The solar energy market is quite flooded at the moment with companies looking to take advantage of the upsurge in people aiming to take advantage of Federal discounts before they expire. Choosing the best solar energy company is not quite as simple or straightforward as many presume – and the differences between them will play a considerable factor in the overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness of your solar project. It is always a good idea to harvest a variety of quotes before signing off on any work whatsoever – but here are the basic essentials when it comes to selecting which companies you ought to approach to begin with.
1) Independence = Better Value
We all know how reassuring it can feel to partner up with a well established nationwide name – but did you know that these companies are much more expensive and offer far more limited service options compared to private contractors? Most industry experts would agree that smaller companies cost around 30% less than their big-name alternatives, and have the added advantage of not having their hands tied when it comes to what solar panels and systems they can recommend/install. No solar energy project is the same and what suits one person may not match the needs (or budget) of someone next door. Independent contractors should not lead with a sales pitch and instead will listen to your requirements before taking any further steps. If you do not need top-end super-efficient panels to meet your purposes/budget they will not try and convince you otherwise!
2) Personal Service
When it comes to solar the basic principle is to have the system ‘pay for itself’ as soon as possible, ideally leaving the system able to continue producing free energy to supplement grid energy costs for many years after that date has passed. How long that takes depends on many factors and you ought to be wary of any company that suggests they can pinpoint this with much accuracy. Panel quality/yield, maintenance, local environment, exposure to sunlight, battery supplementation and a host of other smaller factors will all influence when that time comes. Experts will find ways to position your panels to maximize their exposure to sunlight and produce the highest amount of possible power.
Look for solar energy companies who will explain how best to position the most suitable panels around your property, and explain the advantages and disadvantages of various setup options. Installing an effective solar energy system is not as easy as just plastering panels to your rooftops! The best businesses will assess different styles and designs of panels that could provide the best performance (for instance ground-mounted and/or trackers as alternatives to rooftop models).
3) Practical Advice
One of the best aspects of modern solar energy in a residential or commercial setting is that the panels are much more robust than many people assume. Most of the time they will require an occasional five-minute washdown (perhaps quarterly in Idaho) to free off any debris and dust. Panels tend to last for decades with just a little incidental upkeep and Idaho solar companies will discuss the best ways of doing this (or even include the service in their cost plan).
On the financial side of things, you should look for solar energy experts who will explain how to track the energy that you are producing, ways that a battery system can save even more in the longer term, and how panels can add value to your property. It is easy to overlook something as straightforward as keeping a little log every day to record your power generation – and something that small can add thousands of dollars to your property’s value. Those who are looking to make use of the current Federal incentives should look for solar power companies who are used to the administrative aspects and procedures involved (and know how to navigate that pesky small print).
Picking the best solar power company isn’t quite as straightforward as flipping out the Yellow Pages and picking the company with the largest advert. You’d be well advised to look through your local listings much more closely and look for those experts who know the inside-outs of how to install an effective system that’ll make as much clean and ‘free’ energy as possible. Picking the right company can save thousands of dollars so even though those Federal incentive deadlines are coming up on the horizon, don’t skip this part of the process. It’s probably the most important decision you’ll make when going solar.
