3 Best Solar Companies in Houghton, MI (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 3 in Houghton based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Houghton, MI
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Houghton homeowner saves $2,753/year with solar panels
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Best Solar Companies in Houghton
As a homeowner in Houghton, you may be planning on switching to solar power and curious about the best solar companies in your local area. Solar could be a fantastic choice since it comes with a lot of perks. Solar power isn't just good for the planet — your wallet will be better off too. After switching to solar power, you can save an average of $33,000 over 20 years, and this doesn't even include incentives.
If you want to start taking advantage of the many benefits of solar, we’ll help you narrow down your options to find the Houghton solar installer that’s in the right price range for you.To help you understand if solar panels are worth it for your home, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from one of the best solar companies in Houghton 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 Houghton
Keweenaw Power & Lite LLC.
Clear Pricing Policy
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Permit Assistance- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
Peninsula Solar
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
- Tesla Powerwall
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
Superior Electric
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Houghton
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Houghton 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 Houghton
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 Houghton
When choosing a solar company, most homeowners or business owners worry about the costs the most.The installation cost is just one important factor you should consider when looking into installing solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things including:
- Average daily sunlight: Since Houghton doesn’t get a lot of average daily sunlight, your solar system may not be able to generate enough energy to power your whole home, which impacts how much your solar panels can save you on your electricity bills.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone qualifies for, allows you to deduct 0 of the cost of installing your solar panel system from your federal taxes. Plus, not including incentives, you can save about $33,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
- The kind of solar panels you’re thinking of getting: Some are more expensive, so that will determine your budget for your solar project.
- Electricity consumption: The average household in Houghton uses a decent amount of, and consequently may save on their energy bills.
Though a solar panel system costs a good chunk of money upfront, it can save you much more over the lifespan of your panels. The question of how much, though, depends on a number of factors, such as the amount of daily direct sunlight available and your local electricity rates.
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For an idea of both how much you could save and help protect the environment by installing solar panels, you can try out the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Houghton, MI.
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Solar Incentives in Houghton
If you’re planning on switching to solar energy, various government incentives and solar rebates can drastically bring down the installation costs and speed up the return on your investment.There are a lot of federal, state and local rebates and tax credits that may earn you some money back after buying solar panels. For detailed information about incentives for homeowners in Houghton, visit our article on solar incentives.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Houghton
Many want to do what they can for the environment, which in many cases is the main reason for installing a solar system.Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Houghton, though. Adopting solar power is a sustainable choice for the environment, due to the fact that the greatest 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 fact, if you adopt solar power, 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, adding solar panels to your home is one easy step you can take to help the environment.
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 Houghton, MI Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the best solar panel company in Houghton?
The top local solar company in Houghton is Keweenaw Power & Lite LLC., with a rating of 3.00 stars.
What are the best and worst things about solar power?
The advantages of solar power are that it can lower or, for some, completely eradicate your electricity bills, raise your home’s value and reduce your carbon footprint. The biggest disadvantages are that solar panels can be pricey 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?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 8.3 years, but the exact period varies depending on local electricity costs, incentives and net metering programs.
How much solar panel capacity do I need for my house?
Solar panel capacity is the amount of energy the panels can create under ideal conditions (a sunny day around noon). The average household has to get between 20 and 35 panels to cover their energy needs.
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.