13 Best Solar Companies in Benton Harbor, MI (2023 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 13 in Benton Harbor based on:
-
Customer review scores - Service area for Benton Harbor, MI
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Benton Harbor homeowner saves $1,532/year with solar panels
Updated May 04, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Benton Harbor
Searching for the best solar companies in Benton Harbor? Installing solar panels is an exciting project that many homeowners find beneficial for their wallets, communities and the planet. While solar power is a great investment, you'll be able to make that money back and then some, all while doing your part for the environment. In fact, you could look forward to saving about $18,000 over 20 years.
Here, we'll list out some of the top solar companies in Benton Harbor to make your decision a little easier. To see how much you might pay to put up solar panels on your roof, you can get a free quote from one of the top solar companies in Benton Harbor by clicking the "get quote" button below.
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 Benton Harbor
Average Cost
SunPower
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Most efficient panels on the market - National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
-
Expensive - Customer service varies by local dealer
Services Offered
-
Solar Panels - Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- System Monitoring
Average Cost
Michigan Solar Solutions
- Great warranty coverage
- Outstanding customer service
- Offers products from leading manufacturers
- Slightly limited service offerings
- No leases or PPAs
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
Average Cost
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
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
Average Cost
The Green Panel
- Outstanding customer service
- Excellent reputation
- Great warranty coverage
- No leases or PPAs
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- Solar Carports
- Electrical Work
Average Cost
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- Energy-Efficiency Upgrades
- Maintenance & Repairs
Average Cost
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
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- Solar Roof Shingles
- System Monitoring
GLE Solar Energy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
Briter Products, Inc.
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Solar By Mike Johnson
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Recognized Excellence
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Crossroads Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Home installations
Hightec Solar
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Integrated roofing
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Future Solutions
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
LunarGlo, LLC
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Benton Harbor
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Benton Harbor 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 Benton Harbor
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 Benton Harbor
The cost of installing a solar panel system has dropped immensely in the past several years, but it's still a substantial investment for most homeowners. The cost and possible savings vary depending on some important factors such as:
- Average daily sunlight: Since Benton Harbor gets a decent amount of average daily sunlight, your solar panels can generally generate enough energy to power your whole home, which influences how much your electricity bills will be.
- Energy consumption: Solar may be a high-cost option for families that don't need too much energy a month.
- Choice of solar panels: The type of solar panels you choose 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.
- Incentives: Those who install a solar energy system this year can save 30% of their solar installation costs by using the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $18,000 on your electricity bills over 20 years not including incentives.
Although a solar panel system costs a good chunk of money upfront, it can save you much more in the long term. The question of how much, though, depends on a number of factors, like the size of your house and incentives.
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If you're curious how much you could impact the environment if you switch to solar, you can use the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Benton Harbor, MI.
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Solar Incentives in Benton Harbor
Because solar power is better for the environment than fossil fuels, there are various government incentives in place to encourage its adoption. When you install a solar panel system, you become eligible to claim the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently lets you lower your tax bill by 30% of the cost of your solar panels. Additionally, there are often some state and city incentives that you can take advantage of to further cut back on the cost of solar of solar panels. For comprehensive information about local incentives, check out our article on solar incentives.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Benton Harbor
Installing solar panels is a profound way to do what you can for a more eco-friendly future. A question many homeowners might be asking themselves is how much can they really help save the environment by going solar anyway? If your household consumes lots of energy, you can help the environment even more by switching to solar power. Though solar panel manufacturing releases carbon dioxide emissions, the panels make up for it by greatly lowering the amount of CO2 you would have released if you still used traditional energy. In Benton Harbor, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 90 pounds a year with solar panels. Since solar power is plentiful and produces electricity without free from carbon dioxide emissions, making the switch to solar power is one easy step you can take to help the environment.
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 Benton Harbor, MI Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar power company is the best in Benton Harbor?
In Benton Harbor, SunRise Solar Attic Fans is the most reputable local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 5.00 stars, so it's a good choice if you're looking to add solar panels to your house.
What are the best and worst things about solar power?
The advantages of solar power are that it can decrease or, for some, totally cut your electricity bills, improve the value of your home and cut back on your carbon footprint. The disadvantages are that solar panels can be costly to install, you may not see as many savings if you don't use a lot of electricity and whether you can install solar panels depends on your roof configuration.
How long does it take for solar to pay for itself?
Solar panels usually pay for themselves in about 10.3 years, but your solar payback period will vary based on your utility costs. The more your typical energy bill, the faster your solar panel system will recoup your installation costs.
How often do solar panels need 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 amount 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.