What it is
Clean Energy Calc is a free web-based calculator suite covering four key household energy decisions: solar ROI, EV vs gas total cost of ownership, home battery sizing, and heat pump savings. Each calculator uses 2026 utility rate data from the EIA and equipment costs from NREL. Inputs are straightforward: location, current energy bills, and the system you are considering. Outputs include payback period, lifetime savings, and carbon reduction.
Why we picked this
The green transition for most households comes down to four decisions: solar panels, electric vehicle, home battery, and heat pump. Clean Energy Calc addresses all four with calculators that use real data, not marketing estimates. Solar company quotes always look amazing because they use optimistic assumptions. Utility company estimates always look pessimistic because they want to keep you on the grid. Clean Energy Calc uses federal data sources (EIA, NREL) to provide neutral, defensible numbers for each decision.
Key takeaways
- All calculators use 2026 EIA utility rate data and NREL equipment cost benchmarks, providing neutral estimates independent of vendor marketing.
- The solar ROI calculator accounts for net metering policies by state, federal ITC (30% through 2032), and degradation rates, giving realistic 25-year projections.
- The heat pump calculator compares total cost of ownership against gas furnaces, oil furnaces, and electric resistance, including the 30% federal tax credit for qualified heat pumps.