1 Best Solar Companies in Sault Ste. Marie, MI (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 1 in Sault Ste. Marie based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Sault Ste. Marie, MI
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Sault Ste. Marie homeowner saves $1,466/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Sault Ste. Marie
If you’re a homeowner looking to make use of the solar incentives in Sault Ste. Marie, it can be a lot of work to narrow down which installer to decide on. But, it's worth it since adopting solar energy is often a good idea. With an average energy bill of $1,036 per month in Sault Ste. Marie, adopting solar energy can decrease your monthly bills by about that much.
To help you navigate through the huge variety of Sault Ste. Marie solar installers, we’ve come up with a list of the top ones.If you’re ready to start receiving free, no-obligation quotes from the best Sault Ste. Marie solar companies, you can click the button below to learn more.
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
Outstanding Local Installer
The Green Panel
- Outstanding customer service
- Excellent reputation
- Great warranty coverage
- No leases or PPAs
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Sault Ste. Marie
Bear River Electric
Family-Operated Business- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Sault Ste. Marie
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Sault Ste. Marie 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 Sault Ste. Marie
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 Sault Ste. Marie
We know that for many homeowners, the choice to invest in solar highly depends on installation costs.The installation cost is just one important factor you should bear in mind when looking into getting solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things including:
- Incentives: Those who install a solar system this year can save 0 of their total solar spend by taking advantage of the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $17,000 on your utility bills over 20 years without incentives.
- Average daily sunlight: Since Sault Ste. Marie doesn’t get a lot of average daily sunlight, your solar system may not be able to produce enough energy to power your whole home, which influences how much you can save on your energy bills.
- Choice of solar panels: The kind of solar panels you get will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels are more expensive upfront but can also save you more money 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.
- How much power your household needs: If your home needs to use a lot of energy, you'll reap more rewards from switching to solar.
Though a solar panel system costs a sizable chunk of money upfront, it can save you a considerable amount over the lifespan of your panels. The question of how much, though, depends on a number of factors, like the kind of solar panels you get 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 a solar panel system, you can play around with the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Sault Ste. Marie, MI.
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Solar Incentives in Sault Ste. Marie
If you’re thinking about making the switch to solar power, various government incentives and subsidies can immensely reduce the cost of the project and expedite the return on your investment.When you install a solar panel system on your house, you become eligible to claim the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently lowers your tax bill by 0 of the cost of your solar panels. In addition, there may often be some local incentives that you can benefit from to further cut back on the cost of solar of solar panels. You can find out about the incentives you can take advantage of in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Sault Ste. Marie
Many want to do their part for the planet, which for many is the main motivation to install a solar system.But you may be wondering – how much exactly can you help the environment by making the switch to solar? In a city like Sault Ste. Marie where energy use is rather high, going solar is a fantastic idea for people who want to do their part for the environment.Although making solar panels emits carbon dioxide, the panels make up for it by greatly lowering the amount of CO2 you would have released if you still used traditional energy. In Sault Ste. Marie, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 80 pounds a year with solar panels. Since solar power is renewable and produces electricity without a carbon footprint, adding solar panels to your home is one easy step you can take to help protect 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
Outstanding Local Installer
The Green Panel
- Outstanding customer service
- Excellent reputation
- Great warranty coverage
- No leases or PPAs
EcoWatch's Sault Ste. Marie, MI Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar installation company is the best near me?
In Sault Ste. Marie, Bear River Electric is the top local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 3.00 stars, so it's a solid choice if you're looking to install solar panels on your home.
What are the biggest pros and cons of going solar?
The greatest advantages of solar power are that it can reduce or, in some cases, 100% cut your electricity bills, raise the value of your home and bring down 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 it doesn’t work for all roof types and locations.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after installing solar panels?
Solar panels typically pay for themselves in about 15.5 years, but your solar payback period will depend on your utility costs. The more your typical electricity bill, the faster your solar panel system will pay for itself.
How efficient is a solar panel system?
Solar panel efficiency is the amount of energy from the sun that is converted into electricity. Most panels today have an efficiency rating of about 15 to 25%. If your panels are more efficient, you'll need less of them to meet your home's 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.