Explore 1,000+ articles designed to guide you through every stage of your home improvement project.
Solar
The Top 10 States for Residential Solar Installations in the US, Ranked
Solar is booming across the country — and it’s not slowing down. The U.S. solar industry installed 43 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity in 2025, marking the fifth straight year that solar led all energy sources for new capacity added to the grid, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) and Wood Mackenzie. That’s a…
Solar
New York: A Guide to Residential Solar Energy
In early 2019, New York state governor Andre Cuomo unveiled an ambitious plan to push the state into new clean energy heights, aiming to become completely carbon-neutral by 2040. “This plan can bring massive economic and environmental benefits to communities throughout the state, spurring many new, well-paying jobs and cleaner air,” said Sean Gallagher, vice…
Solar
Utah: A Guide to Residential Solar Energy
Almost out of nowhere, Utah has become one of the country’s leading states for solar energy. Jumping up on national rankings for its solar panel installations and output, an April 2019 report from Environment America Research & Policy Center lauded the city’s explosive growth in the solar sector. “In addition to the national rankings, the…
Solar
Average Solar Panel Dimensions and Sizes
As solar panels continue to rise in popularity for homeowners, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with information. A common question homeowners face: what dimension of solar panel do you need? Are there standard solar panel dimensions? Residential solar panels generally do come in standard sizes. But there are caveats. For example, if your roof is…
Solar
Massachusetts: A Guide to Residential Solar Energy
New England might be in a region of the US less prone to sunlight ‚ but that doesn’t preclude it from being a great place for homeowners to install solar panels. As of the end of 2018, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) ranked the state seventh in the country — nearly 11 percent of…
Siding
Installing new siding on a home is a significant home improvement project— not just aesthetically but for a home’s preservation. As noted in our Siding Replacement guide, the job is labor intensive and shouldn’t be taken lightly. This is why getting a siding permit is a crucial step in the process. When it is time…
Solar
Nevada: A Guide to Residential Solar Energy
Nevada isn’t new to solar panels and the industry around them (nor to desert climes and lots of sun). And while it resisted the fundamental solar policy of net metering recently and for a few crucial years, in 2017 the state legislature voted “to resurrect this important state policy,” according to the Solar Energy Industries…
Solar
North Carolina: A Guide to Residential Solar Energy
In March 2019, the federal Energy Information Administration reported that North Carolina’s solar energy production grew by more than a third (36 percent) in 2018. That growth, according to local ABC affiliate 13 WLOS, “firmly” places the state as “the No. 2 solar-producing state in the nation.” It was in third place in 2018 based…