Annie Thornton Like many things pertaining to energy consumption and cost, there is no absolute answer. There are some major determining factors that can help influence your decision.

-Location: If where you live is rainy and cloudy more than it is sunny, don't invest in solar panels to save money. The monetary payoff will never happen.
-How much electricity you need: This will determine how much hardware will be required to be installed. It has an extremely high setup fee, but solar panels can last up to 40 years. Eventually the cost can be made worth it. However, think about how quickly technology has evolved. Do you think in 40 years your solar panels will be as effective as a current prototype? Do you think they will work as well as when they were installed?
-Are you looking to save money or reduce your carbine mission: The air quality improvement and reduction in carbon dioxide emission can be a real benefit, if you are not solely concerned with saving money.

All in all, depending on the location of your house, solar energy potentially can benefit you. There are some tax breaks, but the restrictions can be strict. And I haven't heard much in terms of resale benefits.
Other things you could try:
-Make sure your house is well insulated
-Install efficient windows and appliances

Has anyone on Houzz installed solar panels? I would love to hear your personal experience with them, as this is a subject that I am not super familiar with.