WattReady Home
Modern home with solar panels, EV charging, and a home battery

U.S. home energy decisions

WattReady Home

Build a whole-home energy plan, then use calculators for battery runtime, EV charger installation cost, solar payback, and backup power tradeoffs.

Build my energy plan Open calculators
Build my home energy planZIP, bill, outages, EV, solar, and battery routeCalculate battery runtimeEssential loads, outage hours, and kWh targetEstimate EV charger costPanel, permit, distance, and breaker sizeCompare backup optionsSolar vs generator vs battery tradeoffs
Size backup power before you request quotesCompare solar, batteries, EV charging, and generators togetherTrack state programs and utility rules by locationGenerate a whole-home route from ZIP, bill, outages, and project goals

Not sure where to start?

Pick the problem that feels most urgent today

I mostly worry about outagesSize essentials first, then compare battery, generator, and hybrid backup.My electric bill feels too highStart with solar economics, rates, incentives, and quote assumptions.I am adding an EVEstimate charger installation before committing to panel or solar work.I am not sure yetUse ZIP, bill, outages, and goals to generate a practical route.

Topic hubs

Start with the home decision you are trying to make

Backup power and storage

Home Battery

Compare whole-home batteries, portable power stations, backup panels, and runtime planning for outage-prone homes.

Start here

Home charging decisions

EV Charging

Guides for Level 1 vs Level 2 charging, panel upgrades, charger rebates, electrician costs, and solar-connected charging.

Popular

Post-credit solar economics

Solar 2026

Practical solar payback, financing, roof fit, state incentives, and what changes after federal tax credit shifts.

Updated

Blackout readiness

Power Outages

Decision guides for storms, wildfire shutoffs, medical devices, refrigerators, home offices, and extended outages.

Seasonal

Climate-ready upgrades

Home Resilience

Flood, wildfire, wind, roof, insulation, and insurance-aware home upgrades for risk-prone regions.

Risk ready

Whole-home energy planning

Home Electrification

Plan heat pumps, induction, weatherization, smart panels, and load management alongside solar, batteries, and EVs.

Plan ahead

Calculator pages

High-intent tools before quotes, incentives, or equipment choices

Start with the whole-home plan builder, then use focused calculators to turn vague questions into numbers: runtime, installation cost, payback, and backup tradeoffs.

home battery runtime calculatorEV charger installation cost calculatorsolar payback calculator 2026solar vs generator vs battery
6planning tools
10state guides
20core guides
Home Battery Runtime CalculatorSizing a battery, power station, or generator before requesting quotes.EV Charger Installation Cost CalculatorCost estimate and quote packet scope before hiring an electrician.Solar Payback Calculator 2026ROI comparison for solar shoppers.Solar vs Generator vs Battery ComparisonDecision support for backup power.State Incentive FinderState-specific rebate and credit discovery.Whole-Home Energy Plan BuilderPlanning sequence for homeowners.

Fresh daily checks

Updated planning briefs for today's home energy decisions

View daily briefs
Outage readinessCheck the loads that should stay on during the next outage before the weekendWrite down the exact essentials you would want powered for 8, 24, and 48 hours before comparing battery or generator options.EV chargingEstimate whether your charger plan needs panel work with current utility assumptionsMeasure the distance from panel to parking spot and note your panel size before asking an electrician for a charger quote.Solar economicsRefresh the payback math before accepting a solar quote before equipment shoppingUse your current monthly bill and a conservative production estimate, then compare cash and financed payback separately.Whole-home planningPut one energy decision into a written home plan while the plan is still easy to adjustAdd one current fact to your plan today: ZIP, bill range, outage frequency, EV timing, or the upgrade you are considering first.

Decision guides

Guides for decisions people actually revisit

View all guides

How to Size Backup Power for a Real Home

Start with the appliances you actually need during an outage, then translate that list into battery capacity and inverter size.

2 min read

How Long Can a Home Battery Run Your Essentials?

A practical 2026 guide to usable kWh, reserve margin, surge watts, and why a refrigerator-plus-Wi-Fi plan is different from whole-home backup.

3 min read

Portable Power Station vs Installed Home Battery

Portable units are flexible and fast to buy. Installed batteries are cleaner for circuits, automation, solar charging, and longer outages.

2 min read

Home Battery vs Generator: Which Backup Fits Your Home?

A battery is quiet and automatic. A generator can run longer. The best choice depends on outage duration, fuel access, noise tolerance, and maintenance.

1 min read

What Is a Critical-Load Panel?

A critical-load panel keeps backup power focused on the circuits that matter most instead of trying to run the entire home.

1 min read

What Drives Level 2 EV Charger Installation Cost?

Use a no-federal-credit baseline, then compare charger hardware, load calculation, panel work, trenching, permit and inspection, and rebate documentation before hiring an electrician.

3 min read

Level 1 vs Level 2 Charging at Home

Level 1 can work for low-mileage drivers. Level 2 gives more daily range, better scheduling, and more flexibility with time-of-use rates.

2 min read

Do You Need a Panel Upgrade for an EV Charger?

Many homes can add EV charging without a full panel replacement, but the answer depends on load calculations and local code.

1 min read