4 Best Solar Companies in Birmingham, AL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 4 in Birmingham based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Birmingham, AL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Birmingham homeowner saves $1,767/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Birmingham
Looking to go solar but want to know which solar company would be best for your needs? Although it can be difficult to settle on a solar company, the search will pay off because going solar has many good benefits. What's especially making many homeowners consider installing solar panels is their very high energy bills that keep increasing each year.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to the top Birmingham solar installers so you can make the best choice for your home’s green energy needs.To help you figure out if solar panels are something you should get for your home, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from one of the best solar companies in Birmingham by clicking the button 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 Birmingham
Eagle Solar & Light
Reliable Customer Support- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Consultation- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Vulcan Solar Power, LLC
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Small Tech Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
Solar Technology Alabama
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Birmingham
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Birmingham 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 Birmingham
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 Birmingham
We know that for most homeowners, the choice to invest in solar depends on installation costs.The installation cost is just one important factor you should consider when looking into getting solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things such as:
- The amount of sunlight your roof gets: If your rooftop doesn’t get a lot of direct sunlight, your solar panels won’t be able to make as much energy, which will give you lower savings on electric bills than someone with a roof that gets lots of sunlight.
- The model of solar panel system you can afford: This depends on what your budget is.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone qualifies for, allows you to deduct 0 of the cost of installing your solar panel system from your federal taxes. Additionally, not including incentives, you can save about $21,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
- average energy usage: The more energy your home uses on average and the higher your current energy bills are, the more benefits you’ll see from switching to solar.
So is buying solar panels worth it? Whether you want to decrease your electric bills, carbon dioxide emissions or both, solar panels are a solid investment for many Birmingham homeowners.
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For an idea of both how much you could save and help the Earth by switching to solar power, you can test out the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Birmingham, AL.
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Solar Incentives in Birmingham
To increase the adoption of solar power, incentives are offered by the government – and even some utility companies – to help make solar more economical and accessible.When you install solar panels on your home, you can take advatage of the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently reduces your tax bill by 0 of the cost of your solar panels. In addition, there may often be some regional incentives that you can take advantage of to further cut back on the cost of solar of solar panels. For comprehensive information about incentives for homeowners in Birmingham, visit our article on solar incentives.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Birmingham
There are a few big reasons why many people are interested in solar energy: for the financial and environmental benefits.Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Birmingham, though. In a city like Birmingham where commute times can be pretty long, installing solar panels can help help reduce the carbon footprint of driving.In fact, if you install solar panels, you could reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 90 pounds each year. As you can see, going solar has so many other benefits apart from saving money. One of the primary ones is that you can help save the planet too.
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 Birmingham, AL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar panel installer is the best near me?
In Birmingham, Eagle Solar & Light is the top local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 3.00 stars, so it's a good choice if you're looking to install solar panels on your roof.
What is the negative environmental impact of making solar panels?
Solar panels can be detrimental 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.
How long does it take for solar to pay for itself?
Solar panels generally pay for themselves in about 11.1 years, but your solar payback period will vary depending on your utility costs. The more your typical energy bill, the quicker your solar panel system will pay for itself.
How often do solar panels need to be replaced?
On average, solar panels can last about 25 to 30 years. Some even last up to 50 years, but efficiency decreases by about 0.8% each year. You can choose to replace them sooner if you want to maintain a higher level of energy production.
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.