3 Best Solar Companies in Clear Lake, IA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 3 in Clear Lake based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Clear Lake, IA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Clear Lake homeowner saves $1,619/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Clear Lake
When choosing between the best solar panel companies, Clear Lake homeowners have more choices than ever before, which can be a lot to consider, but we’re here to make switching to solar power that much easier. Solar panels aren't just good for the planet — your budget will benefit too. After switching to solar power, you can save an average of $19,000 over 20 years, and this doesn't even include incentives.
To help you navigate through the large variety of Clear Lake solar installers, we’ve come up with a list of the top ones.To help you understand if solar panels are worth it for your home, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from one of the best solar companies in Clear Lake by clicking the button below.
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 Clear Lake
Austin Electric
Clear Pricing Policy- Family-Operated Business
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Cleaning and Maintenance- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Midwest Solar Installers
- Family-Operated Business
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
American Energy LLC
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Clear Lake
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Clear Lake 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 Clear Lake
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 Clear Lake
For lots of homeowners, the decision to invest in solar energy depends the most on the cost.Some key things that determine the upfront cost and potential savings over time include:
- How much energy you use: If your household regularly uses a lot of energy, you'll reap more rewards from installing solar panels.
- The kind of solar panels you’re thinking of getting: More efficient panels have higher prices, so that will determine your budget for your solar project.
- Your household's power bills: Based on the very high monthly electric bills in Clear Lake, you could save about $1,700 a year with solar.
- Incentives: Along with the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which lets you deduct 0 of your overall installation cost, your local government may offer additional tax exemptions, credits or rebates that will help you save even more. Excluding incentives, you can save an average of $19,000 over 20 years with your solar panels, too.
Solar is a profitable investment for most homeowners. You can generate your own energy instead of paying for it from a utility company and take advantage of solar incentives, all while helping protect the environment.
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Use the calculator below to find out how much switching to solar could help the planet and your bank account. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Clear Lake, IA.
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Solar Incentives in Clear Lake
In an effort to increase solar panel installation and usage, federal, state and local governments – and even some utility companies – offer incentives to help make solar power more economical and accessible.On top of the federal tax credit incentive, there are also some local benefits, which in almost all cases, can be claimed in addition to the federal incentive, so you get to save even more. You can find out about the incentives available to you in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Clear Lake
There are tons of reasons to switch to solar energy, like saving some money on electricity bills and helping to lower your carbon footprint.Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Clear Lake, though. The amount of energy you use is an important factor to keep in mind. The more energy you use, the bigger your impact when you go solar.While solar panel production releases carbon dioxide emissions, the panels make up for it by significantly lowering the amount of CO2 you would have released if you still used traditional energy. In Clear Lake, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 90 pounds a year with solar panels. As you can see, investing in solar has so many other rewards apart from saving money. One of the main ones is that you can help save the environment too.
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 Clear Lake, IA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the top solar panel company in Clear Lake?
The highest-rated local solar company in Clear Lake is Austin Electric, with a rating of 4.70 stars.
What are some of the major pros and cons of switching to solar?
The biggest advantages of solar power are that it can decrease or, for some, 100% erase your electricity bills, improve your home’s value and lower your carbon footprint. The disadvantages are that solar panels can be costly to install, you may not save a lot if you don’t use a lot of electricity and it doesn’t work for all roof types and locations.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels need a significant upfront investment that will cost you several thousands of dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a variety of factors like how much you pay for electricity and the amount of direct sunlight your roof gets.
How often do solar panels have to be replaced?
On average, solar panels can last about 25 to 30 years. Some even last up to 50 years, but efficiency goes down by about 0.8% each year. You can choose to replace them sooner if you want to maintain a larger amount of energy production.
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.