Best 5 Solar Companies in Lincoln Park, MI

Lincoln Park homeowners are privileged to live in abundant sunlight, both to enjoy and harness as energy. Many are working with top solar companies to get panels on their roofs. With all the options to choose from in this urban jungle, you might feel overwhelmed searching for an excellent installer. Discover Lincoln Park's top-rated solar companies and learn important decision-making advice on this page.

Ranking Methodology

Our team used the following criteria to determine the best Lincoln Park solar companies.

• Warranty and service offerings: Solar providers should stand behind their systems and services with warranties. We evaluated how each provider responds to issues and warranty claims, focusing on timeliness and customer satisfaction.
• Educational approach and support: Solar technicians must be excellent teachers. They should use their years of experience address your questions on how to look after your system and maximize its performance.
• Customer feedback and reviews: Most Lincoln Park solar installers have both favorable and unfavorable reviews. However, a good review ratio indicates a company's reliability and responsiveness to issues.
• Professional licensure and experience: Each provider on our list complies with state and city licensing requirements and stays up to date with industry best practices. Many of them have served the Lincoln Park community for a decade or longer.
• Panel quality and brand offerings: The leading solar companies stay up-to-date with new technology, offering equipment from reliable, innovative manufacturers.

Benefits of Solar Energy

Solar energy has numerous advantages that will enhance your home for years to come.

• Lowered energy bills: Solar panels let you generate your own energy to power your home, decreasing your regular electricity costs. Going off-grid can eliminate your bills completely. Plus, a significant amount of states have adopted net metering, which permit you to earn money by selling your unused energy back to the grid.
• Reduced carbon footprint: Adopting solar is a surefire way to minimize your carbon footprint and home fossil fuel dependency.
• Better energy independence: Solar panel systems with battery storage systems operate through power outages and emergencies, and you won't have to depend on the electrical grid for your safety and well-being.

What Solar Incentives Are Available to Lincoln Park Homeowners?

Michigan agencies and electric companies offer a variety of solar incentives to help lower your solar system costs. Below is a breakdown of available solar programs where you live.

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in Lincoln Park

The more comprehensive your provider search is, the better your photovoltaic system will ultimately work. Make your choice based on the following crucial aspects.

Licensing and Training

Michigan law has a de facto licensing requirement for solar photovoltaic installers. In other words, while solar contractors technically don't need a license by the letter of the law, workers dealing with electrical wiring jobs do need a license. Solar thermal systems must be installed by a licensed mechanical contractor. You should also visit a company's website to learn about its private credentials. Two of the most recognized are the PV Installation Professional and Solar Heating Installer certificates, granted by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). Some companies don't publish this information online, so you should also ask your estimator about them.

Cost of Solar Panels in Lincoln Park

Your solar panels' type will affect how much electricity you can produce. Monocrystalline panels are among the highest quality and perform the best but cost the most. Polycrystalline panels offer you a budget panel with a traditional design, but at the cost of less power generation. Thin-film panels are excellent for non-traditional roof shapes and cost the least, but don't work well for large residential installations.

If you want to charge an electric vehicle (EV) or use your solar power in inclement weather, you can pay extra for accessories. By selecting the right components, you can make your panel array more efficient and user-friendly. Not every solar contractor provides these optional components, so look for a company that sells them if it's important for you.

If you're a resident of Lincoln Park and are considering getting a five-kilowatt solar energy system, you could expect to pay about $20,300 for materials and labor. See more information on specific component and solar panel costs in the table.

Financing Solar Energy in Lincoln Park

Solar companies offer multiple different financing options to lower your costs and increase your savings. Though some providers offer unique payment plans, the most common are solar leases, cash payments, solar loans and power purchase agreements (PPAs). We advise making a cash payment or using a solar loan for the highest return on investment (ROI). Cash payments require a hefty sum up-front, but you’ll pay the least long-term by avoiding interest. You’ll also own your system and can apply for solar panel incentives to cut your total costs. Solar loans are another good option if you don’t want to make a big initial investment. You can pay for your system in monthly installments while still enjoying energy bill savings and solar incentives. However, you’ll pay more in total due to accruing interest. Solar leases involve paying a set monthly rate to use rooftop panels. A PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) allows you to pay a monthly rate based only on the energy you use, as with an electric bill. We typically don’t recommend these two choices because you won't own the panels and cannot use solar incentives. We suggest working with a contractor that offers multiple financing options. Talk to each agent about what's available, and secure more than one estimate for the best odds of keeping within your spending limits.

The table below lists the average payback periods for different capacities of solar systems in Lincoln Park.

The IRS allows you to claim a 26% federal tax credit for solar panels on the full cost of the solar system, so long as you purchase it before 2032. Local governments and utilities might also offer their own financing programs, incentives, and rebates that could save you more money.

Sources

• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
• U.S. Department of Energy