17 Best Solar Companies in Charles City, IA (2023 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 17 in Charles City based on:
-
Customer review scores - Service area for Charles City, IA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Charles City homeowner saves $1,500/year with solar panels
Updated May 04, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Charles City
Hoping to go solar but not sure which solar company would be the best one for your needs? Although it can be hard to choose a solar company, the effort will pay off because going solar has many fantastic benefits. The average home can save $18,000 over 20 years after installing a solar panel system. And because solar panels have a lifespan of about 25 to 30 years, you can save will be even more than that overall.
In this article, we'll help you narrow down the top companies in your area. We recommend shopping around to get quite a few quotes and comparing them to find the best installer for your home. To receive free, no-obligation quotes from pre-screened solar installers in Charles City, click the link below.
Best Warranty Coverage
Sunpro Solar
- Industry-leading warranty coverage
- Expansive service area
- Some reported communication issues
- No leases or PPAs
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Charles City
Average Cost
SunPower
-
Most efficient panels on the market - National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
-
Expensive - Customer service varies by local dealer
Services Offered
-
Solar Panels - Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- System Monitoring
Average Cost
Sunpro Solar
- Industry-leading warranty coverage
- Expansive service area
- Some reported communication issues
- No leases or PPAs
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- Energy-Efficiency Upgrades
Average Cost
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- Solar Roof Shingles
- System Monitoring
Waverly Utilities
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Recognized Excellence
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Home installations
SunRackSolar
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Integrated roofing
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
MiEnergy Cooperative
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Recognized Excellence
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
Northwood Electric Inc.
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled repairs
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
Omjc Signal Inc
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Midwest Solar Installers
- Family-Operated Business
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
Austin Electric
- Family-Operated Business
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled repairs
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Gosolar
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Integrated roofing
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
greenpenny
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Good Steward Consulting
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Hayward Solar Project
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
American Energy LLC
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
Carbon Recall Independence
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
Blake Electric, Inc.
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled repairs
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
- End-to-end services
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Charles City
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Charles City based on criteria such as its reputation in the industry, customer reviews, services, warranty coverage and financing. Using this solar methodology, we used the data we collected to rate and rank each company and narrow down our picks for the best solar companies in Charles City
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Iowa solar companies
- Brand reputation and certifications (20%): We take each company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) score into consideration, as well as how long the installer has been in business (at least 5 years is required, 10 preferred) and what type of solar certifications it holds.
- Customer reviews (20%): Trust is a top priority at EcoWatch, so we take customer experience under close consideration. We scour different review sites and customer testimonials when ranking our top solar companies, checking sites such as Trustpilot and Google Reviews. We also consider any potential complaints or lawsuits filed against these companies and award or remove points accordingly.
- Warranty (20%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers 25-year warranties that cover performance, product and workmanship. The industry standard that we measure companies against is 25-year product and performance warranties, along with a 10-year workmanship warranty. We also look closely into the track record of the post-installation support each company provides in terms of honoring its contracts
- Solar services (10%): All of the companies we review install solar panels, but we award companies higher points if they offer additional services for customers, like battery installation, energy-efficiency audits, and EV chargers.
- Pricing and financing (10%): It's hard to get exact quotes for solar projects, but we use marketplace research to determine how each company prices its equipment and installation services. Additionally, companies that offer more help for panel financing — like in-house loans, leases, or PPAs — score higher than those that don't.
- Availability (10%): The bigger the service area, the higher the company will score.
- Transparency and accessibility (5%): Solar installers that offer free consultations and easy contact methods score higher in this category.
- Environmental, social and corporate governance factors (5%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers public data disclosure, addresses end-of-life (EOL) products or processes, and demonstrates a commitment to uplifting the communities that it serves.
The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Charles City
Solar panels are powered by a free energy source — the sun — but to take advantage of this you will need to pay to set up your system. The cost of solar and the savings it generates vary depending on a few important factors such as:
- The amount of sunlight your roof gets: This, along with how your roof is set up, affects affect how much energy your solar panels can make.
- System size and type: Some models are more pricy than others, so the one you get can raise or lower your upfront cost. Plus, the more solar panels you need to get, the more it'll cost.
- How much electricity your home consumes: Homes that consume lots of energy each month may need more solar panels and, consequently, more upfront cost, but will also benefit more over time.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently lets you decrease your taxes by 30% of the project cost. Your state and even local utility companies may also have incentives and rebates that you can use. Additionally, you can save about $18,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, before factoring in incentives.
Although a solar panel system costs a decent chunk of money upfront, it can save you much more in the long term. The question of how much, though, depends on a number of factors, including the kind of solar panels you get and incentives.
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Solar Incentives in Charles City
Adopting solar power has lots of considerable benefits. Not only can it help preserve the planet, but you can also save a good amount of money on your installation with various government incentives. These incentives mostly take the form of cash rebates, tax benefits and/or performance-based incentives. They can reduce the cost of going solar by 30%, upwards of 50% in some cases. Check out our article on solar incentives to see what incentives you can benefit from.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Charles City
Making the switch to solar power is a good way to do what you can for a more sustainable future. Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Charles City, though. Regardless of your location, you can help protect the environment by switching to solar energy, but homes that consume a lot of energy will have an even greater impact. In fact, if you install solar panels, you could look forward to lowering your carbon dioxide emissions by about 90 pounds each year. For people who care about the environment, the upfront cost of solar is a small price to pay for reducing your carbon footprint.
Best Warranty Coverage
Sunpro Solar
- Industry-leading warranty coverage
- Expansive service area
- Some reported communication issues
- No leases or PPAs
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
EcoWatch's Charles City, IA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the top solar panel company in Charles City?
The best local solar company in Charles City is ECG Solar Iowa, with a rating of 5.00 stars.
What is the negative environmental impact of making solar panels?
Solar panels can be bad for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals in the manufacturing process. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to dispose of safely once they've reached the end of their lifespan. Solar panel manufacturing requires a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after installing solar panels?
Solar panels usually pay for themselves in about 10.3 years, but your solar payback period will depend on your utility costs. The higher your typical electricity bill, the quicker your solar panel system will recoup your installation costs.
What are the different types of solar panels?
The different types of solar panels are monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film. Monocrystalline panels are more efficient but also cost more. Polycrystalline panels are less expensive but also less efficient than monocrystalline. Thin-film solar panels are flexible, so they can be used where the other types can't, such as on curved surfaces or cars, but they are also less efficient. The best one for you depends on your budget, the layout of your roof and how much efficiency you're looking for.
Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert’s opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.
Company research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.