Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
Every year, more Atlanta residents adopt rooftop solar panels to lower their carbon footprint and add value to their property. Solar power can cut your energy costs and lower your carbon footprint. However, it's important to choose a reputable solar installer. Luckily, we've reviewed the options and compiled a guide to the best and most reliable solar installation providers in Atlanta.
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Free quotes
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Informative resources
Prompt service delivery
Services Offered
Family-operated business
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Free quotes
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Today's Homeowner looks at dozens of datapoints on solar companies to come up with our data-driven rankings. It's not possible for a company to pay for preferential treatment in our rankings. We look at the following key factors in determining who should top our list:
Adopting solar power lets homeowners reduce utility bills while helping the environment by reducing your carbon footprint using clean energy. If you’re determining whether to go solar, consider these key factors for choosing an installer.
It's imperative that your solar installer has the proper licensing. This helps ensure that the work is done properly using current best installation practices. Georgia doesn't have solar-specific contractors' licenses, but the law does require solar installers to be licensed electrical contractors. The Georgia Secretary of State manages business filings and licenses.
Check Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), TrustPilot, and other review sites to see what past customers have to say about local solar installers. Detailed reviews on these platforms can help you assess a provider's integrity and customer service. Stay away from companies with few or mainly poor reviews.
To find a solar installer that works with your budget, ask for free, detailed quotes from three to five providers. The quotes should outline all costs and list the solar equipment included. Comparing several quotes helps you identify the best value.
Quality solar installations should come with comprehensive workmanship and performance guarantees. The workmanship guarantee covers any installation problems such as poor alignment, cracks in the panels, or poor wiring. The performance guarantee ensures a specific energy output level. Strong warranties indicate that a solar installer trusts its installations.
Going solar can help reduce your electric bills over time. When considering the total price and value of solar panels, be sure to consider these factors.
Solar panel costs vary based on your system's capacity and the technology used. The average solar system in Atlanta has a capacity of 6.8 kilowatts. Homeowners in the area should expect to pay around $3,740 per kilowatt; the average Atlanta homeowners spends roughly $17,761 on a new solar system after accounting for federal tax breaks. (Some homeowners prefer to lease solar panels to lower upfront costs.) A personalized quote from a local solar company will account for things like the size, panel type, and capacity of the planned system, and should include fees for labor, permit fees, and preliminary work.
Incentive Type: Sales Tax Incentive
Incentive Amount:
100% exemption
Incentive Amount:
Single Family
Central AC Replacement: $50
Air/Duct Sealing: $300
Attic Insulation: $250
Heat Recovery Water Heater with Heat Pump: $250
Heat Pump Water Heater: $250
Solar Water Heater: $250
Home Energy Assessment: $150
Smart Thermostat: $75
Heat Pump conversion: $250
Multifamily
Central AC Replacement: $25
Air/Duct Sealing: $150
Attic Insulation: $125
Heat Recovery Water Heater with Heat Pump: $250
Heat Pump Water Heater: $250
Solar Water Heater: $250
Home Energy Assessment: $75
Smart Thermostat: $38
Heat Pump conversion: $125
Generally speaking, a solar photovoltaic (PV) system can be used to power any household appliance or system that uses electricity. In the simplest case, you can use a solar water heating system.
There are many benefits to home solar energy. You can qualify for tax benefits, raise your property values, and reduce emissions. With the right storage equipment, solar panels can also give you further energy independence and offer some protection from power outages.
It depends on where you live and what type of panels you're installing. With the winter months in Georgia being very mild, you have significant leeway to install your panels, though they won't reach peak performance until summer arrives.
Generally speaking, your energy bills will decrease significantly after you install solar panels. This is because you're using the energy you generate for free rather than buying it from your power company. In Atlanta, the average amount someone can save is $1,437 per year. With net metering programs offered by many utilities, you could ultimately make a profit from your system when your payback period is done.
You might be pleasantly surprised at how short it takes to get a return on investment from your solar panels. In perennially-sunny Atlanta, you could make enough from your solar panels to recoup your investment in 12.4 years per 5 kW of rated capacity at maximum.
The specific required maintenance steps will vary based on the type of solar panels you have. With any system, you should clean and inspect each panel once a quarter. Your solar contractor might offer comprehensive plans where they'll do the maintenance on your behalf.
Net metering is a power purchasing policy that allows solar energy system owners to receive compensation for the amount of energy they put back into the grid. It's available in most states and is a great way to reduce energy costs.
While solar energy might not be the best option for some in dark or wet areas, the latest generation of equipment and energy storage systems could boost your property's solar viability enough to achieve a return on investment. A contractor could also recommend a different primary source of renewable energy like wind or geothermal to boost your generation.
