Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
A new solar energy system could give you a renewable power source that will pay for itself in time. Transitioning to solar energy can reduce your monthly energy expenses and decrease your carbon output. Before you begin the process, you want to make sure you find a trustworthy installer. That’s why, after reviewing and analyzing installers, we compiled a guide to the most dependable solar companies in Athol. These companies consistently deliver dependable quality service.
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Services Offered
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Prompt service delivery
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Free quotes
Services Offered
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
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 crucial factors to consider when evaluating if a solar installer is trustworthy.
Make sure you hire a licensed solar installer. This helps ensure that the work is done properly using the most up-to-date installation methods. Massachusetts requires new solar PV systems in the Commonwealth to be installed by a licensed electrician and new solar water heaters to be installed by a construction supervisor.
Check review sites like TrustPilot, Google Reviews, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB) to see feedback from past customers about local solar companies. Detailed reviews can help you assess a company's reliability and customer service. Use caution with companies that have hardly any reviews or mostly negative ones.
Contact 3–5 solar companies to receive free, detailed quotes. Quotes should clearly outline all costs and specify the exact solar components included. By comparing multiple quotes, you can identify the best value based on your budget.
High-quality solar installations should include robust workmanship and performance guarantees. The workmanship warranty covers any installation issues like poor alignment, cracks in the panels, or poor wiring. The output guarantee ensures an energy generation baseline. Strong warranties reflect a solar provider's confidence in its installations.
Solar can help you lower electricity bills over time. Make sure you consider these aspects when considering the final cost and value of solar panels.
The cost of solar panels varies based on your system's capacity and the technology used. The average solar system in Athol has a capacity of 4.5 kilowatts. Homeowners in the area should expect to pay around $4,060 per kilowatt; the average Athol homeowners spends roughly $12,726 on a new solar system after accounting for federal tax breaks. (Some homeowners prefer to lease solar panels to reduce their upfront costs.) A personalized quote from a local solar installer will account for things like the size, panel type, and capacity of the planned system, and should include costs for preliminary work, permit fees, and labor.
Incentive Amount:
Solar energy systems used for heating or cooling: out-of-pocket expenditures by the owner for the components and labor
Wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, solar thermal, solar PV, and other solar energy systems: the assessed value of the system
Incentive Type: Personal Tax Credit
Incentive Amount:
15%
Incentive Type: Industry Recruitment/Support
Incentive Amount:
100% deduction
Incentive Amount:
Appliances
Refrigerator and Freezer Recycling: $125
Electric Clothes Dryers: $50
Clothes Washer: $350
Dehumidifiers: $30
Room Air Purifiers: $40
Room Air Conditioner: $40
Heating & Cooling
Oil Heating System: Up to $800
Propane Heating Equipment: Up to $2,300
Oil Water Heater: Up to $400
Propane Water Heater: Up to $800
Heat Pump Water Heater: Up to $600
Central AC/Heat Pump: Up to $250/ton
Mini-Split Heat Pump: Up to $250/ton
Programmable Thermostats: Up to $25
WiFi Thermostat: Up to $100
Solar Domestic Hot Water heater: $500 - $1,500
Home Electronics
Advanced Power Strips: Varies
Home Insulation
Limited Time Enhanced Incentive: 75%
Year-Round Tenant Incentive: 100%
Enhanced Residential Program: 100%
Lighting
LEDs: Varies
Home Energy Assessment: Free
Incentive Amount:
Standard Residential:
Pellet Stove: $1,000 - $1,750
Catalytic Woodstove: $750 - $1,250
Non-Catalytic Woodstove: $500-$1,250
Fully Automated Wood Stove: $1,500 - $1,750
Low-Income Residential:
Pellet Stove: $2,500 - $3,250
Catalytic Woodstove: $2,250 - $2,750
Non-Catalytic Woodstove: $2,000-$2,750
Fully Automated Wood Stove: $2,750 - $3,250
Incentive Type: PACE Financing
Incentive Amount:
Financing amount locally determined; 20-year financing term
Generally speaking, a solar photovoltaic (PV) system can be used to power any household appliance or system that uses electricity. In the smallest case, you can use a solar water heater.
There are many 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 provide you with further energy independence and offer some protection from power outages.
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 Athol amount to $1,037.
Your payback period is the time to achieve an ROI on your solar panels. It will vary based on their rated capacity, the average sunlight in your area, and the rate your utility charges per kilowatt of power. Athol gets quite a bit of sunlight per day, so an average payback period could last up to 12.3 years per 5 kW of capacity.
Yes, solar panels will still be able to generate energy during a grid outage. To ensure that your solar system is able to keep working during a power outage, make sure to choose a quality solar provider that offers battery backup systems or emergency generators.
Solar energy can be more efficient than other forms of renewable energy. They have inexpensive upkeep and today's systems can generate and manage energy under more conditions.
