HomeSolarGrid Editorial Standards

Why we publish

Going solar is a large, long-term decision, and most homeowners start with more questions than answers. HomeSolarGrid publishes plain-language education so a homeowner can understand their options before they talk to anyone who sells solar.

Who publishes this content

Learning Center content is published by HomeSolarGrid. We do not use bylines from invented experts, and we do not label content as “expert reviewed” or “fact checked” unless that review actually took place and is described on the page.

Independence

HomeSolarGrid provides independent homeowner education and is not a solar installer. We do not design, sell, finance, or install solar systems, and we do not bid on projects. HomeSolarGrid may facilitate introductions to solar companies when a homeowner asks for one. Our educational content is written to help you make a decision that is right for your home — including the decision not to go solar.

Commercial relationships

When a homeowner explicitly asks for one, HomeSolarGrid introduces them to local solar companies. Introductions may involve compensation to HomeSolarGrid from the companies we work with. Compensation does not determine the educational conclusions presented in our Learning Center, and no article is written or altered to favor a particular company, product, or brand.

How we source information

For factual claims that can be verified from an original source, our standard is to prioritize, in this order:

• Federal agencies and official federal program documentation.
• State statutes and official state government sources.
• State utility regulators, such as public service commissions.
• Official electric utility tariffs and published program documents.
• County and city permitting and code sources, where applicable.
• Manufacturer documentation for product specifications.
• Recognized public or regulatory datasets.

Secondary sources may be used for context, but they should not replace an available authoritative primary source for an important factual claim. This is the standard we follow going forward and apply to existing articles as they are reviewed; it is not a claim that every page already carries a full citation list today.

Information that changes

Incentives, tax rules, utility rates, net-metering policies, insurance practices, permitting requirements, equipment specifications, and regulations all change — sometimes quickly, and often differently from one state, utility, or municipality to the next. Before you make a financial or contractual decision, verify time-sensitive details with the relevant official source or a qualified professional.

Published, updated, and reviewed

We use these three terms deliberately, and we do not use them interchangeably:

• Published — when an article was first made publicly available.
• Last updated — when an article’s substantive content was materially changed.
• Last reviewed — when an article’s accuracy was intentionally checked, even if little or no visible wording changed.

If a date is not shown on an article, it is because we do not yet have a truthful value for it. We would rather omit a date than display one we cannot stand behind.

Corrections

We correct material errors when we identify them or when a reader reports one. If you believe something we published is inaccurate, incomplete, or out of date, please tell us through our contact page and describe the page and the claim in question. When a correction changes the substance of an article, we update the article’s last-updated date.

Educational information, not professional advice

HomeSolarGrid provides general education. We do not provide individualized legal, tax, financial, engineering, roofing, electrical, or insurance advice, and nothing we publish is a substitute for a licensed professional’s evaluation of your specific home and situation. SolarFit™ is a preliminary suitability read — not a quote, inspection, or professional recommendation.