12 Best Solar Companies in Cambridge, MI (2023 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 12 in Cambridge based on:
-
Customer review scores - Service area for Cambridge, MI
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code!
Average Cambridge homeowner saves $1,837/year with solar panels
Updated May 04, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Cambridge
Thinking of going solar but still deciding on which company would be best for your needs? Although it can be challenging to decide on a solar company, the search will pay off because going solar has many good benefits. Solar panels can be expensive, but switching to solar will save you money on your power bills over many years. In fact, you can expect to save about $22,000 over 20 years.
In this article, we'll help you find the top options in your area. To get an estimate of how much it might cost to install solar panels on your roof, you can click the button below to get a quote from a certified installer near you.
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 Cambridge
Average Cost
SunPower
-
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
Sesame Solar
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Recognized Excellence
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Harvest Solar
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
Rustic Resource Enterprises Inc
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Energy storage solutions
- Home installations
- Integrated roofing
White Tail Solar
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
Sur Energy Systems
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Business installations
- Expert panel installation
- Home installations
The University of Michigan Solar Car Team
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Outstanding Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tailored solutions
- Home installations
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Cambridge
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Cambridge 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 Cambridge
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 Cambridge
Solar panels run off a free energy source — the sun — but before you can take advantage of this you will first need to pay to set up your panels. Some key factors that influence the cost of installing solar panels on your home and how much money you could save over time include:
- Your home's power bills: Due to fairly high monthly power bills in Cambridge, you could save about $1,400 a year with solar.
- Incentives: Something that can reduce the cost of your solar project is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that's equal to a percentage of the project cost. You can also save a decent amount of money on your utility bills, which can lead to an average of $22,000 of savings over 20 years.
- How much power your household consumes: Households that consume lots of power each month may require more solar panels and, as a result, be more costly, but will also save more on their energy bills over time.
- Your income and budget: This shapes what type of solar panels you can buy.
As a result of solar panels decreasing in cost as well as several solar incentives, they are a cost-effective investment for the majority of homeowners.
Solar Savings Calculator for {{ solarcalc.name }}
If you're interested in finding out what your impact could be if you switch to solar, you can use the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Cambridge, MI.
| {{ 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. This means that with an average cost of {{ solarcalc.array_cost() | currency }}, it would take {{ solarcalc.payback_period()|number:1 }} years to recover the cost of of your solar array.
Solar Incentives in Cambridge
Because solar power is better for the environment than burning fossil fuels, there are various government incentives available to encourage its adoption. Regardless of where you live, you can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which will let you claim 30% of your project costs on your tax return, lowering the amount of taxes you owe that year. Plus, there may be some state and city incentives you can benefit from too. Check out our article on solar incentives to find out what incentives you can benefit from.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Cambridge
There are a few main reasons why people are interested in solar energy: for the good of their bank accounts and the planet. Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Cambridge, though. For homeowners who want to do their part for the planet, using solar power is an easy choice, especially since Cambridge produces a very high amount of carbon dioxide emissions from its energy generation. In fact, if you install solar panels, you could expect to reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 pounds each year. Since solar energy is plentiful and produces electricity without a carbon footprint, making the switch to solar power is one easy step you can take to help the planet.
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 Cambridge, MI Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar power company is the best near me?
In Cambridge, Solect Energy, LLC is the most reputable local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 5.00 stars, so it's a great choice if you're looking to add solar panels to your house.
What are some of the main advantages and disadvantages of adopting solar power?
A few of the biggest pros are that it lowers your electricity bills, it's eco-friendly, and it gives you a decent return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don't produce electricity at night, there is a high upfront cost and solar panels aren't always aesthetically pleasing.
Is it worth installing solar panels on my roof?
Solar panels can be a beneficial investment for a majority of homeowners, but honestly, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get enough sunlight or your power bills are already reasonably low, solar panels might not be for you.
How long do solar panels last?
Even though the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they stop working completely. What this means is the amount of energy they produce will have decreased significantly after that point. You can replace them once you've had them for that long or you can continue to use them at a lower efficiency after that time.
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.