Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
Expert Advice On Improving Your Home
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Written By David Cusick
Last Updated April 2024
Solar is one of the most easily accessible forms of renewable energy for North Strabane homeowners. Switching to solar energy can lower your monthly energy expenses and shrink your carbon output. Before you begin the process, you want to make sure you find a reputable installer. Luckily, we've reviewed the options and created a guide to the best and most reputable solar installation providers in North Strabane.
Family-operated business
Clear pricing policy
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Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Informative resources
Services Offered
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Services Offered
Reliable customer support
Free quotes
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Informative resources
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Services Offered
Clear pricing policy
Reliable customer support
Informative resources
Services Offered
Informative resources
Clear pricing policy
Free quotes
Reliable customer support
Services Offered
Free quotes
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 lower electricity costs and help the environment by reducing your carbon footprint using renewable energy. Here are some crucial factors to consider when determining whether a solar installer is reliable.
Hiring a licensed solar installer is critical. This help guarantee that the work is done properly using current best installation practices. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania does not issue state-level contracting licenses, so each city or county can set its own requirements and regulations.
Check review sites like the Better Business Bureau (BBB), Google Reviews, and TrustPilot to see feedback from past customers on local solar companies. Detailed reviews can help you evaluate a company's dependability and customer service. Use caution with companies that have very few reviews or mostly negative ones.
Get free, detailed quotes from at least three solar companies. A quote should list all costs and identify the solar parts included. Looking at several quotes can help you find the best value for your budget.
Top-notch solar installations should have strong workmanship and performance guarantees. A workmanship warranty covers installation defects, such as poor alignment, cracks in the panels, or poor wiring. A performance guarantee ensures a minimum energy output. Comprehensive warranties indicate that a solar company believes in its work.
Solar power can help decrease your electricity costs long-term. When weighing solar panel's cost and value, be sure to weigh these considerations.
Solar panel costs vary based on your system's capacity and the solar technology being used. The typical North Strabane solar array has a capacity of 6.9 kilowatts. Homeowners in the area can expect to pay around $3,550 per kilowatt; the average North Strabane homeowners spends roughly $17,152 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 things like the capacity, panel type, and size of the planned system, and should include prices for permit fees, preliminary work, and labor.
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) 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 a number of advantages of home solar energy. You can qualify for tax benefits, raise your property values, and save money. With the right storage equipment, solar panels can also give you additional energy security and offer some protection from power outages.
It depends on where you live and the kind of panels you plan to use. Since there's a moderate amount of snowfall in North Strabane, your best time to get solar is in the spring and fall.
Yes, you can use home solar energy alongside conventional power sources. In many areas, solar panels are designed to supplement your existing energy sources, meaning that you can reap the environmental benefits and savings that come from using solar energy without having to completely switch over.
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 North Strabane amount to $842.
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.
Solar panels are on par with other forms of renewable energy. They have low maintenance costs and today's systems can generate and manage energy under more conditions.
