Fact-Checking Policy

The two-person standard

Every published article has a writer and, for anything involving technical specifications, safety, or code compliance, a separate named reviewer with relevant credentials (a licensed engineer or certified technician). The reviewer checks claims against sources independently — they don't just read for tone.

What gets checked

• Every dollar figure, percentage, and statistic against its cited source
• Every claim about a tax credit or rebate program against current IRS/DOE/state agency guidance
• Every technical claim about system sizing, wiring, or installation against the National Electrical Code and manufacturer specifications
• Every product claim (efficiency ratings, warranty terms) against the manufacturer's published specs

Source hierarchy

We rank sources roughly: government agencies and manufacturer specifications first; peer-reviewed research and industry-standard benchmarking (e.g., DOE's SETO cost benchmarks) second; reputable trade publications third. We avoid citing other content sites' aggregated "average cost" figures without tracing them back to a primary source.

Dated claims

Costs, rates, and incentive amounts change. Every article states when it was last updated, and time-sensitive figures (utility rates, credit percentages) are flagged for review on a recurring schedule tied to when the underlying program typically changes — annually for federal tax provisions, more often for utility rate data.

Found an error?

See our Corrections Policy for how to report one and how we handle it.