About StraightWatt

Energy decisions, backed by numbers.

How the numbers are made

One calculation engine produces every figure on this site, at build time for the pre-rendered pages and in your browser for the calculator, so the two can never disagree. Every input carries the source it was read from and the date it was read. A value we have not verified is left empty and the page says so; we do not type in a plausible number. The formulas are published in full on the methodology page.

Rates: EIA 2026-06. Production: PVWatts v8 (verified). Federal policy verified 2026-09-05.

Who writes it

K. Bak, Physics and chemistry teacher.

I teach physics and chemistry. I am not a solar installer and not a tax adviser. I built these tools because the arithmetic of solar is physics: irradiance, kilowatts against kilowatt-hours, temperature losses, orientation, degradation. Every formula on this site is published and every figure carries its source and the date it was read, so you can check the work rather than trust the author.

hello@straightwatt.com

Corrections

If a number here is wrong, the data file it came from is wrong, and we would rather know. Every page names its sources beside its claims; tell us which one and what you found.