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Last Updated: February 25, 2025
Rooftop solar is one of the most easily accessible forms of renewable energy for Arbutus homeowners. Adopting solar energy can reduce your monthly energy expenses and shrink your carbon output. Before you begin the process, you want to make sure you find a trustworthy installer. Luckily, we’ve conducted comprehensive research local solar installers and compiled a guide to the best solar companies in Arbutus. These reliable providers are smart choices homeowners can depend on.
Our Rating
User Rating
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Free quotes
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Free quotes
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Free quotes
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Prompt service delivery
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Informative resources
Services Offered
Our Rating
User Rating
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Free quotes
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 lower electricity costs and help the environment by reducing your carbon footprint using renewable energy. Here are some key factors to consider when evaluating if a solar installer is reliable.
Hiring a licensed solar installer is critical. This helps ensure that the work is done correctly using current installation best practices. The installation crew for a solar photovoltaic (PV) system in Maryland must include a Home Improvement Commission-licensed contractor and a master electrician with at least seven years' experience. The contractor installs the panels, while the master electrician handles permit business and hooks the system up to the grid. If you're installing a solar water heater, your contracting team must include a master plumber for utility connections and permits.
Check review sites like Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and TrustPilot to see customer feedback about local solar companies. Detailed reviews can help you evaluate a company's dependability and level of service. Use caution with companies that have hardly any reviews or mostly negative ones.
Call three to five solar companies for free, itemized quotes. The quotes should outline all costs and list the solar equipment included. Reviewing multiple quotes helps identify the option that aligns with your budget.
High-quality solar installations should have robust workmanship and performance warranties. The workmanship guarantee covers any installation issues like poor alignment, cracks in the panels, or poor wiring. The output warranty ensures an energy generation baseline. Strong guarantees reflect a solar provider's confidence in its installations.
Solar energy can help decrease your electricity costs long-term. When considering solar panel's cost and value, be sure to factor in these considerations.
The cost of solar panels varies based on system capacity and the solar technology used. The typical Arbutus solar array has a capacity of 5.6 kilowatts. Homeowners in the area can expect to pay around $3,540 per kilowatt; the average Arbutus homeowners spends about $13,849 on a new solar array after accounting for federal tax breaks. (Some homeowners prefer to lease solar panels to reduce upfront costs.) A personalized quote from a local solar installer will account for factors such as 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 from sales and use tax
Incentive Type: Sales Tax Incentive
Incentive Amount:
100% exemption
Incentive Amount:
Appliances & Recycling
Clothes Dryer (Electric): $50
Clothes Washer: $75 - $100
Hybrid Heat Pump Water Heater: $500
Pool Pump: $150 - $400
Refrigerator: $100
Dehumidifier: $30
Refrigerator or Freezer Recycling: $50, plus $25 bonus when recycling an old, working room A/C or dehumidifier at the same time
Room A/C or Dehumidifier Recycling (*May 20, 2017 only*): $25
Smart Thermostat: $100
Heating & Cooling
Air-Source Heat Pump: $400 - $650
Central A/C: $300 - $500
Gas Furnace: $250
Furnace Blower Motor: $50 - $100
Geothermal Heat Pump: $1,500
Lighting
Instant discounts vary by participating retailer; see program website
Incentive Amount:
Appliances & Recycling
Clothes Dryer (Electric): $50
Clothes Washer: $75 - $100
Hybrid Heat Pump Water Heater: $500
Pool Pump: $150 - $400
Refrigerator: $100
Dehumidifier: $30
Refrigerator or Freezer Recycling: $50, plus $25 bonus when recycling an old, working room A/C or dehumidifier at the same time
Room A/C or Dehumidifier Recycling (*May 20, 2017 only*): $25
Smart Thermostat: $100
Heating & Cooling
Air-Source Heat Pump: $400 - $650
Central A/C: $300 - $500
Gas Furnace: $250
Furnace Blower Motor: $50 - $100
Geothermal Heat Pump: $1,500
Lighting
Instant discounts vary by participating retailer; see program website
Incentive Type: Property Tax Incentive
Incentive Amount:
Varies
Incentive Type: Property Tax Incentive
Incentive Amount:
100% real property tax exemption for solar and wind energy property
Incentive Amount:
Commercial: 10% - 80% of county real property taxes assessed for 3 - 5 years
Homes (LEED or NGBS): 40% - 100% of county real property taxes assessed for 3 - 5 years
Homes (Energy Improvements): varies, equal to the % of energy efficiency improvement over a baseline of existing home or the energy code for new homes
Incentive Type: Property Tax Incentive
Incentive Amount:
Varies by jurisdiction; credit may be available for up to 3 years.
Incentive Type: Property Tax Incentive
Incentive Amount:
50% of eligible costs
A solar photovoltaic (PV) array can generate power to run any electric system or appliance in your home. A more specific example is installing a solar heating system for your water.
There are a number of advantages of home solar energy. You can raise your property values, save money, and qualify for tax benefits. With the right storage equipment, solar panels can also offer you further energy independence and offer some protection from power outages.
It depends on your location and the kind of panels you plan to use. Since there's a moderate amount of snowfall in Arbutus, your best time to get solar is in the spring and fall.
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 Arbutus amount to $836.
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. Arbutus gets quite a bit of sunlight per day, so an average payback period could last up to 16.6 years per 5 kW of capacity.
While solar energy might not be the best performing choice 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.
The answer depends on your specific needs and goals. Generally speaking, monocrystalline solar panels are the most efficient for homes in Arbutus. However, if you're looking at a more frugal option, then you may want to consider thin-film or polycrystalline solar panels. When you're choosing a contractor, make sure to ask about the types of solar panels a company offers and the benefits and drawbacks of each.
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