Best 5 Solar Companies in Lakewood, NJ

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in Lakewood

Choosing a company is the first step toward a well-oiled and cost-efficient solar system. Here are some crucial criteria to keep in mind while shopping for a solar provider.

Licensing and Training

Licensing requirements mean that your New Jersey solar installation team will likely have a variety of different professionals, including an electrician for wiring work and a master plumber for piping work. The most senior professionals on the team will also liaise with your local government and utility on permit matters. Check a company's website for private accreditations from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), one of the solar industry's most respected trade groups. Its program includes certifications for both solar photovoltaic and water heating installers.

Cost of Solar Panels in Lakewood

Your solar panels' style will impact how much energy 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 need to charge an electric car or use your solar power in dark weather, you can pay extra for add-ons. By selecting the right components, you can make your panel array more effective and user-friendly. Not all solar providers include these add-ons, so look for a company that installs them if it's essential for you.

Generally speaking, it will cost about $17,650 for a five-kilowatt solar array in Lakewood. This table lists more specific pricing information for different solar panel types and system components in your area.

Financing Solar Energy in Lakewood

There are numerous ways to pay for a solar energy system, and the right one will lower your costs. A few of the most common options include loans, power purchase agreements (PPAs), cash payments, and leases. Most solar experts recommend paying cash or using a solar loan. Cash payments demand a large up-front sum, but they help you avoid paying interest, grant you system ownership, and qualify you for cost-saving solar incentives. Solar loans have the same benefits, though you'll pay more in total due to interest and fees. Like a home or auto loan, you'll pay a set monthly rate with as little as $0 down. Solar leases allow you to use your panels for a fixed monthly rate, while PPAs let you pay just for the energy you use, much like an electric bill. Both options disqualify you for solar incentives and do not provide you system ownership. Solar experts generally don't recommend them, but they might be suitable in some cases. We advise working with a contractor that offers multiple financing options. Speak with each representative about what's available, and get more than one estimate for the best odds of keeping within your financial plan.

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

You can claim a 26% federal solar tax credit from the IRS for new residential solar systems purchased before 2032. Additionally, local governments and utilities may have their own rebates and financing plans that could reduce your total cost even more.