6 Best Solar Companies in Columbia, MO (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 6 in Columbia based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Columbia, MO
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Columbia homeowner saves $1,477/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Columbia
If you’re on the hunt for the best solar companies in Columbia, sifting through all the options can be demanding, but it can pay off since adopting solar energy can offer so many great benefits. On average, you can save $18,000 over 20 years when you use solar power. And because solar panels have a lifespan of about 25 to 30 years, the amount of money you'll save in the long run will be well above that overall.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to the top Columbia solar installers so you can find the best one for your home’s clean energy needs.To get an idea of what it could cost to put solar panels on your roof, you can click the button below to get a quote from a certified installer near you.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
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
Solar Sam
Informative Resources- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Cleaning and Maintenance- Panel Installation
Dogwood Solar
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
Green Leaf Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Modern Power LLC
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
Missouri Solar Applications
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
Athena Solar, LLC
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Financing Assistance
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Columbia
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Columbia 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 Columbia
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Missouri 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 Columbia
Solar panels run off a free energy source — the sun — but before you can take advantage of this you will need to pay to install your panels.Some important things that affect how much it will cost and how much you could save include:
- Incentives: Tax-paying citizens who install a solar system this year can save 0 of their installation costs by taking advantage of the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $18,000 on your electricity bills over 20 years not including incentives.
- Choice of solar panels: The type of solar panels you need 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.
- Electricity consumption: The average home in Columbia uses a decent amount of, and as a result may save on their energy bills.
- How much sunlight your roof gets: This, plus how your roof is set up, affects affect how much energy your solar panels can produce.
As a result of the cost of solar panels being lower than before as well as various solar incentives, they are a worthwhile investment for many homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Columbia
There are many reasons why you should switch to solar. One of them consists of some government incentives you can take advantage of.These incentives mostly include cash rebates, tax credits and/or solar renewable energy credits. They can reduce how much you pay for going solar by 0, upwards of 50% in some cases. Our article on solar incentives has more information on the incentives you can take advantage of in Columbia.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Columbia
An important reason so many are considering installing solar panels is to help bring down their environmental impact.A question many people might be wondering about is how much can they really help protect the environment by switching to solar power anyway? In Columbia, where the energy generation produces a lot of greenhouse gasses, going solar can have a huge impact on the Earth since solar power has a lower carbon footprint.In fact, if you make the switch to solar power, you could lower your carbon dioxide emissions by about 100 pounds each year. As you can see, investing in solar has so many other benefits apart from saving money. One of the primary ones is that you can help save the Earth too.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
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, MO Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar installation company is the best in Columbia?
The top local solar company in Columbia is Solar Sam, with a rating of 3.00 stars.
Are solar panels really bad for the environment?
Solar panels can be harmful 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 needs a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels call for a large upfront investment that usually costs at least ten thousand dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a collection of factors like local electricity rates and how much direct sunlight your roof gets.
When is the best time of year to install solar panels?
You can install solar panels whenever it's convenient for you, but consider doing so in the winter when there's less demand. With fewer homeowners switching to solar, you could potentially see faster installation times and more savings.
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.