I kept checking the app like a stock ticker for the first week after installing it. Arrows pointing down and little sun icons. Never in my life had I felt such a connection to daylight. Toast for breakfast? Photons bring residential solar to you.

What most people don’t realize is that switching to solar power is more like adopting a pet rock that silently pays your electricity bill than it is about purchasing a new device. does not bark. does not shatter. Simply enjoy the sunshine while binge-watching old sitcoms without feeling guilty.

There is a strange dance that takes place before the panels are even raised. paperwork. Licenses. Words like “kilowatt-hour” are used in phone conversations as if they provide clarification. It doesn’t, to be clear. You give a nod. You grin. Later, you Google.

The vibe check must be passed by your roof. No strange angles. No large shade trees are yelling at it. Ideally, facing south. Not a deal-breaker, though. Although they are not as attractive, panels can also function in less-than-ideal configurations.

The installation day is very relaxed. It’s simply shingles and the sky one moment. Then there’s a bunch of folks clipping in panels like they’re playing solar Tetris while crawling around your roof like energized squirrels. Wires are placed within boxes. A switch turns. Quiet. That’s how saving money sounds.

Bills gradually get smaller. Not in a day. However, the change becomes apparent after a few months. You won’t boast to any specific person. “Oh, our bill from last month? About $15. Hold on. Drink some coffee. Have a smile like the house’s power cat.

There are peculiarities. Rainy weeks make you complain like a beach vacation gone bad. Panels covered in snow? Zero energy, but free roof insulation. Not to mention that one neighbor who is often inquiring as to whether you “miss the grid.” Even so, what does that mean?

Nevertheless, it’s just as fulfilling as producing tomatoes in your backyard. Yes, you could purchase them. However, these are your tomatoes. Grown with your roof, your sun, and your smug little gratification.

Upkeep? If you’re bored, dust once a year. Otherwise, keep your hands off. Except when a raccoon becomes interested, which has happened only once and resulted in the animal falling off a solar panel in a state of confusion.

The bottom line? It’s easy. Every day, the sun appears without invitation or compensation. You might as well use it. If you’re lucky, it will cool your room, power your refrigerator, and possibly even permanently lower your utility bill.