New research points toward a future in which we could charge our EVs by plugging into streetlights. But the technology has yet to get off the ground in any real way.

The tax credits featured in the Inflation Reduction Act were incredibly popular. More than 3.4 million households took advantage of the savings in 2023 alone, adding up to a whole lot of energy-efficiency upgrades.

The aesthetic of solar panels might not be for everyone, but the savings they promise certainly should be. For many, the benefits outweigh the look, and for those who can’t get past it, other money-saving options exist.

The technology, developed out of Nanjing University, is a colorless coating that can be applied directly to glass, turning windows from regular home features into an energy-capturing source of solar power.

Solar power is one of the cheapest and cleanest forms of energy, but because of the upfront cost of installing a solar system, it doesn’t fit many homeowners’ budgets. However, the option to lease solar panels makes cheaper energy more widely available.