6 Best Solar Companies in State College, PA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 6 in State College based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for State College, PA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average State College homeowner saves $1,113/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in State College
Searching for the top solar companies in State College? Installing solar panels is an exciting home addition that many homeowners find beneficial for their wallets, communities and the planet. Additionally, forward-thinking leadership has encouraged a growing solar market, and many of the best solar companies are hoping to capitalize on it. That's why State College provides so many options for solar installers.
The cost of installing solar panels can vary greatly depending on your home’s configuration and your household energy usage.To get free quotes from the top solar companies in State College, click the "get quote" button below.
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in State College
Envinity, Inc.
Clear Pricing Policy- Reliable Customer Support
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Financing Assistance- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Sun Directed
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Tesla Powerwall
- Panel Installation
Elk Creek Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Skilled Repairs
Grove Solar & Electrician Services
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
Universal Solar, LLC
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Skilled Repairs
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Permit Assistance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
Green Legacy Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in State College
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in State College 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 State College
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Pennsylvania 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 State College
While solar panels can save you money on energy over time, it’s necessary to know the upfront costs.Some key things that impact the cost and possible savings include:
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone in the U.S. is eligible for, lets you deduct 0 of the cost of your solar system installation from your taxes. In addition, not including incentives, you can save about $13,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
- How much you spend on energy: The typical household in State College shells out around $1,200 a year on electricity alone, so you could end up with that much in savings.
- The model of solar panels you’re thinking of getting: More efficient panels are more expensive, so that will influence your budget for your solar project.
- Electricity consumption: The average home in State College uses a decent amount of, and therefore may save on their energy bills.
So is a solar system worth it? Whether you want to decrease your electric bills, greenhouse gas emissions or both, solar panels are a great investment for many State College homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in State College
Adopting solar power has plenty of considerable benefits. Not only can it help preserve the Earth, but you can also save a good amount of money on your installation with various government incentives.No matter what state you live in, you can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which lets you claim 0 of how much you paid for your solar installation on your tax return, reducing the amount of taxes you owe that year. In addition, there may be some state and city incentives that can save you some extra money too. Our article on solar incentives has more detailed information on the incentives you can take advantage of in State College.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in State College
There are a few primary reasons why many people are considering solar energy: to put more money in their bank account and to help the planet.You may be curious – how much does making the switch help the environment anyway? One thing you should keep in mind is your overall carbon footprint. For example, if you spend a lot of time in the car and have an electric vehicle, you can install solar panels on your home to power your EV and therefore help offset your carbon emissions.In fact, if you make the switch to solar power, you could expect to reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 50 pounds each year. As you can see, investing in solar has so many other perks besides saving money. One of the major ones is that you can help save the environment too.
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch's State College, PA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the top solar panel installation company in State College?
The top local solar company in State College is Envinity, Inc., with a rating of 3.00 stars.
What are a few of the biggest pros and cons of switching to solar?
The main advantages of solar power are that it can lower or, for some, totally erase your electricity bills, raise the value of your home and cut back on your carbon footprint. The biggest disadvantages are that solar panels can be pricey to install, you may not save as much if you don’t use a lot of electricity and whether you can install solar panels depends on your roof configuration.
Are solar panels worth it?
Solar panels require a considerable upfront investment that costs over ten thousand dollars, but whether or not solar panels are worth it depends on a range of factors like local electricity rates and the amount of direct sunlight your roof gets.
How often do solar panels have to be replaced?
Though the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they are completely unusable. What this means is how much energy they produce will have decreased by about 0.8% each year since installing them. You can choose to replace them after having them for that long or you can keep using them at a lower efficiency after that time.
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.