#energy

2 articles

$50 LED Swap Pays Back in 4 Months. $15K Window Replacement Takes 25 Years.

Energy upgrades ranked by payback period: LEDs (months), smart thermostats (1-2 years), insulation (3-5 years), heat pump (5-8 years), windows (20-40 years, often never). Start with the cheap fixes.

$12K Net Solar Cost → 6-Year Payback → $55-$75K of Real 25-Year Savings

7kW residential system in 2026: $18-22K gross, $8-15K net after federal 30% ITC + state incentives. ~$2K/year savings → 6-year payback. Then 19+ years of essentially free electricity. Math depends entirely on local sun + rate.