tell you when solar or a battery is not worth it for your situation.
What we cover
- Costs: what systems really cost and how to tell whether a quote is fair.
- Home batteries: sizing, backup time, real-world costs and payback.
- Solar by state: electricity rates, sun hours, net metering and local incentives.
- Incentives and financing: cash, loans, leases and PPAs explained in plain English.
- Backup power: batteries, generators and portable power stations compared.
How we work
Every guide follows our editorial policy: we research with primary sources such as the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR, formerly NREL), manufacturers’ datasheets and utility tariffs, and we date every number. Calculators show their formulas on the page.
Who we are
OwnerHandbook is an independent publication run by Dani García, who builds the site’s calculators and reviews every guide before it goes live. Read more on the authors page.
How we make money
OwnerHandbook is free to read and currently has no advertising or affiliate links. If that changes, it will never change our numbers or our recommendations. Read the details in how we make money.
Questions or corrections? Contact us.