12 Best Solar Companies in Columbia, PA (Mar 2023 Review)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 12 in Columbia based on:
-
Customer review scores - Solar installers near you
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Updated March 14, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best solar companies in Columbia
When you're trying to find the best solar companies in Columbia, combing through so many options can be demanding, but it can pay off since switching to solar power can offer so many great benefits. Due to its moderate amount of average daily sunlight, Columbia has a good amount of solar growth, so a lot of the best solar companies in the country have set up shop there to help residents adopt renewable energy.
The cost of installing solar panels can change a lot based on your home's configuration and your household energy usage. If you'd like to get free, no-obligation quotes from the best Columbia solar companies, you can click the button below to learn more.
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
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best Technology
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
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Columbia
Local Service
GreenBrilliance
-
Licensing and credentials transparency - More transparent pricing than competitors
- Educational sales approach
- NABCEP-certified technicians
- Assists with maximizing rebate
- Excellent reputation
-
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
-
Solar Batteries - Solar Panels
- Commercial Solar Services
Local Service
Power Marketing Group, LLC
- Educational sales approach
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Custom system designs
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
EcoGen America
- Offers a free quote process
- Educational sales approach
- Assists with maximizing rebate
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Commercial Solar Services
Local Service
Colgan Solar
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Educational sales approach
- Can browse portfolio on website
- NABCEP-certified technicians
- Assists with maximizing rebate
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Maintenance and Repairs
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Solar States LLC
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Offers a free quote process
- Educational sales approach
- Can browse portfolio on website
- NABCEP-certified technicians
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Batteries
- Maintenance and Repairs
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
SunRayzor
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Offers a free quote process
- Educational sales approach
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Assists with maximizing rebate
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Roof Shingles
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Alien Fuel
- NABCEP-certified technicians
- Educational sales approach
- Assists with maximizing rebate
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Got Electric, LLC
- Educational sales approach
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Power-On
- Licensing and credentials transparency
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Educational sales approach
- NABCEP-certified technicians
- Assists with maximizing rebate
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Sustainable Energy Systems LLC
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Offers a free quote process
- Educational sales approach
- Family owned and operated
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Maryland State Solar, LLC
- Educational sales approach
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Gordian Energy Systems
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Educational sales approach
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Roof Shingles
- Solar Panels
Solar Company Ranking Methodology
Click here to see a more detailed overview of our solar company ranking methodology.
The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Columbia
While solar panels can help save you a decent chunk of change on utility bills over time, it's important to consider the startup costs. Some important factors that affect the cost of installing solar panels on your home and how much money you could save over time include:
- Where your home is: This affects how much sunlight your roof gets, which helps determine how many panels you need.
- Choice of solar panels: The kind of solar panels you are interested in getting will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels are more expensive 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.
- Your household's power bills: Due to fairly high monthly power bills in Columbia, you could save about $970 a year with solar.
- Incentives: Those who purchase and install a solar system this year can save 30% of their total solar spend by taking advantage of the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $14,000 on your utility bills over 20 years excluding incentives.
Due to solar panels decreasing in cost as well as various solar incentives, they are a solid investment for many homeowners.
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To see how much you can impact the environment and your wallet by switching to solar, try out the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Columbia, PA.
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Solar Incentives in Columbia
In order to increase the adoption of solar power, incentives are offered by the government — and even some utility companies — to help make going solar more financially viable and accessible. In addition to the federal tax credit incentive, there are also some local incentives, which in most cases, stack with the federal incentive, so you get to save even more. For detailed information about local incentives, check out our our article on solar incentives.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Columbia
Making the switch to solar power is a great way to do what you can for a more sustainable future. But how much can switching to solar actually help the environment? The more energy your family uses, the better off the planet will be when you switch to solar as you won't need to burn as many fossil fuels. In fact, if you adopt solar power, you could lower your carbon dioxide emissions by about 50 pounds each year. Since solar energy is plentiful and produces electricity without releasing carbon emissions, adding solar panels to your home is one easy step you can take to help preserve 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
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best Technology
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
EcoWatch's Columbia, PA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar company is the best in Columbia?
The top local solar company in Columbia is GreenBrilliance, with a rating of 5.00 stars.
Are solar panels actually good for the environment?
Making solar panels uses chemicals and produces toxic waste that can be bad for the environment, which is the main negative thing about solar panels.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after installing solar panels?
Solar panels typically pay for themselves in about 12.1 years, but your solar payback period will depend on your utility costs. The higher your typical energy bill, the faster your solar panel system will recoup your installation costs.
What is the best type of solar panel?
The different types of solar panels are monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film. Monocrystalline panels are more efficient but also more costly. Polycrystalline panels cost less but also less efficient than monocrystalline. Thin-film solar panels are flexible, so they can be used where the other kinds can't, like on curved surfaces or cars, but they are also less efficient. The best one for you depends on your budget, roof configuration and desired energy output.
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.