15 Best Solar Companies in Germantown, MD (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Germantown based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Germantown, MD
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code!
Average Germantown homeowner saves $1,132/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Germantown
If you’re a home or business owner looking to take advantage of the solar incentives in Germantown, it can be a lot of work to narrow down which company to go with. But, it's worth it since adopting solar energy is often a good choice. Because solar panels produce their own electrical power, they can vastly lower your electricity bill each month, if not totally eliminate it. In fact, you could end up with about $14,000 of savings over 20 years.
There are tons of installers to choose from, but in this article, we’ll help you narrow down your options by recommending some of the best solar companies in Germantown.To get free quotes from the leading solar companies in Germantown, click the "get quote" 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 Germantown
Paradise Energy Solutions
Free Quotes- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Consultation- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
American Solar Enterprises LLC
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- System Decommissioning
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
Glim Solar
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Sky NRG Solar Inc.
- Free Quotes
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
GreenBrilliance
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Permit Assistance
Free State Solar Co
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- System Decommissioning
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
Sustainable Energy Systems LLC
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Family-Operated Business
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Battery Storage
Greenway home improvements
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
EDGE Energy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Skilled Repairs
Prospect Solar LLC
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
Advanced Solar
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Consultation
Solar Solutions For All LLC
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
Green Zone Solar Solutions
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
Virginia Renewables
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
RNR Energy Solutions
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Germantown
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Germantown 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 Germantown
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 Germantown
Solar panels run off a free energy source — the sun — but to take advantage of this you will need to pay to set up your panels.There are a few factors you should take into consideration when trying to figure out costs and your potential savings, such as:
- Your income and budget: This shapes what type of solar panels you can purchase.
- The amount of sunlight your roof gets: If your roof doesn’t see much direct sunlight, your solar system won’t be able to generate as much energy, which will leave you with lower savings on energy bills than a house with a roof that gets a lot of sunlight.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently allows you to reduce your taxes by 0 of the project cost. Your state and even local utility companies may also have various incentives that you can use. Plus, you can save about $14,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, not including incentives.
- Electricity consumption: The average household in Germantown uses a lot of energy, and therefore may see more savings on electricity bills than other places.
Because of the cost of solar panels being lower than before as well as local and federal solar incentives, they are a cost-effective investment for the majority of homeowners.
Solar Savings Calculator for {{ solarcalc.name }}
Adopting green energy can substantially impact both the environment and your power bills. To see how much, check out the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Germantown, MD.
| {{ solarcalc.time_period|number:0 }} -year savings | {{ solarcalc.total_savings()|currency }} |
| Estimated cost | {{ solarcalc.array_cost() | currency }} |
| Estimated incentives | {{ solarcalc.incentive_savings() | currency }} |
| Payback period | {{ solarcalc.payback_period()|number:1 }} years |
| CO2 emissions prevented | {{ solarcalc.CO2_total()|number:0 }} lbs |
| Miles driven equivalent | {{ solarcalc.CO2_total()/0.78|number:0 }} mi |
Switching to solar in {{ solarcalc.name }} can save you {{ solarcalc.total_savings() | currency }} over the course of {{ solarcalc.time_period|number:0 }} years.
Solar Incentives in Germantown
One of the great things about installing a solar panel system is earning government incentives.These incentives mostly consist of cash rebates, tax credits and/or solar renewable energy credits. They can lower how much you end up spending on going solar by 0, upwards of 50% in some cases. Take a look at our article on solar incentives to find out what incentives you can take advantage of.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Germantown
Installing solar panels is a profound way to do what you can for a cleaner and more sustainable future.But how much can switching to solar actually affect the environment? The average person has a rather large carbon footprint. Between their car, which produces over 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year, and powering their home, it can be overwhelming to think about what to do. Installing solar panels is a practical thing you can do to help.Though making solar panels emits carbon dioxide, the panels make up for it by greatly lowering the amount of CO2 you would have released if you still used nonrenewable energy. In Germantown, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 10 pounds a year with solar panels. The perks of solar power are infinite — just like solar power is! That's why so many people have been happy with committing to solar.
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 Germantown, MD Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the top solar panel company in Germantown?
The highest-rated local solar company in Germantown is Paradise Energy Solutions, with a rating of 3.00 stars.
Are solar panels really good for the environment?
Manufacturing solar panels needs to use chemicals and produces toxic waste that can be harmful for the environment, which is the main drawback of solar panels.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels need a large upfront investment that usually costs at least ten thousand dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a range of factors like how much you pay for electricity and the amount of direct sunlight your roof gets.
When should I install solar panels?
You can put up solar panels whenever it's convenient for you, but consider doing it in the winter when there's less demand. With fewer homeowners switching to solar, you could potentially see faster installation times and more savings.
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.