15 Best Solar Companies in Lake Elmo, MN (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Lake Elmo based on:
- Customer review scores
- Service area for Lake Elmo, MN
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Lake Elmo homeowner saves $1,614/year with solar panels
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Best Solar Companies in Lake Elmo
Looking for the best solar companies in Lake Elmo? Installing solar panels is an exciting home addition that many homeowners find rewarding for their wallets, communities and the planet. With good amounts of average daily sunlight in Lake Elmo, the solar industry is growing steadily. An underrated driver of this has been Minnesota's statewide incentives that encourage residential and commercial solar panel installation.
In this article, we’ll help you find the top companies in your area.Read on to see our picks for the top solar companies in the city, or connect with a highly rated solar company near you right away by clicking the button below.
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Lake Elmo
iSolar
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
TruNorth Solar
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
Cedar Creek Energy - Solar Company Minnesota
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Community Solar Projects
- Tesla Powerwall
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
US Solar - United States Solar Corporation
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Community Solar Projects
- Panel Installation
Everlight Solar
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
Apadana Solar Technologies
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Community Solar Projects
SolarPod
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
Wolf River Electric Company
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Tesla Powerwall
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Permit Assistance
Renewable Solar Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Community Solar Projects
Go Green Energy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Lake Elmo
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Lake Elmo 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 Lake Elmo
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Minnesota 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 Lake Elmo
While solar panels can help save you a decent chunk of change on energy bills over time, it’s necessary to take into consideration the upfront costs.A few main factors that influence how much it will cost to install a solar panel system on your home and how much it could save you over time are:
- The amount of sunlight your roof gets: Thanks to Lake Elmo’s relatively low amount of average daily sunlight, you might not see as many savings on your power bills.
- Choice of solar panels: The type of solar panels you get 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 space isn't a constraint for your project, you can opt for a higher number of more affordable panels.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently allows you to reduce your taxes by 0 of the project cost. Your state and even local utility companies may also have various incentives that you can benefit from. In addition, you can save about $19,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, without incentives.
- The cost of electricity in your area: If your local power rates are especially high, there's a good chance you'll see a higher return on your investment in solar panels. In Lake Elmo, you can save an average of $1,279 a month on your electricity bills.
Though a solar panel system costs a good 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 energy consumption.
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Solar Incentives in Lake Elmo
Since solar power is more sustainable than traditional energy sources, there are some government incentives available to encourage its adoption.When you install a solar panel system, you can take advatage of the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently lets you reduce your tax bill by 0 of the cost of your solar panels. In addition, there are often some regional incentives that you can benefit from to further cut back on the cost of solar of solar panels. For comprehensive information about incentives for homeowners in Lake Elmo, visit our article on solar incentives.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Lake Elmo
There are tons of reasons to make the switch to solar energy, like saving on utility bills and helping to reduce your carbon footprint.You may be wondering – how much does going solar help the planet anyway? Switching to solar power is a great 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 Lake Elmo, the average person can reduce their carbon footprint by 90 pounds a year after going solar. For those who are concerned about the environment, the upfront cost of solar is a small price to pay for the offset carbon emissions.
EcoWatch's Lake Elmo, MN Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the best solar installer in Lake Elmo?
In Lake Elmo, iSolar is the top local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.90 stars, so it's a great choice if you're looking to add solar panels to your roof.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of adopting solar power?
A few of the biggest pros are that it lowers your power bills, it’s eco-friendly, and it can provide a decent return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don’t work as well when there’s limited direct sunlight, they cost a lot upfront and solar panels can look clunky on your roof.
How long does it take for solar to pay for itself?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 14.0 years, but the exact period varies depending on the cost of electricity where you are, incentives and net metering programs.
How long do solar panels last?
Although the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they should be disposed of. What this means is how much energy they produce will have decreased significantly after that point. You can choose to 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.