6 Best Solar Companies in Emporia, VA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 6 in Emporia based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Emporia, VA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Emporia homeowner saves $1,113/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Emporia
Looking to go solar but still deciding on which solar company would be best for your needs? Although it can be difficult to pick a solar company, the effort will pay off because going solar has many fantastic benefits. Over 20 years of offsetting your energy costs with solar panels, you can save about $14,000 on your utility bills.
In this article, we’ll help you narrow down the best options in your area.Interested in knowing how much you would pay to install a solar system on your roof? Click "get quote" below to get a free, no-obligation quote from a highly rated Emporia solar installer.
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 Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
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 Emporia
SolarTyme
Clear Pricing Policy- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Panel Installation- Battery Storage
Gault Electric LLC
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Financing Assistance
Radiant Home | Solar, Roofing, Battery Backup
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Big Boss Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
Horizon Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Greentech Renewables Virginia
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Emporia
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Emporia 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 Emporia
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Virginia 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 Emporia
Solar panels run off a free energy source — the sun — but to take advantage of this you will need to pay to install your panels.The cost of solar and the savings it generates vary depending on a few key factors such as:
- System size and type: Some models are more expensive than others, so the one you want to get can raise or lower your initial investment. Plus, the more solar panels you need to get, the more it'll cost.
- The amount of sunlight your house gets: Thanks to Emporia’s high amount of average daily sunlight, you should be able to save a decent amount on your energy bills.
- Incentives: Something that can make your solar project cost less is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that lets you deduct from your taxes a percentage of the project cost. You can also save on your utility bills, which can give you an average of $14,000 of savings over 20 years.
- Your current energy bills: Solar panels can substantially decrease, or completely eliminate, your utility bills. In Emporia, you can save an average of $1,599 a month.
Solar is a fruitful investment for most homeowners. You can generate your own electricity instead of paying for it from a utility company and make use of solar tax credits and rebates, all while helping preserve the planet.
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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 give the calculator below a try. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Emporia, VA.
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Solar Incentives in Emporia
To increase solar panel installation and usage, incentives are offered by the government – and even some utility companies – to help make solar power more economical and accessible.These incentives typically take the form of cash rebates, tax breaks and/or performance-based incentives. They can lower the cost of going solar by 0, upwards of 50% depending on where you live. You can learn about the incentives you can use in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Emporia
If you’re planning on adding solar panels to your home, one of the primary reasons why may be to lower your reliance on nonrenewable energy.A question many people might have in mind is how much can they really help save the environment by switching to solar power anyway? According to the EPA, electricity generation is the second largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and about 62% of our electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels. Using solar power can help lower that statistic in a city like Emporia that generates a fair amount of carbon dioxide emissions each year.Once you go solar, your carbon dioxide emissions can be cut by about 20 pounds every year. As you can see, using solar power has so many other rewards beyond saving money. One of the primary 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 Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
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 Emporia, VA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar panel installer is the best in Emporia?
The highest-rated local solar company in Emporia is SolarTyme, with a rating of 4.40 stars.
What is the negative environmental impact of solar panel manufacturing?
Solar panels can be bad for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals in the manufacturing process. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to recycle safely once they’ve reached the end of their lifespan. Making solar panels requires a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels can be a fruitful investment for lots of 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 the efficiency of solar panels?
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.