Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated June 2024
Solar is one of the most easily accessible forms of renewable energy for Colonial Park homes. Making the transition to solar energy can help you save money and lower your carbon footprint, but you want to make sure you find a reputable installer. That’s why, after reviewing and analyzing installers, we assembled a guide to the most trusted solar companies in Colonial Park. These providers have a reputation for excellent service.
Informative resources
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Informative resources
Services Offered
Free quotes
Informative resources
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Prompt service delivery
Services Offered
Free quotes
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Free quotes
Award_winning
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Informative resources
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Services Offered
Informative resources
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Award_winning
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
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:
Adopting solar power lets homeowners lower utility bills while benefiting the planet by reducing your carbon footprint using clean energy. If you’re evaluating if you want to go solar, consider these key factors for choosing an installer.
It's imperative that your solar installer has the proper licensing. This ensures that the work is done correctly using current best installation practices. There are no state-level contracting licenses issued in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, so each city or county can set its own requirements and regulations.
Check consumer review platforms 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 installers that have no reviews or mostly negative ones.
Call at least three solar companies for free, itemized quotes. These quotes should outline all costs and specify the solar equipment included. Reviewing multiple quotes helps you find the most cost-effective option for your budget.
Quality solar installations should have comprehensive workmanship and performance warranties. The workmanship warranty covers any installation issues such as poor wiring, poor alignment, or cracks in the panels. The performance guarantee ensures a specific energy output level. Strong guarantees indicate that a solar installer trusts its installations.
Installing solar panels can help lower your electric bills over time. When considering the total price and value of solar panels, make sure to consider these factors.
The cost of home solar panels in Colonial Park will depend on several factors, including the size of the system and the type of panels you'll use. Generally speaking, a complete solar energy system could range from $3,550 per kilowatt, not including permit fees, labor, or preliminary work. Most solar systems in Colonial Park are 6.7 kilowatts, and the typical Colonial Park homeowners spends $16,690 after accounting for federal tax refunds. Some homeowners may prefer to lease solar panels and reduce upfront costs.
Incentive Amount:
Manufacturer loans: $40,000 per job created within 3 years
Manufacturer grants: $5,000 per job created within 3 years
Loans for geothermal systems: $3 per square foot of space served up to $5 million; also limited to 50% of eligible costs for residential systems.
Loans for wind energy production projects: $5 million
Grants for wind energy production projects: $1 million
Grants for feasibility studies: 50% of cost up to $175,000
Loan guarantee grants: Up to 75% of deficient funds up to $5 million
Incentive Amount:
Varies based on market conditions; during 2015 the market price for PA-sourced SRECs has ranged from approximately $32 - $55/MWh ($0.032 - $0.055/kWh) although individual trades have taken place at substantially lower and higher prices.
Incentive Amount:
Appliances
Refrigerator: $75
Clothes Washer: $25- $50
Clothes Dryer: $50
Freezers: $25
Dehumidifiers: $25
Fridge/Freezer Recycling: $50
HVAC
HVAC tune up: $50
Furnace Fan Motor: $150
Ductless Minisplit AC : $200
Central AC: $100 - $200
Air Source Heat pump: $250 - $500
Geothermal Heat Pump: $600
Packaged Terminal AC: $75
Packaged Terminal Heat Pump: $150
Programmable Thermostat: $25
Others
Solar Water Heat: $500
Heat Pump Water Heater: $500
Home Energy Audit: $250
Lighting: Available as in-store discount in participating stores
A solar photovoltaic (PV) system can generate power to run any electric appliance or system 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 advantages of home solar energy. You can save money, raise your property values, 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.
It depends on your home's location and the kind of panels you plan to use. Since there's a moderate amount of snowfall in Colonial Park, your best time to install solar panels is in the spring and fall.
Yes. The grid in Colonial Park 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 earn a net profit from your solar panels. It will vary based on the rate your utility charges per kilowatt of power, their rated capacity, and the average sunlight in your area. Colonial Park gets quite a bit of sunlight per day, so an average payback period could last up to 16.9 years per 5 kW of capacity.
Your recommended maintenance will vary based on the type of solar panels you have. At a minimum, you should clean and inspect each panel once a quarter. Your solar installer might offer comprehensive plans where they'll do the maintenance on your behalf.
Net metering is a type of "power purchase agreement." If your utility or state offers net metering, you can sell the solar energy you don't use to your provider. In return, they'll give you a credit on your power bill.
Ultimately, the answer will depend on your specific situation. You'll be eligible for a federal tax credit of up to 30% of the system's cost, as well as state or local incentives depending on where you are. As for insurance, you'll need to inform your insurance company about your new solar panels. Your premium may increase due to added property values, but you'll have peace of mind if a covered event happens to the system.
