15 Best Solar Companies in Foster, RI (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Foster based on:
- Customer review scores
- Service area for Foster, RI
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Foster homeowner saves $1,687/year with solar panels
Updated February 01, 2024
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Foster
As a homeowner or business owner in Foster, you may be considering switching to solar power and wondering about the best solar companies in your local area. Solar could be a good idea since it has many benefits. Because solar panels generate their own energy, they can vastly bring down your electricity bill each month, if not fully eliminate it. In fact, you could be looking at about $20,000 of savings over 20 years.
If you want to start taking advantage of the many perks of solar, we’re here to help you narrow down your options to find the Foster solar installer that’s the right price for you.Keep reading to see our picks for the top solar companies in the city, or get connected with a vetted solar company near you right away 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
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Foster
SunPower by BlueSel Home Solar
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Residential Panels
- Maintenance
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Commercial Panels
Sunrun Fusion New England
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Residential Panels
- Solar Panel Upgrades
DO IT RIGHT SOLAR
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Residential Panels
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
Rooftop Power
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Maintenance
- Commercial Panels
- Residential Panels
Sunwatt Solar
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Panels
- Residential Panels
- Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
- Full-Service
- Permit Assistance
Evergreen Solar | RI & MA Solar Panel Company
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Residential Panels
NEC Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Roof Assessment
- Commercial Panels
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
- Residential Panels
Renewable Energy Services Of New England, Inc.
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Full-Service
- Residential Panels
SGE Solar - Second Generation Energy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Panels
- Maintenance
- Residential Panels
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
New England Clean Energy - Rhode Island Office
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Residential Panels
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Commercial Panels
Suntastic Solutions
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Consultation
- Residential Panels
- Skilled Repairs
Got Sun Go Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Skilled Repairs
- Permit Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Commercial Panels
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Residential Panels
Sun Group Energy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Maintenance
- Residential Panels
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
GoGreenWithGlenn Rhodes Trinity Solar
- Free Quotes
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Residential Panels
- Consultation
Wattson Home Solutions
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Roof Assessment
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Energy Efficiency Audit
- Residential Panels
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Foster
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Foster 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 Foster
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Rhode Island 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 Foster
The cost of putting up solar panels has gone down immensely in the past few years, but it’s still a significant investment for most homeowners.The installation cost is just one important factor you should take into account when looking into getting solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things such as:
- The type of solar panels you have the money for: This is dependent on how much you’re willing to spend upfront.
- Your home's orientation toward the sun: This, along with your roof configuration, affects affect how much power your solar panels can generate.
- How much energy your household consumes: Households that use a lot of power each month may require more solar panels and, as a result, be more expensive, but will also save more on their energy bills over time.
- How much you spend on energy: The average family in Foster spends around $1,500 a year on home energy use alone, so you could be looking at that much in savings.
Even though a solar panel system costs a good chunk of money upfront, it can save you much more over time. The question of how much, though, depends on a number of factors, such as the size of your house and your energy consumption.
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Solar Incentives in Foster
In an effort to increase solar panel installation and usage, federal, state and local governments – and even some utility companies – offer incentives to help make solar power more economically viable and accessible.These incentives mostly include cash rebates, tax benefits and/or performance-based incentives. They can cut how much you pay for installing solar panels by 0, upwards of 50% depending on your location. Check out our article on solar incentives to learn what incentives you can take advantage of.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Foster
Many want to do their part to help save the planet, which in many cases is the prime reason for installing a solar system.You may be wondering – how much do solar panels do for the planet anyway? One thing that can drastically influence your carbon footprint is your commute time and how much you drive overall. If you install solar panels and have an electric car, you can significantly cut back on your carbon dioxide emissions by charging your car at home.Even though solar panel production emits carbon dioxide, the panels make up for it by significantly reducing the amount of CO2 you would have been responsible for if you still used traditional energy. In Foster, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 40 pounds a year with solar panels. As you can see, trading traditional energy for solar has so many other benefits besides saving money. One of the main ones is that you can help save the planet too.
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 for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch's Foster, RI Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the top solar installer in Foster?
In Foster, SunPower by BlueSel Home Solar is the best local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 3.00 stars, so it's a good choice if you're looking to install solar panels on your roof.
What is the negative environmental impact of solar panel manufacturing?
Manufacturing solar panels requires chemicals and produces toxic waste that can be dangerous for the environment, which is the main drawback of solar panels.
Is it worth putting solar panels on my house?
Solar panels can be a great investment for most homeowners, but frankly, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get enough sunlight or your power bills are already pretty low, solar panels might not be for you.
What is solar panel capacity and how much do I need for my house?
Solar panel capacity is rated based on how much power they produce under standard testing conditions. Since each panel can generally produce about 250 to 400 watts per hour, the average house will need 20 to 35 panels.
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.