7 Best Solar Companies in Waterloo, IA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 7 in Waterloo based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Waterloo, IA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Waterloo homeowner saves $1,346/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Waterloo
Hoping to go solar but want to know which company would be the best one for your needs? Although it can be challenging to find a solar company, the search will pay off because going solar has many good perks. Solar panels aren't just good for the environment — your budget will be better off too. Once you switch to solar power, you can save an average of $16,000 over 20 years, and this doesn't even include incentives.
If you want to start taking advantage of the many benefits of solar, we’ll help you narrow down your options to find the Waterloo solar installer that’s right for you.To get free quotes from the best solar companies in Waterloo, you can click "get quote" below.
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 Waterloo
Midwest Solar Installers
Reliable Customer Support- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Family-Operated Business
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Grid-Tied Solar System- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Purelight Power of Cedar Rapids
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Prodigy Power
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
ECG Solar Iowa
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- System Decommissioning
- Consultation
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Skilled Repairs
ECG Solar Cedar Rapids
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
- System Decommissioning
RJ Construction
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Eagle Point Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Waterloo
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Waterloo 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 Waterloo
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Iowa 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 Waterloo
Solar panels run off a free energy source — the sun — but before you can take advantage of this you must first pay to install your panels.The cost and possible savings vary depending on a few important factors such as:
- The type of solar panel system you can afford: This is dependent on how much you’re willing to invest upfront.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone in the U.S. is eligible for, lets you deduct 0 of the cost of installing your solar panel system from your federal taxes. Plus, not including incentives, you can save about $16,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
- How much energy you use: If your home regularly uses a lot of energy, you'll see more savings from installing solar panels.
- Your home's orientation toward the sun: This, and your roof configuration, affects affect how much energy your solar panels can generate.
There are lots of wonderful benefits of solar in spite of the initial cost of installation. It can help the Earth and your wallet. In addition, it can boost the value of your home, resulting in even more benefits if you want to sell your home later.
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Solar Incentives in Waterloo
Although a solar power system is typically a big investment, it can save you a significant amount of money over many years due to lower energy bills and government incentives.On top of the federal solar investment tax credit, there are also some local benefits, which in the majority of cases, can be claimed in addition to the federal incentive, so you get to save even more. You can learn about the incentives you can take advantage of in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Waterloo
There are lots of reasons to make the switch to solar power, like saving money on electricity bills and helping to reduce your carbon footprint.Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Waterloo, though. Switching to green energy for electricity instead of burning fossil fuels is an impactful way to lower carbon dioxide emissions if you're concerned about Waterloo's large level of greenhouse gas emissions.Even though making solar panels emits carbon dioxide, the panels make up for it by greatly decreasing the amount of CO2 you would have been responsible for if you still used traditional energy. In Waterloo, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 90 pounds a year with solar panels. The good things about solar power are abundant — just like solar power is! That's why so many homeowners have been happy with committing to solar.
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 Waterloo, IA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the most reputable solar panel installation company in Waterloo?
In Waterloo, Midwest Solar Installers is the top local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 4.80 stars, so it's a solid choice if you're planning on installing solar panels on your home.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of solar power?
The main advantages of solar power are that it can lower or, for some, 100% erase your electricity bills, raise your home’s value and reduce your carbon footprint. The main disadvantages are that solar panels can be expensive to install, you may not see as many savings 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 for solar to pay for itself?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 16.7 years, but the exact period varies by the cost of electricity where you are, incentives and net metering programs.
What is solar panel capacity and how much do I need for my house?
Solar panel capacity is rated based on how many watts of power they produce under standard testing conditions. Since each panel can generally produce about 250 to 400 watts per hour, the average home 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.