Energy savings doesn't have to be complicated. Sol Country has mapped out every step — from the $18 fix you can do today to the solar system that pays for itself in 4 years. Start at Step 1 and work your way down.
In 2026, the best reason to act isn't just lower bills — it's not being dependent on a grid that keeps getting more expensive. Sol Country's plan covers both.
Buy two Kasa KP115 smart plugs. Plug one into your TV setup. Plug one into your desk or charging station. That's it.
Cost: $36 total. Annual savings: ~$80. Time: 5 minutes.
No landlord permission needed. No state law required. Ships to all 50 states. Works in every apartment and home.
Come back for Step 2 when you're ready. There's no rush.
Start here first — reducing phantom load means every subsequent step (thermostat, solar, battery) is sized to your actual reduced usage, not your current inflated baseline.
Only buy ETL or UL certified smart plugs. Kasa, Emporia, and Amazon Basics are all certified.
Buy from Sol Country → Emporia smart plugs at retail, or 15-20% less with Sol Pro.
Already have smart plugs? Skip to Step 2 →Your HVAC system is 40-50% of your electricity bill. A smart thermostat learns when you're home and away, adjusts automatically, and stops heating or cooling an empty space. Average savings: $250 per year.
Renters: this is just replacing a thermostat with another thermostat. You can take it when you move. No landlord permission needed in most cases.
Do this before solar — a smart thermostat reduces your heating and cooling load. That means any solar system or battery you add later is sized correctly for your real post-thermostat usage.
Subscribe to a share of a local solar farm and get a credit on your electricity bill every month. No panels. No installation. No landlord permission. You're just changing where your electricity comes from on paper — and paying less for it.
Available in 44 states. $0 upfront. Cancel anytime. Savings start on your next bill.
This step costs nothing and starts saving immediately — there's no reason to wait for Steps 4-7 before accessing these savings.
Available in 44 states. If community solar isn't available at your address, Sol Country will tell you.
A plug-in solar panel on your balcony, patio, or porch feeds power directly into your home's circuit — reducing what you draw from the grid every sunny hour. No electrician needed for the 395W tier. No landlord permission needed in signed states. The panel moves with you when you leave.
Think of it like plugging in a toaster — except instead of using electricity, it generates it.
Need help with installation? Find a licensed electrician →
Install before adding a battery — knowing how much your panels actually generate in your specific location helps you size any battery you add in Step 5 correctly.
Sol Country earns a commission on purchases through these links. The APsystems EZ1-LV microinverter is independently UL 3700 certified. CraftStrom (UL certified — Sol Country is verifying the specific certification level against UL 3700 system requirements. Check craftstrom.com for current certification documentation.)
Already have plug-in solar? Skip to Step 5 →Home batteries come in two distinct types with very different capabilities. Getting this right before you buy matters — one type can earn you $500-1,500/year from VPP programs. The other can't.
For grid-tied systems: without VPP, battery payback is 12-18 years. With VPP enrollment, payback can compress to 3-5 years.
Add this after solar — your real solar generation data, not an estimate, determines the right battery size. Installing a battery before solar often leads to an undersized or oversized system.
A Tesla Powerwall or Enphase IQ Battery earns $500-1,500/year from VPP programs because it connects directly to your utility's grid management system — your utility can remotely dispatch it during peak events and pay you for the capacity.
An EcoFlow, BLUETTI, or Anker SOLIX portable power station cannot do this — they are not connected to your utility's systems and cannot be remotely dispatched. They provide excellent backup power but zero VPP earnings.
Sol Country got this wrong in an earlier version of this page. We've corrected it because our accuracy standard matters more than a convenient simplification.
Sol Country earns a commission on purchases through these links.
Steps 6 and 7 require homeownership. If you rent, Steps 1-5 are your complete plan.
A heat pump replaces your heating AND cooling system with one device that uses 30-50% less electricity than a traditional setup. Federal HEAR rebates cover up to $8,000 for income-qualifying households. State and utility rebates stack on top.
The longer you wait, the more rates rise. The rebate programs are first-come first-served and funded — they won't last forever.
Do this after solar is installed — your heat pump significantly increases electricity demand, and knowing that demand lets your installer properly size the solar system if you ever expand it.
If you've reached Step 7, you're probably looking at a larger project: rooftop solar, a battery system, or a heat pump that exceeds what rebates cover. The financing decision matters almost as much as the product decision.
The 30% federal tax credit for homeowners who purchase solar expired December 31, 2025. In 2026, leasing and PPAs are often more competitive than purchase financing — compare both before deciding.
Sol Country may earn a commission on loans originated through this link.
| Step | What | Cost | Annual savings | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Smart plugs | $75 | $165 | <6 mo |
| 2 | Smart thermostat | $100-200 after rebates | $250 | <12 mo |
| 3 | Community solar | $0 | 5-15% off bill | Immediate |
| 4 | Balcony solar | $399-900 | $38-186+ | 3-8 years |
| 5 | Grid-tied battery + VPP | $8,000+ | $500-1,500 VPP | 3-5 years with VPP |
| 6 | Heat pump | Varies after rebates | $500-2,000+ | Varies |
| 7 | Financing | Varies | Depends on terms | Varies |
Savings estimates based on national average utility rates. Your actual savings depend on your specific utility rate, climate, and usage. Run Find My Power for a personalized estimate.
The single easiest first step: two smart plugs, $36, five minutes. Everything else can wait.
This plan shows you the right order. Find My Power shows you the exact dollar amount at your specific address.
Get my personalized estimate →