Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Every year, more Leominster residents adopt rooftop solar panels to provide a dependable source of power and lower their carbon footprint. Transitioning to solar energy can lower your monthly energy expenses and decrease your carbon output. Before you get started, you want to make sure you find a reputable installer. Luckily, we've reviewed the options and assembled a guide to the best and most trustworthy solar installation companies in Leominster.
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Prompt service delivery
Services Offered
Free quotes
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Prompt service delivery
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Informative resources
Services Offered
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Informative resources
Prompt service delivery
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
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:
Installing solar panels can cut your electricity costs and benefit the planet by reducing your carbon footprint. When evaluating if a solar provider is right for you, consider these key factors.
Make sure you hire a licensed solar installer. This help guarantee that the work is done properly using the most up-to-date installation methods. Massachusetts requires new solar photovoltaic 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 the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews, and TrustPilot to see customer feedback about local solar companies. Detailed reviews can help you assess a company's reliability and customer service. Use caution with companies that have no reviews or mostly negative ones.
Contact at least three solar companies to get free, detailed quotes. Quotes should clearly outline all costs and specify the exact solar components included. Comparing multiple quotes helps identify the option that best fits your budget.
Quality solar installations should include strong workmanship and performance warranties. A workmanship warranty addresses any installation defects (such as poor wiring, poor alignment, or cracks in the panels), while a performance guarantee ensures a certain level of energy production. Strong warranties demonstrate a company's confidence in its work.
Solar panels can help reduce your electricity costs long-term. When considering solar panel's cost and value, be sure to consider these considerations.
Leominster homeowners typically spend about $12,726 on home solar systems after federal tax refunds. Solar arrays in Leominster cost roughly $4,060 per kilowatt, with the average residential solar system being 4.5 kilowatts. A personalized estimate from a local solar provider will include costs for permit fees, labor, and preliminary work, and will account for your system's capacity, panel type, and size. Some homeowners prefer to lease their solar panels to reduce upfront costs.
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
Incentive Amount:
Base rebate: $100 X number of collectors X SRCC rating (Category D, Mildly Cloudy Day)
Additional $500/system for metering installation
Additional $500/system for participants that have also installed solar PV on the same facility
80%-120% Income-Based Rebate Adder: $125 multiplier in formula (as opposed to $100)
Less than 80% of SMI Income-Based Rebate Adder: $150 multiplier in formula (as opposed to $100)
Non-Profit/Public Entity Adder: $150 in formula (as opposed to $100)
Affordable Housing Adder: $200 in formula (as opposed to $100)
A solar photovoltaic (PV) array can generate power to run any electric system or appliance in your home. If you don't want to use solar power for your entire home, you can install a solar heating system for your water.
There are many benefits to home solar energy. You can reduce emissions, raise your property values, and save money. With the right storage equipment, solar panels can also give you further energy independence and offer some protection from power outages.
Absolutely. The grid in Leominster already uses a large share of renewable energy sources, and you may be able to sell your excess generated energy to your utility for additional cost savings.
Your payback period is the time to achieve an ROI on your solar panels. It will vary based on their rated capacity, the rate your utility charges per kilowatt of power, and the average sunlight in your area. Leominster gets quite a bit of sunlight per day, so an average payback period could last up to 11.8 years per 5 kW of capacity.
The type of solar panels you have will have specific maintenance steps to follow. Regardless of type, you should clean your panels regularly and inspect them for damage. A majority of solar contractors in the Leominster area offer low-cost maintenance plans to help you make the most of your panels and keep them healthy for as long as possible.
Regarding 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. For insurance, your monthly premium may be slightly higher because solar panels increase your property's value. You should consult with your accountant or insurance agent for information specific to your case.
