Best 3 Solar Companies in Blacksburg, VA

With Blacksburg's clear skies and below-average rainfall, it's an excellent area for families and businesses hoping to harness the extra sunlight by purchasing panels from one of the best solar installers. While switching to solar energy comes with upfront costs, local homeowners could ultimately save $980 per kilowatt on their electric bills. A professional company can help you select the best panels to maximize your savings. In this guide, we'll show you Blacksburg's best solar installers and offer suggestions for your company choice, so you can find the ideal one for your household.

Ranking Methodology

We reviewed dozens of Blacksburg solar companies, using the following criteria to choose the finest:

• Panel brands and quality: The leading solar companies stay up-to-date with new technology, offering equipment from innovative, dependable manufacturers.
• Certifications and licenses: Each contractor on our list complies with state and city licensing requirements and keeps current with industry best practices. Many of them have been a part of the Blacksburg community for more than a decade.
• Service offerings and warranties: Solar contractors should stand behind their products 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 Blacksburg solar contractors have both positive and critical reviews. However, a good review ratio shows a company's dependability and responsiveness to issues.
• Educational approach and support: Solar technicians must be excellent teachers. They should tap into their years of experience answer your questions on how to care for your system and improve its performance.

Benefits of Solar Energy

Solar energy comes with multiple benefits. Let's look at a few of them.

• Lowered energy bills: You can skip the expensive cost of grid-tied power by producing some electricity right where you use it. Plus, many states offer net metering which can allow you to sell your unused energy back to help pay for your energy bill.
• Better energy independence: Adding a battery backup or storage system lets you have dependable energy during storms and grid outages.
• Reduced carbon footprint: Embracing solar is a surefire way to decrease your carbon footprint and home fossil fuel dependency.

What Solar Incentives Are Available to Blacksburg Homeowners?

Governments and utilities often incentivize homeowners for adopting solar. Here are some of the tax credits, rebates, or other programs you could qualify for.

How To Choose the Best Solar Company in Blacksburg

Choosing a company is the first step toward an effective and cost-efficient solar array. Here are some key items to bear in mind while shopping for a solar provider.

Licensing and Training

Since 2012, the Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation has issued Alternative Energy Systems (AES) licenses to contractors working on solar PV systems. A contractor with an AES license may need to subcontract electrical, HVAC or plumbing work. Check for private accreditations from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), among the solar industry's most reputed trade groups. Its program includes certifications for both solar photovoltaic and water heating installers.

Cost of Solar Panels in Blacksburg

The style of solar panels you purchase dictates how much energy you can generate. Monocrystalline panels and high-quality and cost more but give you the best performance. 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'd like to charge an electric car or use your solar power in inclement weather, you can pay extra for accessories. By selecting the right components, you can make your system more productive and user-friendly. Not all solar companies offer these additional features, so look for a contractor that installs them if it's essential for you.

If you're a resident of Blacksburg and are looking into a five-kilowatt solar energy system, you could plan to spend about $17,950 for materials and labor. Find more information on specific component and solar panel costs in the table.

Financing Solar Energy in Blacksburg

Solar contractors offer multiple different financing options to increase your savings and lower your costs. Though some providers offer unique payment plans, the most common are solar leases, solar loans, cash payments and power purchase agreements (PPAs). Though it involves a large up-front payment, cash is the most economical choice because it doesn't accrue interest and qualifies you for incentives. Solar loans are the runner-up option. As with a car loan or mortgage, you'll pay a monthly rate towards system ownership, including interest. You can still apply for cost-saving solar incentives, and depending on your lender, you could put as little as $0 down. Solar leases involve paying a set monthly rate to use rooftop panels. A PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) enables you to pay a monthly rate determined by the energy you use, similar to an electric bill. We generally don’t recommend these two choices because you won't own the system and are disqualified from using solar incentives. Ask each company you're vetting about the financing options it offers. A salesperson can help you determine the optimal option for your pocketbook.

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

A 26% federal solar tax credit applies to new residential solar equipment purchased through 2032. Additional incentives may be available through city and state governments, usually in the form of rebates and special financing programs.

Sources

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