3 Best Solar Companies in Bear Creek, MI (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 3 in Bear Creek based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Bear Creek, MI
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Bear Creek homeowner saves $1,752/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Bear Creek
As a homeowner in Bear Creek, you may be planning on switching to solar energy and curious about the best solar companies in your local area. Solar could be a good idea since it has a lot of perks. Because solar panels generate their own electrical power, they can greatly offset your electricity bill each month, if not entirely eliminate it. In fact, you could end up with about $21,000 of savings over 20 years.
To help you sort through the large variety of Bear Creek 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 connect with a trusted solar company near you 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
Solar Veteran
Michigan Solar Solutions
- Great warranty coverage
- Outstanding customer service
- Offers products from leading manufacturers
- Slightly limited service offerings
- No leases or PPAs
Outstanding Local Installer
Strawberry Solar
- Outstanding customer service
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Educational, no-pressure sales approach
- Limited warranty coverage
- No leases or PPAs
- Limited brands of solar equipment available
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Bear Creek
Bear River Electric
Reliable Customer Support- Family-Operated Business
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Panel Installation
Heritage Sustainable Energy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
CBS Solar
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Family-Operated Business
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Community Solar Projects
- Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Bear Creek
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Bear Creek 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 Bear Creek
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Michigan 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 Bear Creek
When choosing a solar company, most homeowners or business owners care about the costs above all.There are quite a few factors you should consider when determining costs and your potential savings, including:
- System size and type: Some models are more pricy than others, so the one you decide on can raise or lower your initial investment. Plus, the more solar panels you need, the more it'll cost.
- How much sunlight your roof gets: If your rooftop gets limited direct sunlight, your solar panels won’t be able to make as much energy, which will give you lower savings on energy bills than someone with a roof that gets plenty of sunlight.
- Electricity consumption: The average home in Bear Creek uses a decent amount of, and consequently may save on their energy bills.
- Your energy bills: This will impact how much you can save. In Bear Creek, the average homeowner can save about $1,300 a year on their electricity bills.
There are several great benefits of solar in spite of the initial cost of installation. It can help the planet and your wallet. In addition, it can boost the value of your home, leading to even more benefits if you decide to sell your home later.
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Solar Incentives in Bear Creek
Although solar power is typically a $15,000 to $25,000 investment, it can save you a considerable amount of money over many years due to smaller energy bills and government incentives.When you install a solar panel system on your house, you can take advatage of the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently lets you reduce your tax bill by 0 of the cost of your solar panels. Plus, there may often be some regional incentives that you can take advantage of to further cut back on the cost of solar of solar panels. For detailed information about local incentives, check out our article on solar incentives.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Bear Creek
There are lots of reasons to switch to solar energy, like saving some money on electricity bills and helping to lower your carbon footprint.Something many homeowners might be thinking about is how much can they really help preserve the environment by going solar anyway? Adopting solar power is an impactful choice for the environment, due to the fact that the biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the nation is from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation – all of which can be powered by solar instead.In Bear Creek, the average homeowner can lower their carbon footprint by 100 pounds a year once they go solar. If you want to do what you can for the environment, you’ll most likely understand that there are many good things about adopting solar power other than just saving money on bills. You can also help preserve the environment, which some would argue is worth more.
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
Solar Veteran
Michigan Solar Solutions
- Great warranty coverage
- Outstanding customer service
- Offers products from leading manufacturers
- Slightly limited service offerings
- No leases or PPAs
Outstanding Local Installer
Strawberry Solar
- Outstanding customer service
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Educational, no-pressure sales approach
- Limited warranty coverage
- No leases or PPAs
- Limited brands of solar equipment available
EcoWatch's Bear Creek, MI Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the top solar installer in Bear Creek?
In Bear Creek, Bear River Electric is the best local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 3.00 stars, so it's a great choice if you're planning on installing solar panels on your home.
What are a few of the advantages and disadvantages of installing solar panels?
A few of the biggest pros are that it lets you spend less on your power bills, it’s environmentally friendly, and it provides a decent return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don’t produce electricity at night, the installation cost is pricey and solar panels aren’t always aesthetically pleasing.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels require a considerable upfront investment that will cost you several thousands of dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a range of factors like local electricity rates and the amount of direct sunlight your roof gets.
How often do solar panels have to be replaced?
On average, solar panels can last about 25 to 30 years. Some even last up to 50 years, but efficiency goes down by about 0.8% each year. You can choose to replace them sooner if you want to maintain a larger level of energy production.
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.