5 Important Factors When Choosing A Solar Company -

Jul. 02, 2024

5 Important Factors When Choosing A Solar Company -

How do you choose a solar company? Better question: How do you choose the RIGHT solar company?

With so many solar companies vying for your business, it can feel like a nearly impossible task.

Salespeople can be both helpful and persuasive in this process, but sometimes they may intentionally or unintentionally leave out crucial key details.

Read on for five important factors you should consider as you comparison shop &#; some of which you might not hear elsewhere.

5 Important Factors:

1. ENERGY EFFICIENCY EDUCATION

While solar panel installation packs a powerful punch in the name of cleaner, greener energy, it&#;s not the only piece of the puzzle. Solar companies should be aware of and encourage any habits and upgrades that can maximize energy efficiency and savings for the consumer.

ENERGY USE BILLS

There are environmental benefits to upgrading to solar power no matter what, but financial benefits vary based on your energy usage.

For some households, it just doesn&#;t make financial sense to go solar.

Therefore, a solar installer shouldn&#;t be promising a certain amount of utility savings with solar until seeing an accurate record of your energy usage and costs over the course of a year.

Again, there are benefits to going solar regardless, but if money is a factor, your current energy usage and bills are extremely relevant to this decision.

ENERGY-SAVING HABITS

A good solar installer will acknowledge that energy use habits &#; regardless if you have solar or not &#; are the biggest predictors of your energy bill. Heat and air conditioning specifically contribute the most a household&#;s energy use.

This is why, in many regions, power bills tend to be larger in the middle of the summer or winter than in the milder seasons of spring and fall.

Accordingly, homeowners can experiment with when and how they use lighting, heating and A/C, and appliances to reduce their power bill whether or not they purchase solar power.

If customers do install solar, they should be just as mindful of energy usage after install, if not more so. Occasionally, homeowners disregard energy-saving habits after getting solar, thinking that they have unlimited free energy to work with.

But typically, consumers are more in tune with their energy use after installation, perhaps, in part, thanks to monitoring systems.

Michael Henderson, managing director of Solar Calculator, says he finds that consumer habits generally change after a solar installation. &#;For example, consumers are more likely to use the washing machine and dishwasher during daylight hours knowing that their system is generating solar energy at that time,&#; he explains. &#;We estimate that consumers use 15 percent more electricity during daylight hours after they have installed solar panels.&#;

SUPPLEMENTAL HOME IMPROVEMENTS

While solar panels are an important part of a move to energy efficiency and greener living, solar is just one piece of the bigger picture. The more efficient your home, the less overall energy you need. Making one change is good, but making many changes is even better.

Solar salespeople should know this and encourage habits and improvements (beyond solar) to maximize your energy efficiency.

Several other energy upgrades can work in tandem with solar, including the following:

Upgrade siding
Replace roof
Insulate attic and ductwork
Replace furnace filter
Install a smart thermostat
Replace windows and doors
Switch to LED lighting
Switch to smart outlets
Replace water heater, faucets, and showerheads
Upgrade to ENERGY STAR® appliances

Then there are actions that require a minimal investment of time or money:

Unplug devices
Turn off lights
Air dry dishes
Take shorter showers
Close and/or cover vents in less-frequented rooms
Seal holes around outlets and gaps under doors
Use thicker blankets and curtains

For more detailed information, and to see how solar panels can reduce your energy usage and energy bills, contact Green Ridge Solar today.

And use our Solar Calculator to estimate your savings with solar panels.

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Estimate your total savings, payments, and total energy usage with our FREE solar calculator.

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2. REALISTIC SAVINGS EXPECTATIONS

Solar companies are eager to show you potential savings with solar, and generally, they&#;re not wrong. There are lots of savings to be had over the life of your panels, and the federal solar tax credit can contribute to those savings.

But when you get a quote, be sure to factor in any applicable minimum utility charges, loan payment obligations, and your unique tax situation, all of which can impact the extent of your savings with solar.

UTILITY BILL

Even if you generate enough solar power to offset all of your usual energy costs, you may still have a utility bill.

When you switch to solar, it&#;s not usually a perfect kilowatt for kilowatt swap, eliminating any need for power from a power company. Rather, you can expect to reduce your dependency on the grid. This, too, depends on the number of panels you install, but most solar customers tend to maintain a utility bill, even if it&#;s reduced.

Sadly, some customers overestimate the utilities savings they&#;ll have based on solar company promises. As you comparison shop, opt for a company with a performance guarantee that protects your investment with the savings promised in your signed agreement.

It&#;s a common misconception that going solar will completely eliminate your electric bill. In almost all utilities, solar customers still pay a small &#;grid connection fee,&#; even if they offset 100 percent (or more) of their actual electricity usage. These fees differ by utility, but it is common to pay $10&#;$20 per month for the grid connection.

This is a small price to pay to be able to use your excess solar power (produced during the day and sent to the grid) from the utility for night time power without having to invest in a battery.

SOLAR LOAN PAYMENT

Don&#;t forget: if you&#;re financing your solar system, you&#;ll have a monthly loan payment in addition to &#; or, if you&#;re lucky, in place of &#; your utility bill.

If you&#;re a newbie to solar financing, we&#;ll walk you through some of the options available. Each of these options has positive and negative aspects to consider.

Solar-specific loan &#; Your installer may offer these loans directly or have a lending partnership with a third party.
Home equity loan or line of credit (HELOC) &#; You can put your home equity to work by using it to pay for all or part of your solar energy system.
Green energy loan &#; Most of these personal loans have fairly low interest rates. This option allows you to own the equipment and pay off the balance over time, often within 7&#;8 years.
PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) or lease &#; With a PPA, you are essentially renting the equipment and paying for the energy you use. Leasing options are similar in that you are renting the equipment, but instead of paying for what you use, you pay a set amount every month. Keep in mind that with both of these options, you do not own the equipment. And be aware that, while they are technically cheaper, these contracts can include an annual increase of your interest rate.

Read more about your payment options when buying your solar panels. Find out which payment type is best for you.

TAX BENEFIT CONSIDERATIONS

The IRS has released attractive energy incentives for individuals as a part of the Inflation Reduction Act through including a 30 percent tax credit for solar systems installed from to .

However, one misconception is that this is a straightforward check written out to you by the government when you file your taxes. Rather, the credit applies to any taxes owed for that calendar year, so your take-home will vary depending on your financial situation. Your actual tax refund may or may not reflect the full amount.

The bottom line on the solar tax credit is this: The federal incentive is a great opportunity to recoup some of your home improvement costs, but be careful not to overestimate the amount and commit to a solar system you can&#;t actually afford.

Companies should be upfront about this and encourage you to consult a tax professional to make precise calculations rather than guaranteeing a dollar amount.

Read more about the 30% Solar Tax Credit.

3. HIGH-QUALITY WORKMANSHIP

Consider the equipment, design proposals, and installation procedures of a solar company before you sign a contract.

SOLAR PANELS

Monocrystalline solar panels are black in color and have the highest efficiency rate, requiring the least amount of space. Thus, they are a great option for people who do not have a large roof. However, they are the most expensive choice for solar panels.

Polycrystalline panels are known for their blue color and are a great choice for people who have plenty of space and do not want to pay the high price that comes with higher-efficiency monocrystalline panels.

Whichever solar panels you decide are best for your needs, discuss solar panel types with your prospective solar companies. Some companies only specialize in a particular type of solar panels.

You will also want to ensure that the solar panels are high-quality and from reputable manufacturers. We recommend the following reliable brands:

Silfab
REC
LG
Panasonic
Q CELLS
Solaria
SunPower

According to durability tests, the efficiency-degradation rates for panels vary from 1 to 35 percent. This indicates that some solar panels hold up much better long-term compared to others, so comparative efficiency ratings are worth looking into.

With the current technology, all solar panels will gradually decrease in efficiency over time.

MOUNTING HARDWARE

All that being said, most solar companies use only high-quality solar panels.

It&#;s a good idea to confirm, but other details might be even more crucial, such as the mounting hardware that should last just as long as the solar panels themselves.

The brand of solar panel you choose is actually one of the least critical decisions you&#;ll make when going solar. These days, the tier-one panels on the market are all very comparable in terms of wattage, performance, appearance, degradation rate, and warranty coverage.

Instead, research the mounting hardware used in your project, and ensure you choose a company with a solid track record of quality workmanship. At the end of the day, solar panels are largely the same &#; but the hardware that holds them to your roof and the people drilling those holes need to be the best available.

Read more about the solar panels, racking, battery, and other technology Green Ridge Solar uses in their installs.

ROOFING

Another often-underlooked part of solar installations is the roof on which panels are installed. Solar panels last approximately 25 years on average, so for most homeowners, it&#;s a good idea to at least consider roofing implications prior to installing solar.

Asphalt shingle roofs need to be replaced as often as every 12 years, so a solar system will likely outlast an asphalt roof. When the roof needs to be replaced the entire solar panel system must be carefully removed, and then reinstalled once the roof has been replaced. While doable, this route can be time-consuming and costly for homeowners.

Metal roofing is an alternative to asphalt. A metal roof will easily last for 70 years or more, outlasting even the best solar panels.

PANEL PLACEMENT

Solar panels can, in fact, absorb energy from indirect sunlight by capturing different parts of the light spectrum from the sun. Therefore, your panels can still produce energy with partial exposure to the sun, as long as nothing is blocking them. This also means that your solar panels do not necessarily need to face south to produce enough energy.

GECONA SOLAR Product Page

However, they work more efficiently in direct sunlight. Keep your roof position in mind as you work with a solar company to design your system in order to maximize sun exposure.

Your roof should also be clear of trees and branches. Not only because of the shade, but also because trees put solar panels at the risk of scratches on the surface, which affects their performance.

4. ENERGY STORAGE OPTIONS

Some companies offer solar energy storage systems, also known as batteries. And some do not. If off-the-grid living is your goal with solar, you&#;ll need one.

POWER OUTAGES

One misconception with solar is that you&#;re completely energy-independent. Many homeowners don&#;t realize that the majority of traditional solar panel systems require a grid connection to operate. So even with solar, you&#;ll still lose your power during an outage &#; unless you have a battery installed.

When a utility power outage occurs, panels without solar and storage are unable to continue providing power to the home, as the solar panel system is connected to the grid through a solar inverter. Generated solar power can feed back through power lines, potentially endangering those working to restore utility power transmission.

&#;Even on a sunny day, solar without battery storage can only provide power to a home during the daytime, and homeowners are left to rely on the power grid during the night,&#; explains Ben Polito, president of Energy Storage Systems, Generac. &#;However, with the addition of integrated battery storage, solar panels can continue converting sunlight into electricity and the battery storage system can use this to continue powering a home.&#;

BATTERY COSTS

Batteries produce a big return in the form of peace of mind, emergency preparedness, and independence from the grid. But cost-wise, the investment of an energy storage system takes longer to recoup than solar panels alone.

If a company tells you a battery will save you money on your power bill, that&#;s unlikely to be true. One exception would be if you use an exorbitant amount of power at night.

Learn more about battery backup and your energy storage options on our Battery Backup Page.

5. SOLID COMPANY REPUTATION

Solar continues to be a growing industry, evidenced by careers in PV installation. Solar photovoltaic installer jobs have a 52 percent predicted growth rate between now and (compared to the 8 percent average growth rate of all careers).

It&#;s encouraging to see the growth potential of energy efficiency in business. Wind turbine service technicians and solar photovoltaic installers are two of the five occupations expected to have the fastest employment growth from to .

But small business success can be volatile, and even solar companies go out of business.

For an investment like solar, you want to identify the best of the best. Check a company&#;s warranties, time in business, and online reputation as you determine if a company really is the best.

WARRANTIES

Solar installers generally have multiple warranties. If you don&#;t know what exactly is covered under each warranty, you may be rightly concerned about protecting your investment.

Your solar panel warranty consists of two parts: equipment and workmanship. For most companies, the equipment warranty offered by the manufacturer is generally good for 10&#;12 years or more, while the workmanship guarantee lasts up to 25 years.

While most solar panels will go decades without any issues, it is important to have a solid warranty in case something does happen. Get your company&#;s warranty details in writing before committing to a solar installer.

TIME IN THE INDUSTRY

You should also consider how long the company has been in the industry. It&#;s not that younger companies do not provide great service, but when you choose a younger company, there is a higher risk of the company not being in business for the lifetime of your solar system&#;s warranty.

This could make things very difficult for you if the company you bought solar panels from goes out of business. This means your workmanship warranty becomes moot, and you&#;ll have to pay for maintenance services out of pocket.

While you can&#;t control everything, you can choose a solar installer that is registered, well-established, and has a solid track record of post-installation follow-up.

REVIEWS

Finding reviews from real people who have experienced what a company has to offer can help you find a great company as well as identify red flags to avoid.

Read customer reviews for Green Ridge Solar.

Solar isn&#;t cheap. And it&#;s a long-term commitment. Even after the installation, you&#;ll be connected with your chosen company throughout the lifetime of your panels.

If you follow our formula for what to look for in a company, you can be confident in navigating conversations with company representatives and, ultimately, deciding on the best solar company for you.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Solar Energy

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While it has been widely criticised for being expensive or inefficient, solar energy has now proved to be extremely beneficial - not only for the environment but also for the private economy. It can save you lots of money on your energy bills and can increase your property value. But there's much more to it than that, so let's dive into the pros and cons of solar energy.

Did you know that the energy the sun provides to the earth for one hour could meet the global energy needs for one year? Undoubtedly, the sun is a powerful energy source , and even though we are not able to collect a fraction of this energy, harnessing this power by installing solar panels can make a significant difference to the planet.

&#; Slash your energy bills by installing solar panels &#; Reduce your carbon footprint with solar panels &#; Solar panels can increase your property value

What are the advantages and disadvantages?

Thanks to available solar panel grants, as well as, the increasingly competitive prices in the market, solar energy has become the main source of energy for more and more families. The technology has been drastically improved the last years and has been complemented by solar battery storage systems, turning solar into a significantly more efficient source of clean energy. However, solar battery prices are something worth thinking about.

However, there are always downsides no matter the energy source you choose to analyse. GreenMatch has outlined the key advantages and disadvantages of solar power in the following points:

What are the advantages of solar panels?

By choosing solar energy, homeowners can benefit from many advantages that solar energy offers, such as:

Cheaper electricity bills: Solar panels generate cost-free electricity, reducing overall energy costs.

Earn money back: Sell surplus energy to the grid for compensation through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG).

Reduce carbon footprint: Sustainable energy reduces reliance on fossil fuels.

Year-round efficiency: Effective even in cloudy UK weather, especially with advancements in technology.

Low maintenance: Minimal upkeep required post-installation.

Independence from the grid: Generate your own electricity, reducing dependence on the grid.

Affordability: Solar panels are increasingly cost-effective.

Cost savings: Utilise solar energy to save money.

Grid independence: Keep your lights on during grid outages.

Increased home value: Installing solar energy can boost your property's value.

Climate versatility: Solar systems work well in various climates, including the UK.

1. Renewable energy source

Among all the benefits of solar panels, the most important thing is that solar energy is a truly renewable energy source. It can be harnessed in all areas of the world and is available every day. We cannot run out of solar energy, unlike some of the other sources of energy.

Solar energy will be accessible as long as we have the sun, therefore sunlight will be available to us for at least 5 billion years when according to scientists the sun is going to die.

2. Reduces electricity bills

Since you will be meeting some of your energy needs with the electricity your solar system has generated, your energy bills will drop. How much you save on your bill will be dependent on the size of the solar system and your electricity or heat usage. This can be found in our 'is it worth getting solar panels?' guide.

For example, if you are a business using commercial solar panels this switch can have huge benefits because the large system size can cover large chunks of your energy bills.

Moreover, not only will you be saving on the electricity bill, but there is also a possibility to receive payments for the surplus energy that you export back to the grid through the Smart Export Guarantee (SEG). If you generate more electricity than you use (considering that your solar panel system is connected to the grid).

3. Diverse applications

Solar energy can be used for diverse purposes. You can generate electricity (photovoltaics) or heat (solar thermal). Solar energy can be used to produce electricity in areas without access to the energy grid, to distil water in regions with limited clean water supplies and to power satellites in space.

Solar energy can also be integrated into the materials used for buildings. Not long ago Sharp introduced transparent solar energy windows.

4. Low maintenance costs

Solar energy systems generally don&#;t require a lot of maintenance. You only need to keep them relatively clean, so cleaning them a couple of times per year will do the job. If in doubt, you can always rely on specialised cleaning companies, which offer this service from around £25-£35.

Most reliable solar panel manufacturers offer 20-25 years warranty.

Also, as there are no moving parts, there is no wear and tear. The inverter is usually the only part that needs to be changed after 5-10 years because it is continuously working to convert solar energy into electricity and heat (solar PV vs. solar thermal). Apart from the inverter, the cables also need maintenance to ensure your solar power system runs at maximum efficiency.

So, after covering the initial cost of the solar system, you can expect very little spending on maintenance and repair work.

5. Technology development

Technology in the solar power industry is constantly advancing and improvements will intensify in the future. Innovations in quantum physics and nanotechnology can potentially increase the effectiveness of solar panels and double, or even triple, the electrical input of the solar power systems.

Don't want to wait any longer to reap all of these solar benefits? By opting for solar panels, you're not only reducing your energy costs, but you're also making a positive impact on the environment. GreenMatch can help you take the first step by securing the best quotes for your needs.

By filling out our form now you'll receive up to 4 free quotes from trusted local installers and begin your journey towards a brighter, more sustainable future in less than a minute. Say goodbye to hours spent vetting and requesting quotes from installers in your area.

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