4 Best Solar Companies in Gardendale, AL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 4 in Gardendale based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Gardendale, AL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Gardendale homeowner saves $1,769/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Gardendale
When deciding on the best solar panel installers, Gardendale homeowners have more choices than ever before, which can be a lot to take in, but we’re here to make switching to solar power that much easier. With an average energy bill of $1,848 per month in Gardendale, switching to solar energy can decrease your monthly bills by about that much.
If you want to take advantage of the many perks of solar, we can help you narrow down your options to find the Gardendale solar installer that’s the right price for you.If you’re ready to start receiving free, no-obligation quotes from the best Gardendale solar installers, you can click the button below to learn more.
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 Gardendale
Eagle Solar & Light
Reliable Customer Support- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Panel Installation- Battery Storage
- Consultation
Small Tech Solar
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
Vulcan Solar Power, LLC
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Solar Technology Alabama
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Grid-Tied Solar System
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Gardendale
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Gardendale 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 Gardendale
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Alabama 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 Gardendale
Even though solar panels can save you a good amount of money on energy bills over time, it’s necessary to take into consideration the startup costs.There are a few factors you should consider when trying to determine the overall cost and how much you can save, including:
- System size and type: Some models are more expensive than others, so the one you get can raise or lower your initial investment. Plus, the more solar panels you need to buy, the more it'll cost.
- The amount of sunlight your city gets: Due to Gardendale’s very high amount of average daily sunlight, you should be able to save a lot on your energy bills.
- Incentives: Tax-paying citizens who install a solar system this year can save 0 of their total solar spend by using the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $21,000 on your energy bills over 20 years excluding incentives.
- How much power your household needs: If your home regularly uses a lot of energy, you'll reap more rewards from installing solar panels.
So is a solar system worth it? Whether you hope to decrease your electric bills, greenhouse gas emissions or both, solar panels are a worthwhile investment for many Gardendale homeowners.
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Adopting a sustainable source of energy can substantially impact both the environment and your monthly expenses. To see how much, check out the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Gardendale, AL.
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Solar Incentives in Gardendale
Although solar power is typically a large investment, it can save you a lot of money over the lifespan of your solar panels because of lower power bills and government incentives.These incentives usually consist of cash rebates, tax credits and/or performance-based incentives. They can lower how much you end up spending on installing solar panels by 0, upwards of 50% depending on your location. Take a look at our article on solar incentives to see what incentives are available to you.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Gardendale
An important reason so many homeowners consider adopting solar energy is to help reduce their environmental impact.Something many people might have in mind is how much can they really help preserve the environment by going solar anyway? Switching to solar power is a great choice for the environment, because the greatest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the country is from burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transportation – all of which can be powered by solar instead.In fact, if you make the switch to solar power, you could look forward to lowering your carbon dioxide emissions by about 90 pounds each year. For those who are worried about the environment, the upfront cost of solar is a small price to pay for reducing your carbon footprint.
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 Gardendale, AL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the top solar panel installation company in Gardendale?
The top local solar company in Gardendale is Eagle Solar & Light, with a rating of 3.00 stars.
What are the biggest pros and cons of installing solar panels?
The biggest advantages of solar power are that it can lower or, for some, entirely erase your electricity bills, improve your home’s value and bring down your carbon footprint. The main disadvantages are that solar panels can be expensive to install, you may not save a lot if you don’t use a lot of electricity and it doesn’t work for all roof types and locations.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after installing solar panels?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 11.1 years, but the exact period is influenced by the cost of electricity where you are, incentives and net metering programs.
What is the efficiency of solar panels?
Solar panel efficiency is the amount of solar energy 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.