14 Best Solar Companies in Waterloo, IA (2023 Reviews)

We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 14 in Waterloo based on:

  • Customer review scores
  • Solar installers near you
  • Company policies and services offered
  • Accreditations and certifications

By EcoWatch Local Advisors

Data Analysis: James Savino

Ranking Methodology: Karsten Neumeister

Updated March 14, 2023

Why you can trust EcoWatch

We work with a panel of solar experts to create unbiased reviews that empower you to make the right choice for your home. No other site has covered renewables as long as us, which means we have more data and insider information than other sites. Our rankings are never affected by revenue or partnerships.

Best solar companies in Waterloo

Searching for the best solar companies in Waterloo? Installing a solar panel system is an exciting venture that many homeowners find valuable for their wallets, communities and the planet. Because Waterloo has a great capacity for solar energy generation, going solar is financially rewarding for many homeowners.

In this article, we'll help you narrow down the best companies in your area. To get free quotes from the best solar companies in Waterloo, click the "get quote" button below.

Best National Provider

SunPower

★★★★★
5.0

  • 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

★★★★★
4.5

  • 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

Best Warranty Coverage

Sunpro Solar

★★★★★
4.0

  • Industry-leading warranty coverage
  • Expansive service area
  • Some reported communication issues
  • No leases or PPAs

EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Waterloo

Best Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon
ECG Solar Iowa logo

Local Service

EcoWatch Rating

star-full star-full star-full star-full star-full

ECG Solar Iowa

  • Pros icon More transparent pricing than competitors
  • Pros icon Educational sales approach
  • Pros icon Can browse portfolio on website
  • Pros icon NABCEP-certified technicians
  • Pros icon Assists with maximizing rebate
  • Pros icon Excellent reputation
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Commercial Solar Services
  • Service icon Solar Batteries
  • Service icon Solar Panels
  • Service icon Solar Roof Shingles

Website: https://ecgsolar.com/
Address: 9635 230th Ave, Anamosa, IA 52205
Phone: (319) 326-0922
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon
Rabe Hardware - Vinton Showroom logo

Local Service

EcoWatch Rating

star-full star-full star-full star-full star-full

Rabe Hardware - Vinton Showroom

  • Pros icon Educational sales approach
  • Pros icon Assists with maximizing rebate
  • Pros icon More transparent pricing than competitors
  • Pros icon Family owned and operated
  • Pros icon Excellent reputation
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Solar Panels
  • Service icon Maintenance and Repairs
  • Service icon Commercial Solar Services

Website: https://www.rabehardware.com/
Address: 112 W 4th St, Vinton, IA 52349
Phone: (319) 472-2011
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon
Iowa Solar Pros logo

Local Service

EcoWatch Rating

star-full star-full star-full star-full star-full

Iowa Solar Pros

  • Pros icon Can browse portfolio on website
  • Pros icon Offers a free quote process
  • Pros icon Educational sales approach
  • Pros icon More transparent pricing than competitors
  • Pros icon Excellent reputation
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Commercial Solar Services
  • Service icon Solar Panels

Website: https://www.google.com/aclk
Address: Coralville, IA, IA IA
Phone: (319) 541-4537
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon
GRNE Solar logo

Local Service

EcoWatch Rating

star-full star-full star-full star-full star-full

GRNE Solar

  • Pros icon More transparent pricing than competitors
  • Pros icon Offers a free quote process
  • Pros icon Educational sales approach
  • Pros icon Custom system designs
  • Pros icon Can browse portfolio on website
  • Pros icon Comprehensive service offerings
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Removal & Reinstallation
  • Service icon Commercial Solar Services
  • Service icon Solar Batteries
  • Service icon Solar Panels
  • Service icon Solar Roof Shingles

Website: http://www.grnesolar.com/
Address: 5281 Oak Crest Hill Rd SE #7, Hills, IA 52235
Phone: (319) 855-1493
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon
Viking Electric logo

Local Service

EcoWatch Rating

star-full star-full star-full star-full star-full

Viking Electric

  • Pros icon Can browse portfolio on website
  • Pros icon Educational sales approach
  • Pros icon Assists with maximizing rebate
  • Pros icon Excellent reputation
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Commercial Solar Services
  • Service icon Solar Panels

Website: http://www.vikingelectric.net/
Address: 654 Norway Ave, Spring Grove, MN 55974
Phone: (507) 498-5888
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon
1 Source Solar logo

Local Service

EcoWatch Rating

star-full star-full star-full star-full star-full

1 Source Solar

  • Pros icon Can browse portfolio on website
  • Pros icon Offers a free quote process
  • Pros icon Educational sales approach
  • Pros icon NABCEP-certified technicians
  • Pros icon Excellent reputation
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Solar Batteries
  • Service icon Solar Panels
  • Service icon Commercial Solar Services

Website: https://www.1sourcesolar.com
Address: 3020 SW Oralabor Rd STE 116, Ankeny, IA 50023-8608
Phone: (515) 289-1974
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon
CEC Electric logo

Local Service

EcoWatch Rating

star-full star-full star-full star-full star-full

CEC Electric

  • Pros icon Educational sales approach
  • Pros icon Locally owned and operated
  • Pros icon More transparent pricing than competitors
  • Pros icon Excellent reputation
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Solar Panels
  • Service icon Commercial Solar Services

Website: https://www.cecelectric.us/
Address: 3 4th St NW, Fort Dodge, IA 50501
Phone: (515) 574-7034
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon
Decorah Electric Inc. logo

Local Service

EcoWatch Rating

star-full star-full star-full star-full star-full

Decorah Electric Inc.

  • Pros icon Can browse portfolio on website
  • Pros icon Educational sales approach
  • Pros icon More transparent pricing than competitors
  • Pros icon Excellent reputation
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Commercial Solar Services
  • Service icon Solar Panels

Website: http://www.decorahelectric.com/
Address: 709 Commerce Dr, Decorah, IA 52101
Phone: (563) 382-9473
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon
Northwood Electric Inc. logo

Local Service

EcoWatch Rating

star-full star-full star-full star-full star-full

Northwood Electric Inc.

  • Pros icon Educational sales approach
  • Pros icon Locally owned and operated
  • Pros icon More transparent pricing than competitors
  • Pros icon Excellent reputation
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Maintenance and Repairs
  • Service icon Commercial Solar Services
  • Service icon Solar Panels

Website: https://www.northwood-electric.com/
Address: 97 8th St N, Northwood, IA 50459
Phone: (641) 324-2041
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon
Atwood Electric, Inc. & AE Solar logo

Local Service

EcoWatch Rating

star-full star-full star-full star-full star-full

Atwood Electric, Inc. & AE Solar

  • Pros icon Family owned and operated
  • Pros icon More transparent pricing than competitors
  • Pros icon Excellent reputation
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Maintenance and Repairs
  • Service icon Commercial Solar Services
  • Service icon Solar Panels

Website: https://www.atwoodelectric.com/
Address: 23124 IA-149, Sigourney, IA 52591
Phone: (641) 622-3626
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon
Arrow Solar logo

Local Service

EcoWatch Rating

star-full star-full star-full star-full star-full

Arrow Solar

  • Pros icon Offers a free quote process
  • Pros icon Educational sales approach
  • Pros icon Excellent reputation
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Solar Panels
  • Service icon Commercial Solar Services

Website: https://www.google.com/aclk
Address: Galena, IL, IL IL
Phone: (815) 580-3142
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon
Sunergy Renewable Systems logo

Local Service

EcoWatch Rating

star-full star-full star-full star-full star-full

Sunergy Renewable Systems

  • Pros icon More transparent pricing than competitors
  • Pros icon Educational sales approach
  • Pros icon Custom system designs
  • Pros icon Can browse portfolio on website
  • Pros icon Assists with maximizing rebate
  • Pros icon Excellent reputation
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Maintenance and Repairs
  • Service icon Commercial Solar Services
  • Service icon Solar Batteries
  • Service icon Solar Panels

Website: http://sunergyrs.com/
Address: 15016 N Cascade Rd, Peosta, IA 52068
Phone: (833) 786-3749
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon
Energy Nerds logo

Local Service

EcoWatch Rating

star-full star-full star-full star-full star-full

Energy Nerds

  • Pros icon Can browse portfolio on website
  • Pros icon Educational sales approach
  • Pros icon More transparent pricing than competitors
  • Pros icon Excellent reputation
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Commercial Solar Services
  • Service icon Solar Panels

Website: https://howtoinsulate.com/
Address: 1073 Rockford Rd SW Suite D, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404
Phone: (319) 409-5559
Outstanding Local Installer
ecowatch badge icon
American Energy LLC logo

Local Service

EcoWatch Rating

star-full star-full star-full star-full star-full

American Energy LLC

  • Pros icon Educational sales approach
  • Pros icon More transparent pricing than competitors
  • Con icon Limited information available on website

Services Offered

  • Service icon Solar Batteries
  • Service icon Commercial Solar Services
  • Service icon Solar Panels

Website: http://www.americanenergysolar.com/
Address: 50905 320th St, Blooming Prairie, MN 55917
Phone: (507) 383-1547

Solar Company Ranking Methodology


Click here to see a more detailed overview of our solar company ranking methodology.

The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Waterloo

For a lot of homeowners, the decision to invest in a solar energy system boils down to the cost. A few main factors that dictate how much it will cost to install solar panels on your home and how much it could save you over time are:

  • How much power your household needs: If your home regularly uses a lot of energy, you'll reap more rewards from installing solar panels.
  • Average daily sunlight: Since Waterloo gets a decent amount of average daily sunlight, your solar panels can generally produce enough energy to power your whole home, which affects how much your electricity bills will be.
  • Your income and budget: This shapes what kind of solar panels you can buy.
  • Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone in the U.S. is eligible for, allows you to deduct 30% of the cost of your solar system installation from your federal taxes. Additionally, not including incentives, you can save about $16,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.

As a result of solar panels now being cheaper than ever as well as several solar incentives, they are a worthwhile investment for most homeowners.

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Solar Incentives in Waterloo

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 affordable and accessible. No matter what state you live in, you can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which allows you to claim 30% of your project costs on your tax return, reducing the amount of taxes you owe that year. In addition, there may be some state and city incentives that stack with the ITC too. You can find out about the incentives available to you in our article on solar incentives

Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Waterloo

One reason so many people are considering switching to solar power is to help reduce their environmental impact. A question many people might have in mind is how much can they really help protect the environment by switching to solar power anyway? Your energy usage is an important factor to keep in mind. The more power your household consumes, the bigger your impact when you switch to solar energy. While solar panel production emits carbon dioxide, the panels make up for it by significantly reducing the amount of CO2 you would have produced if you still used traditional energy. In Waterloo, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 90 pounds a year with solar panels. The good things about solar power are plentiful — just like solar power is! That's why so many people have been happy with using solar energy.

Best National Provider

SunPower

★★★★★
5.0

  • 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

★★★★★
4.5

  • 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

Best Warranty Coverage

Sunpro Solar

★★★★★
4.0

  • Industry-leading warranty coverage
  • Expansive service area
  • Some reported communication issues
  • No leases or PPAs

EcoWatch's Waterloo, IA Solar Company Rankings FAQs

Which solar company is the best in Waterloo?

The highest-rated local solar company in Waterloo is ECG Solar Iowa, with a rating of 5.00 stars.

What are the major pros and cons of installing solar panels?

The biggest advantages of solar power are that it can decrease or, for some, totally cut your electricity bills, improve your home's value and lower your carbon footprint. The biggest disadvantages are that solar panels can be expensive to install, you may not save as much if you don't use a lot of electricity and it doesn't work for all roof types and locations.

Is it worth installing solar panels on my home?

Solar panels can be a beneficial investment for lots of homeowners, but admittedly, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get a lot of direct sunlight or your power bills are already fairly low, solar panels might not be for you.

What is solar panel capacity and how much do I need for my house?

Solar panel capacity is how much energy the panels can create under ideal conditions (a sunny day around noon). The average household has to install between 20 and 35 panels to cover their energy needs.

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.

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