9 Best Solar Companies in Big Rapids, MI (2023 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 9 in Big Rapids based on:
-
Customer review scores - Service area for Big Rapids, MI
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Big Rapids homeowner saves $1,744/year with solar panels
Updated September 15, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Big Rapids
When choosing between the best solar panel installers, Big Rapids homeowners have more options to choose from than ever before, which can be too much to get a handle on, but we're here to make switching to solar energy that much easier. Solar panels can be expensive, but switching to solar will save you money on your energy bills in the long term. In fact, you can potentially save about $21,000 over 20 years.
If you want to start taking advantage of the great amount of benefits of solar, we can help you narrow down your options to find the Big Rapids solar installer that's the right price for you. Continue reading to see our picks for the best solar companies in the city, or get connected with a trusted solar company in your area right away by clicking the 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 Big Rapids
Michigan Solar Solutions
-
Free Quotes - Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
-
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
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Business installations - Expert panel installation
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
J. Ranck Electric
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Skilled repairs
- Expert panel installation
- Business installations
- Home installations
Tiger Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Business installations
- Integrated roofing
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
Agathon Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
- Energy storage solutions
Ferguson Supply Co Inc
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Home installations
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
Michigan Solar and Roofing LLC
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled repairs
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Home installations
- Expert panel installation
- Integrated roofing
Terrasmart
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Energy storage solutions
- Integrated roofing
- Expert panel installation
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
- Business installations
CBS Solar
- Free Quotes
- Family-Operated Business
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Expert panel installation
- Business installations
- Energy storage solutions
- Tailored solutions
- Integrated roofing
- Home installations
Agathon Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Integrated roofing
- Expert panel installation
- Business installations
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
- Energy storage solutions
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Big Rapids
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Big Rapids 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 Big Rapids
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 Big Rapids
We understand that for many homeowners, the decision to invest in solar comes down to installation costs. Some key things that impact how much it will cost and how much you could save include:
- Your home's orientation toward the sun: This, along with your roof configuration, affects affect how much electricity your solar panels can produce.
- Choice of solar panels: The kind of solar panels you want will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels will cost more upfront but can also lead to more savings over the lifetime of your system. If you don't need to maximize efficiency, you can opt for a higher number of more affordable panels.
- Incentives: Something that can save you money on your solar project is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that lets you deduct from your taxes a percentage of the project cost. You can also save on your power bills, which can give you an average of $21,000 of savings over 20 years.
- How much power your household needs: If your household needs to use a lot of energy, you'll see more savings from installing solar panels.
There are many great benefits of solar despite the upfront cost of installation. It can help the environment and your wallet. Additionally, it can boost the value of your home, leading to even more benefits if you choose to sell your home later.
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Solar Incentives in Big Rapids
Switching to solar power has lots of considerable benefits. Not only can it help preserve the environment, but you can also save some money on your installation with various government incentives. Regardless of what state you live in, you can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which will let you claim 30% of how much your solar project cost when you file taxes, lowering the amount of taxes you owe that year. Additionally, there may be some state and city incentives that can save you some extra money too. In our article on solar incentives, you can see the incentives you qualify for in Big Rapids.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Big Rapids
There are many reasons to make the switch to solar power, like saving money on utility bills and helping to reduce your carbon footprint. But how much can installing solar panels actually affect the environment? For homeowners who are environmentally-conscious, going solar is an easy choice, especially since Big Rapids produces a very high amount of carbon dioxide emissions from its energy generation. In fact, if you adopt solar power, you could be looking at reducing your carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 pounds each year. For people who are concerned about the environment, the upfront cost of solar is a small price to pay for offsetting your carbon emissions.
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 Big Rapids, MI Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar power company is the best near me?
In Big Rapids, TXU Energy Customer Service Desk is the most reputable local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 3.00 stars, so it's a solid choice if you're planning to add solar panels to your home.
What is the negative environmental impact of solar panels?
Solar panels can be bad for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals in the construction. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to dispose of safely once they've reached the end of their lifespan. Solar panel manufacturing uses a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels call for 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.
How long do solar panels last?
On average, the lifespan of solar panels is 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.