15 Best Solar Companies in Bethesda, MD (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Bethesda based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Bethesda, MD
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Bethesda homeowner saves $1,349/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Bethesda
Getting the best solar panel installation company for your roof is a huge decision, but it's one that can reap a lot of rewards in Bethesda. Solar power isn't just good for the environment — your bank account will benefit too. After switching to solar power, you can save an average of $17,000 over 20 years, and this doesn't even include incentives.
To help you navigate through the huge number of Bethesda solar installers, we’ve narrowed down 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 vetted 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 for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Bethesda
Paradise Energy Solutions
Reliable Customer Support- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Battery Storage- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
Advanced Solar
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
EDGE Energy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Greenway home improvements
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
Sky NRG Solar Inc.
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
Free State Solar Co
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- System Decommissioning
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
American Solar Enterprises LLC
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Skilled Repairs
- System Decommissioning
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
Caleb Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Old Dominion Solar Panels
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- System Decommissioning
- Battery Storage
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
GreenBrilliance
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
Sunlight-To-The Rescue, LLC
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Glim Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
The Solar Brokers USA
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
SunGaze Solar, L.L.C.
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- System Decommissioning
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Permit Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Suntuity Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Bethesda
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Bethesda 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 Bethesda
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Maryland 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 Bethesda
For many readers, the decision of which solar installer to hire depends on how much it’ll cost.Some key things that influence the upfront cost and potential savings over time include:
- Choice of solar panels: The kind of solar panels you get will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels will cost more upfront but can also save you more money over the lifetime of your system. If you don’t need to maximize efficiency, you can go with a higher number of more affordable panels.
- Average daily sunlight: Since Bethesda gets a decent amount of average daily sunlight, your solar panels can generally produce enough energy to power your whole home, which impacts how much your solar panels can save you on your electricity bills.
- Incentives: Along with the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which lets you deduct 0 of your total installation cost, your local government may offer additional tax exemptions, credits or rebates that can help you save even more. Aside from incentives, you can save an average of $17,000 over the first 20 years with your solar system, too.
- Your power bills: This will influence how much money you might save. In Bethesda, the average resident can save about $1,700 a year on their electricity bills.
So is buying solar panels worth it? Whether you want to lower your energy bills, carbon dioxide emissions or both, solar panels are a good investment for many Bethesda homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Bethesda
In an effort to increase the number of homes and businesses that use solar power, federal and local governments – and even some utility companies – offer incentives to help make solar more economical and accessible.These incentives normally include cash rebates, tax breaks and/or performance-based incentives. They can cut how much you pay for installing solar panels by 0, upwards of 50% depending on your location. You can learn about the incentives you can take advantage of in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Bethesda
One of the most compelling reasons to switch to solar power is to cut your reliance on traditional energy sources like burning fossil fuels, which are hazardous for the environment.But how much can switching to solar actually help the environment? Using clean energy for electricity in place of using nonrenewable energy is an impactful way to lower carbon dioxide emissions if you're conscious of Bethesda's sizable level of greenhouse gas emissions.Since solar panels don’t release carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere when producing electricity, they’re a good swap for traditional energy sources. In fact, you could look forward to lowering your carbon dioxide emissions by about 10 pounds each year. For those who are worried about the environment, the upfront cost of solar is a small price to pay for offsetting your carbon emissions.
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 for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch's Bethesda, MD Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar installation company is the best near me?
In Bethesda, Paradise Energy Solutions is the top local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 3.00 stars, so it's a good choice if you're planning to add solar panels to your roof.
Are solar panels really good for the environment?
Manufacturing solar panels requires chemicals and produces toxic waste that can be dangerous for the environment, which is the main negative thing about solar panels.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels require 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 how much you pay for electricity and the amount of direct sunlight your roof gets.
What is solar panel capacity and how much do I need for my house?
Solar panel capacity is how much energy the panels can produce under ideal conditions (a sunny day around noon). The average household has to get between 20 and 35 panels to cover how much energy they need.
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.