Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Year after year, more Douglas residents install rooftop solar panels to add value to their property and provide a dependable source of power. Adopting solar energy can reduce your monthly energy expenses and shrink your carbon output. Before you get started, you want to make sure you find a trustworthy installer. Luckily, we've reviewed the options and compiled a guide to the best and most reputable solar installation providers in Douglas.
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Free quotes
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Informative resources
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Free quotes
Family-operated business
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:
Installing solar panels can reduce your electricity costs and benefit the planet by reducing your carbon footprint. When evaluating if a solar provider is the best option for you, consider these key factors.
It's imperative that your solar installer has the proper licensing. This ensures that the work is done properly using current installation best practices. In Illinois, the state Commerce Commission licenses distributed generation energy contractors, including residential solar contractors.
Check Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), TrustPilot, and other review sites to see what past customers are saying about local solar companies. Detailed reviews can help you evaluate a provider's reliability and customer service. Avoid providers with few or mainly poor reviews.
Get free, detailed quotes from three to five solar companies. A quote should list all costs and identify the exact solar parts included. Looking at several quotes can help you find the best value for your budget.
Quality solar installations should have strong workmanship and performance warranties. A workmanship warranty covers 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 warranties demonstrate a company's confidence in its work.
Solar energy is great for helping you lower electricity bills over time. Make sure you consider these aspects when considering the final cost and value of solar panels.
In Douglas, solar panels cost an average of $3,760 per kilowatt, with an average system size of 6.2 kilowatts. The typical Douglas homeowner spends $16,374 on their solar array after federal tax refunds. An estimate from a local provider will consider additional information based on your desired system's capacity, panel type, required preliminary work, and size. In some cases, homeowners may prefer leasing solar panels to reduce upfront costs.
Incentive Type: Property Tax Incentive
Incentive Amount:
Varies
A solar photovoltaic (PV) system can generate power to run any electric appliance or system in your home. More specifically, you can install a solar water heating system.
With home solar PV, you can recoup the cost of the system over time, lower your home's carbon footprint, and gain additional energy independence.
Of course. Douglas uses a balanced mixture of solar energy and conventional power sources. While your panels at home will lower your home's emissions and provide cost savings, you'll still benefit from access to the local grid.
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 Douglas amount to $995.
You might be pleasantly surprised at how quickly you can get a return on investment from your solar panels. The sun shines frequently in Douglas, meaning your payback period could last 16.5 years per 5 kW of capacity on the high end.
The best type of residential solar panel will depend on your specific needs and goals. Generally, monocrystalline solar panels are the most efficient for houses in Douglas. However, if you have a limited budget, then you could thin-film or polycrystalline solar panels. When you're gathering estimates, make sure to ask about the brand names and models of solar panels a company offers and the benefits and drawbacks of each.
Solar panels are becoming more relevant than ever for their high efficiency and low maintenance costs. Depending on how much sunlight your property receives, you may find they're the best performing source of renewable energy compared to others.
