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Best 5 Solar Companies in White Plains, NY
The best solar company in White Plains is SunPower.
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- Updated 2024-04-18 00:00:00
With White Plains' clear skies and little rainfall, it's a perfect area for families and businesses seeking to harness the additional sunlight by purchasing panels from one of the best solar companies. While switching to solar energy comes with upfront costs, local homeowners could ultimately save $1,600 per kilowatt on their electric bills. A professional installation team can help you choose the best panels to maximize your savings. Discover White Plains' top-rated solar companies and learn crucial decision-making tips on this page.
Ratings are based on our detailed proprietary methodology and review standards.
- Provides system monitoring
- Offers diverse financing options for various budgets
- Provides EV and solar battery solutions
Ratings are based on our detailed proprietary methodology and review standards.
- Offers 7 panel brand options
- 25-year workmanship warranty
- Offers battery options
5 Best Solar Companies in White Plains
Brands are algorithmically curated from a database of local service providers near you. We require a minimum number of Google reviews and average ratings for provider inclusion.
SunPower
Ratings are based on our detailed proprietary methodology and review standards.
Based on 87 reviews
Kamtech Solar Solutions
Ratings are based on our detailed proprietary methodology and review standards.
Based on 64 reviews
SunPower by New York State Solar Farm
Ratings are based on our detailed proprietary methodology and review standards.
Based on 200 reviews
Sunrun Solar
Ratings are based on our detailed proprietary methodology and review standards.
Based on 106 reviews
Precision Solar
Ratings are based on our detailed proprietary methodology and review standards.
Based on 48 reviews
Ranking Methodology
Our team used the following criteria to determine the best White Plains solar companies.
- Professional licensure and experience: Each contractor on our list complies with state and city licensing requirements and keeps current with industry best practices. Many of them have served the White Plains community for over 15 years.
- Educational approach and support: Solar technicians must be excellent teachers. They should use their years of experience answer your questions on how to maintain your system and maximize its performance.
- Service offerings and warranties: Solar companies should stand behind their systems and services with warranties. We evaluated how each contractor responds to issues and warranty claims, focusing on timeliness and customer happiness.
- Customer reviews and feedback: Most White Plains solar companies have both favorable and unfavorable reviews. However, a good review ratio indicates a company's reliability and responsiveness to issues.
- Panel quality and brand offerings: The best solar companies remain current on new technology, offering equipment from reliable, innovative manufacturers.
Facts about White Plains
- Average Max Temperature:58°F
- Solar Payback Period:8 years
- Average Daily Sunlight:54%
- Homes Powered by Solar:358
- Average Annual Energy Bill:$1,880
- Solar Power per Capita:77.0%
Benefits of Solar Energy
Solar energy has multiple advantages that will enhance your home for years to come.
- Reduced carbon footprint: The sun is a highly abundant clean energy source, meaning you can lower or beat your home's dependence on "traditional" sources.
- Better energy independence: Adding a battery backup or storage system lets you have reliable energy during storms and grid outages.
- Lowered energy bills: Solar panels let you generate your own energy to power your home, reducing your monthly electricity costs. You can eliminate your bills completely if you go off-grid. Plus, a significant amount of states offer net metering, which permit you to earn money by selling your unused energy back to the grid.
What Solar Incentives Are Available to White Plains Homeowners?
Governments and power companies often reward homeowners for switching to solar. Here are some of the rebates, tax credits or other programs you could qualify for.
Incentive Type:PACE Financing
Website:https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/all-programs/programs/commercial-property-assessed-clean-energy
Incentive Amount:
Locally determined
Incentive Type:Personal Tax Credit
Website:http://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/credits/solar_energy_system_equipment_credit.htm
Incentive Amount:
25% for solar-electric (PV) and solar-thermal systems; for third-party owned systems this is in reference to the aggregate amount owed under the contract rather than the amount owed in any single year
Incentive Type:Corporate Tax Credit
Incentive Amount:
$0.01/gallon for each percent of biodiesel
Incentive Type:Loan Program
Website:http://ny-sun.ny.gov/Get-Solar/NY-Sun-Financing.aspx
Incentive Amount:
Residential Customers: $1,500 - $25,000
Small Business and Not-for-Profit Organizations:
Participation Loans: up to $100,000 (at low interest rate)
On-Bill Recovery loans: $50,000 at 2%
Incentive Type:Sales Tax Incentive
Incentive Amount:
100% exemption
Incentive Type:Sales Tax Incentive
Incentive Amount:
Upon local authorization, 100% exemption from local sales tax
Incentive Type:Sales Tax Incentive
Website:https://www.tax.ny.gov/pubs_and_bulls/publications/sales/st_pubs_and_bulls_by_number.htm
Incentive Amount:
100% exemption from state sales tax
Incentive Type:Property Tax Incentive
Website:https://www.tax.ny.gov/research/property/assess/manuals/vol4/pt2/sec4_06/sec470.htm
Incentive Amount:
Upon local adoption, 20% - 100% of real property taxes owed; varies by year and certification level
Incentive Type:Property Tax Incentive
Website:http://www.tax.ny.gov/research/property/assess/manuals/vol4/pt1/sec4_01/sec487_a.htm
Incentive Amount:
100% of the value added to the residence by the improvements
Incentive Type:Property Tax Incentive
Website:http://www.tax.ny.gov/research/property/assess/manuals/vol4/pt1/sec4_01/sec487.htm
Incentive Amount:
100% exemption for 15 years (unless local jurisdiction has opted out)
Incentive Type:Rebate Program
Website:http://ny-sun.ny.gov/
Incentive Amount:
Incentive rates step down over time as MW goals are met. Incentive rates as of 11/27/2019 are:
Residential:
Long Island Region: $0.00/W (MW blocks have been fully subscribed)
Con Edison Region: $0.30/W
Upstate Region: $0.35/W
Low-to-Moderate income customers: $0.80/W (up to 10 kW)
Small Commercial (Non-Residential):Long Island Region: $0.00/W (MW blocks have been fully subscribed)
Con Edison Region: $0.60/W
Up State Region: $0.45/W
Multifamily Affordable Housing Adder: additional $0.40/W (up to 50 kW)
Incentive Type:Rebate Program
Website:https://www.nyserda.ny.gov/All-Programs/Programs/Ground-Source-Heat-Pump-Rebate
Incentive Amount:
Small Systems (≤ 10 cooling tons): $1,500/cooling ton
Large Systems (> 10 cooling tons): $1,200/cooling ton
Incentive Type:Other Incentive
Website:http://greenbank.ny.gov/
Incentive Type:Personal Tax Credit
Incentive Amount:
$0.01/gallon for each percent of biodiesel
Incentive Type:Rebate Program
Incentive Amount:
Tier I: 10,000 kWh of expected annual energy production: $3.50/annual kWh
Tier II: 10,000 kWh - 125,000 kWh of expected annual energy production: $1.00/annual kWh
Tier III: 125,000 kWh - 1,000,000 kWh of expected annual energy production: $0.30/ annual kWh
Tier IV: Greater than 1,000,000 kWh of expected annual energy production: $0.15/ annual kWh
These incentives are additive.
Incentive Type:Performance-Based Incentive
Incentive Amount:
- Capacity Incentive: Varies on the construction and design of the system
- Performance Incentive: $0.025/kWh production payment for new systems for up to 10 years (estimated using a capacity factor of 75%)
- Interconnection Incentive: up to 75% of the costs exceeding $5,000
- Project Enhancement Incentives: Available for Black Start Capability, Hydrogen Sulfide reduction, design for accepting food waste and others
Incentive Type:Personal Tax Credit
Website:https://www.ecowatch.com/solar/ev-appliance-solar-tax-credit-calculator
Incentive Amount:
30% federal tax credit for systems placed in service after 12/31/2021 and before 01/01/2033. Good for: solar water heat, solar photovoltaics, biomass, geothermal heat pumps, wind (small), fuel cells using renewable fuels.
How To Choose the Best Solar Company in White Plains
Choosing a company is the first step toward a well-oiled and valuable solar array. Make your choice based on the following essential elements.
Licensing and Training
The New York state government does not issue licenses to contractors, so you should check with your city or county government for its specific requirements and regulations. You should also visit a company's website to learn about its private accreditations. Two of the most recognized are the Solar Heating Installer and PV Installation Professional certificates, awarded 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 White Plains
The kind of solar panels you select dictates how much power you can generate. Monocrystalline panels and high-quality and give you the best performance but cost more upfront. Polycrystalline panels work with a tried-and-true mechanism and cost less, but produce less power. Thin-film panels aren't meant for large home installations, but they're excellent for small projects like sheds and RVs.
If you want to charge an electric vehicle (EV) or use your solar power in dark weather, you can pay extra for accessories. By selecting the right components, you can make your panel array more effective and user-friendly. Not all solar companies include these add-ons, so look for a provider that installs them if it's important for you.
You can expect to pay about $18,250 on average for a five-kilowatt solar energy system in White Plains. Use the table in this section to get an idea of how much White Plains solar companies might quote for your specific solar system's price.
| Solar Panel Cost | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| Solar Monocrystalline | $1,206.43 |
| Solar Polycrystalline | $941.01 |
| Thin-Film | $550.13 |
| Solar Battery | $772.11 |
| Solar Home EV Charger | $2,895.43 |
Financing Solar Energy in White Plains
Solar companies use 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 recommend making a cash payment or securing a solar loan for the best 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 have full ownership of your system and can apply for solar panel incentives to reduce 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 installments while still benefiting from energy bill savings and solar incentives. However, you’ll spend more in total due to accruing interest. Solar leases allow you to pay a monthly rate to rent your panels, while a PPA lets you pay a variable rate based on only the energy you use. We generally advise against these options since you won't own your system and are disqualified from solar incentives, but they might be suitable in specific circumstances. We advise working with a contractor that offers multiple financing options. Talk to each representative about what's available, and get more than one estimate for the best odds of keeping within your budget.
The table below lists the average payback periods for different capacities of solar systems in White Plains.
A 26% federal solar tax credit applies to new residential solar equipment purchased through 2032. Additional incentives may be available through local governments, usually in the form of rebates and special financing programs.
| Solar System Capacity | Estimated Payback period |
|---|---|
| 1 kW | 2.6 years |
| 2 kW | 5.1 years |
| 5 kW | 12.9 years |
| 10 kW | 25.7 years |
Frequently Asked Questions about Solar in White Plains
Most White Plains homeowners spend about $1,880 on energy each year. Your costs could drop by $1,592.78 for each kilowatt you generate after you pay off a solar array.
Yes, solar energy is readily available in White Plains. A growing number of area homes generate or access solar power on-site or through utility grids, and New York has about 10740 jobs forming its solar economy.
Yes, a solar PV system will boost your property value. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), for every dollar you save on energy bills, your home value rises by $20. So, if your panels save you $600 per year on energy costs, your property could appreciate $12,000.
To determine your home's solar readiness, nothing substitutes for a comprehensive estimate from a local solar company. However, you can use the PVWatts tool for a simple solar viability estimate based on public data, including local weather and topography, system size, panel efficiency, and tree cover.
Modern solar panels are built for longevity. The average unit is good for 25 years of service. Budget panels tend to have reduced longevity than premium models.
A typical White Plains solar home uses a 4.2-kW panel array, but you might need a larger system if your energy needs are higher. Solar contractors will consider your property's power usage and roof shading to recommend the proper system for you.
To enhance your solar system's performance, you can try the following steps:
- optimize the panels' position with your solar installer
- regularly clean your solar panels
- upgrade to a more efficient inverter trim or cut down trees in the way of your panels
- use energy-efficient appliances
Sources
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