10 Best Solar Companies in Des Moines, IA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 10 in Des Moines based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Des Moines, IA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Des Moines homeowner saves $1,266/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Des Moines
Looking to go solar but want to know which solar panel installer would be the best one for you? Although it can be challenging to find a solar company, the effort will pay off because going solar has many good perks. On average, you can save $15,000 over 20 years when you use solar power. And since solar panels have a lifespan of about 25 to 30 years, your total cost savings will be even higher overall.
To help you sort through the large number of Des Moines solar installers, we’ve narrowed in on a list of the top ones.Keep reading to see our picks for the top solar companies in the city, or get connected to a trusted solar company in your area right away by clicking the button below.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
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 Des Moines
Walter Roofing
Clear Pricing Policy- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Panel Installation- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
- Skilled Repairs
Purelight Power of Des Moines
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Purelight Power
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
1 Source Solar
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
CB Solar Inc.
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
Lectrk Solar
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Simplified Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
Green Light Renewable Services LLC
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Eagle Point Solar
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Permit Assistance
MidIowa Power
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Des Moines
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Des Moines 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 Des Moines
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 Des Moines
For many people, the decision of which solar installer to go with depends on prices.The installation cost is just one important factor you should consider when looking into installing solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things including:
- How much sunlight your roof gets: This, and the configuration of your roof, affects affect how much energy your solar panels can make.
- Typical energy usage: The more electricity your home uses on average and the higher your current electricity bills are, the more benefits you’ll see from switching to solar.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone qualifies for, allows you to deduct 0 of the cost of installing your solar panel system from your taxes. Plus, not including incentives, you can save about $15,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
- The model of solar panel system you can afford: This is dependent on how much you’re willing to spend upfront.
Due to solar panels decreasing in cost as well as local and federal solar incentives, they are a solid investment for most homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Des Moines
Switching to solar power has plenty of considerable benefits. Not only can it help protect the Earth, but you can also save a good amount of money on your installation with various government incentives.You are eligible for the federal solar investment tax credit (ITC) for the tax year you turn on your a solar panel system. You can also potentially stack the ITC with other state and city rebates and benefits. You can learn about the incentives available to you in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Des Moines
If you’re planning on adding solar panels to your home, one of the primary reasons why may be to reduce your carbon dioxide emissions.You may be asking yourself – how much do solar panels help the planet anyway? In a city like Des Moines where energy use is particularly high, making the switch to solar power is a great idea for those who care about the planet.Because solar panels don’t release carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere when generating electricity, they’re a good trade for traditional energy sources. In fact, you could reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 90 pounds each year. As you can see, investing in solar has so many other perks apart from saving money. One of the primary ones is that you can help save the Earth too.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
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 Des Moines, IA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar installation company is the best in Des Moines?
The best local solar company in Des Moines is Walter Roofing, with a rating of 5.00 stars.
What is the negative environmental impact of solar panel manufacturing?
Solar panels can be detrimental for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals when they’re made. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to recycle safely once they’ve reached the end of their lifespan. Making solar panels uses 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?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 17.7 years, but the exact period depends on local electricity costs, incentives and net metering programs.
How long do solar panels last?
Though the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they stop working completely. What this means is the amount of energy they produce will have decreased by about 0.8% each year since installing them. You can decide to replace them after having them for that long or you can continue to use them at a lower efficiency after that time.
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.