Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Rooftop solar energy is becoming increasingly popular for Florence homeowners. A rooftop solar array 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 shrink your carbon footprint. However, it's important to hire a qualified solar installer. That’s why, after reviewing and analyzing providers, we put together a guide to the most dependable solar companies in Florence. These companies consistently deliver excellent service.
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
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Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Free quotes
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Informative resources
Prompt service delivery
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Family-operated business
Clear pricing policy
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 save money on 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.
Hiring a licensed solar installer is critical. This ensures that the work is done properly using current best installation practices. Solar companies in Oregon must be licensed and bonded according to the terms of the Oregon Construction Contractors Board. For PV installations, each standard journeyman on the job will have at least 8,000 hours of hands-on experience and must keep up with continuing education requirements. Installers of solar thermal systems must be either a plumbing journeyman and a licensed solar heating installer.
Check review sites like Google Reviews, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and TrustPilot to see feedback from past customers on local solar companies. Detailed reviews can help you evaluate a company's reliability and customer service. Use caution with companies that have very few reviews or mostly negative ones.
Get free, detailed quotes from three to five solar companies. A quote should outline all costs and identify the exact solar parts included. Comparing several quotes can help you find the best value for your budget.
Quality solar installations should come with comprehensive workmanship and performance warranties. The workmanship warranty covers any installation problems such as poor wiring, poor alignment, or cracks in the panels. The performance warranty ensures a specific energy output level. Strong guarantees indicate that a solar installer trusts its installations.
Solar energy can help reduce your energy expenses over time. Be sure to weigh these aspects when judging the cost and value of solar panels.
Solar panel costs vary based on your system's capacity and the technology used. The average solar system in Florence has a capacity of 4.0 kilowatts. Homeowners in the area should expect to pay around $3,500 per kilowatt; the average Florence homeowners spends roughly $9,753 on a new solar array after accounting for federal tax breaks. (Some homeowners prefer to lease solar panels to lower their upfront costs.) A personalized quote from a local solar provider will account for factors such as the capacity, size, and panel type of the planned system, and should include prices for preliminary work, labor, and permit fees.
Incentive Amount:
Appliances
Clothes Washer: $50
Clothes Dryer: $50
Smart Thermostat: $100
Light Fixture: $5/fixture
Heat Pump Water Heater: $300 - $500
Home Heating
Heat Pump: $500 - 1,400
Heat Pump Controls: $300
PTCS Duct Sealing: $200 - $250
Ductless Heat Pump: $750 - $1,000
Weatherization
Energy Star Windows: $3/sq. ft.
Energy Star Doors: $40/door
Attic Insulation: $0.20 - $0.60/sq. ft.
Floor Insulation: $0.30/sq. ft.
Wall Insulation: $0.50/sq. ft.
Energy Star Manufactured Homes: $1,200 - $1,400
Renewable Energy
Solar Thermal: $800/systemResidential Solar Electric: $500/kWDCCommercial Solar Electric: $500/kWDCWind Electric: $500/kWDCMicro Hydro Electric: $0.05/kWh/Yr
Generally speaking, a solar photovoltaic (PV) array can be used to power any household appliance or system that uses electricity. In the simplest case, you can use a solar water heater.
There are many advantages of home solar energy. You can save money, raise your property values, and reduce emissions. With the right storage equipment, solar panels can also give you additional energy security and offer some protection from power outages.
It depends on your home's location and what type of panels you're installing. With the winter months in Oregon 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 Florence amount to $899.
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, the rate your utility charges per kilowatt of power, and their rated capacity. Florence gets quite a bit of sunlight per day, so an average payback period could last up to 10.9 years per 5 kW of capacity.
The specific types of maintenance you need will depend on the type of panels you're using. Regardless of type, you should inspect your panels for damage and clean them regularly. Full-service solar contractors in the Florence area offer low-cost maintenance plans to help you keep your panels healthy and make the most of your system.
Net metering is a power purchasing policy that allows solar energy system owners to be compensated for the amount of energy they put back into the grid. It's available in most states and is a great way to reduce energy costs.
The best type of residential solar panel will depend on your specific needs and goals. In most cases, monocrystalline solar panels are the most efficient for homes in Florence. However, if lowering cost is your top priority, then you could thin-film or polycrystalline solar panels. When you're choosing a contractor, make sure to ask about the brand names and models of solar panels a company offers and the benefits and drawbacks of each.
