Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated February 2024
Solar energy is becoming increasingly popular for Duluth homeowners. A new solar energy system can help you add value to your property, provide a dependable source of power, and decrease your carbon footprint. Solar power can reduce your energy costs and lower your carbon footprint. However, it's important to choose a qualified solar installer. That’s why we’ve analyzed the options and assembled a guide to the most dependable solar providers in Duluth. These top companies consistently deliver high-quality and reliable services.
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Informative resources
Services Offered
Informative resources
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Family-operated business
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Services Offered
Free quotes
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Services Offered
Prompt service delivery
Informative resources
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Informative resources
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
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:
Going solar can be a great way to reduce electricity costs and help the planet by reducing your carbon footprint using renewable energy. Here are some key factors to consider when deciding if a solar installer is trustworthy.
Confirm that your solar installer is properly licensed. This help guarantee that the work is done correctly using current best installation practices. Georgia doesn't have contractors' licenses specific to solar energy, 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 providers. Detailed reviews can help you evaluate a provider's integrity and customer service. Stay away from providers with few or mainly poor reviews.
Get free, detailed quotes from three to five solar companies. The quotes should outline all costs and identify the exact solar parts included. Comparing several quotes can help you find the most cost-effective option.
Quality solar installations should have strong workmanship and performance warranties. A workmanship warranty addresses any installation defects (such as poor wiring, cracks in the panels, or poor alignment), while a performance guarantee ensures a certain level of energy production. Strong guarantees show that a company is confident in its work.
Solar power can help decrease your electricity costs over time. When evaluating solar panel's cost and value, be sure to factor in these considerations.
The cost of solar panels varies based on your system's capacity and the solar technology used. The average solar system in Duluth has a capacity of 6.8 kilowatts. Homeowners in the area should expect to pay around $3,740 per kilowatt; the average Duluth homeowners spends roughly $17,759 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 factors such as the panel type, capacity, and size of the planned system, and should include prices for preliminary work, permit fees, and labor.
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
A solar photovoltaic (PV) system can generate power to run any electric system or appliance in your home. More specifically, you can install a solar heating system for your water.
With home solar panels, you can recoup the cost of the system over time, lower your home's carbon footprint, and be better prepared if there's an outage to the local grid.
It depends on your location and the kind of panels you plan to use. With the winter months in Georgia being very mild, you have a wide time window to install your panels, though they won't reach peak performance until summer arrives.
Your installer can give you an estimate of what your energy bills will look like after you install solar panels. Generally, your energy bills will decrease significantly because you'll be using energy from the sun for free, instead of buying energy from the utility company. The average annual savings in Duluth amount to $1,301.
Your payback period is the time to achieve an ROI on your solar panels. It will vary based on the average sunlight in your area, their rated capacity, and the rate your utility charges per kilowatt of power. Duluth has extremely high daily sunlight levels, so you could recoup your investment in as little as 13.7 years per 5 kW of rated capacity.
Yes. Solar panels don't depend on the grid to work and will continue to generate power even if the grid is having problems. Bear in mind, however, that a solar system won't take you through a nighttime outage if you don't have a storage system. Your contractor can discuss some economical options to keep your home's power access reliable through the worst conditions, including battery backups or an emergency generator.
With respect to taxes, the federal government offers a tax credit of up to 30% of the panels' cost. Depending on where you live, you could also claim or apply for state or property tax incentives. As for insurance, your monthly premium may be slightly higher because solar panels increase your property's value. You should speak with your accountant or insurance agent for information specific to your case.
Solar energy can be more efficient than other forms of renewable energy. They have low maintenance costs and today's systems can generate and manage energy under more conditions.
