8 Best Solar Companies in Columbus, IN (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 8 in Columbus based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Columbus, IN
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Columbus homeowner saves $1,562/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Columbus
When looking for the best solar companies in Columbus, sifting through all the options can be intimidating, but it can pay off since switching to solar power can offer so many good benefits. Due to Columbus' great amount of sunshine on average, there are lots of solar companies to choose from.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to the top Columbus solar installers so you can make the best choice for your home’s solar energy needs.To start getting free quotes from the best solar companies in Columbus, you can click "get quote" 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 Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
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 Columbus
Blue Raven Solar
Clear Pricing Policy- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Off-Grid Solar Systems- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Permit Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Solar Energy Solutions
- Free Quotes
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Tesla Powerwall
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Atomic Electric and Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Battery Storage
- Grid-Tied Solar System
MPI Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
Bone Dry Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Family-Operated Business
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
EightTwenty - Charlestown
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Apollo Solar
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Family-Operated Business
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Skilled Repairs
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
Blue River Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Columbus
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Columbus 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 Columbus
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Indiana 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 Columbus
The cost of installing a solar panel system has gone down immensely over the past few years, but it’s still a large investment for most homeowners.Some main factors that affect the cost of installing a solar panel system on your home and how much money you could save over time include:
- Typical energy usage: The more electricity your home consumes on average and the greater your current energy bills are, the more benefits you’ll see from switching to solar.
- The kind of solar panels you’re planning on getting: Higher-efficiency panels are more expensive, so that will shape your budget for your solar project.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently lets you reduce your taxes by 0 of the project cost. Your state and city may also have various incentives that you can take advantage of. Additionally, you can save about $19,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, without incentives.
- How much sunlight your roof gets: This, and your roof configuration, affects affect how much electricity your solar panels can make.
So is buying solar panels worth it? Whether you’d like to reduce your energy bills, carbon emissions or both, solar panels are a worthwhile investment for many Columbus homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Columbus
One of the good things about installing a solar panel system is receiving incentives from the government.When you install solar panels, you can claim the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently lets you lower your tax bill by 0 of the cost of your solar panels. Plus, there are often some regional incentives that you can take advantage of to further save. Check out our article on solar incentives to see what incentives you can benefit from.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Columbus
One of the most compelling reasons to embrace solar energy is to reduce your reliance on nonrenewable energy sources like burning fossil fuels, which are hazardous for the environment.Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Columbus, though. If your home consumes a lot of energy, you can impact the environment even more by switching to solar energy.When you go solar, your carbon footprint can be cut by about 90 pounds a year. Since solar power is renewable and generates electricity without a carbon footprint, adding solar panels to your home is one easy step you can take to help protect the environment.
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 Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
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 Columbus, IN Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar panel installer is the best in Columbus?
In Columbus, Blue Raven Solar is the most reputable local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.50 stars, so it's a good choice if you're looking to add solar panels to your house.
Are solar panels really bad for the environment?
Producing solar panels requires chemicals and produces toxic waste that can be dangerous for the environment, which is the main downside of solar panels.
Is it worth putting solar panels on my house?
Solar panels call for a considerable upfront investment that usually costs at least ten thousand dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a collection of factors like the cost of electricity near you and how much direct sunlight your roof gets.
What is the efficiency of solar panels?
Solar panel efficiency is the amount of solar energy that is converted into electricity. Most panels today have an efficiency rating of about 15 to 25%. If your panels are more efficient, you'll need less of them for your home's 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.