Most home solar systems pay for themselves in six to ten years, then produce nearly free electricity for another two decades after that.
Maximize the federal and local incentives available, since rebates can cut the upfront cost by a third or more.
Buy rather than lease if you can, because ownership is where the long-term savings actually accumulate.
Check your roof’s age first, because replacing a roof after panels are installed means paying to remove and reinstall them.
After that, the panels keep producing for years with almost no running cost.