3 Best Solar Companies in Tuscaloosa, AL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 3 in Tuscaloosa based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Tuscaloosa, AL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Tuscaloosa homeowner saves $1,764/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Tuscaloosa
When deciding on the best solar panel installers, Tuscaloosa homeowners have more options than ever before, which can be mind-boggling, but we’re here to make making the switch to solar power less confusing. Due to its moderate amount of average daily sunlight, Tuscaloosa has a good amount of solar growth, so several of the best solar companies in the country have opened up there to help residents switch over to renewable energy.
Here, we’ll list out some of the best solar companies in Tuscaloosa to make your decision a little bit easier.If you want to receive free, no-obligation quotes from the best Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa
Small Tech Solar
Free Quotes- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Battery Storage- Panel Installation
- Consultation
Vulcan Solar Power, LLC
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
Eagle Solar & Light
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Tuscaloosa
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Tuscaloosa 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 Tuscaloosa
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 Tuscaloosa
While solar panels can save you money on energy bills over time, it’s important to consider the upfront costs.Some key things that influence how much it will cost and how much you could save include:
- Incentives: Something that can save you money on your solar project is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that lets you deduct from your taxes a percentage of the project cost. You can also save money on your energy bills, which can generate an average of $21,000 of savings over 20 years.
- Choice of solar panels: The kind of solar panels you get will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels will cost more upfront but can also save you more money over the lifetime of your system. If you don’t need to maximize efficiency, you can go with a higher number of more affordable panels.
- Energy consumption: Solar may be an expensive investment for families that don’t consume too much energy per month.
- The amount of sunlight your rooftop gets: Due to Tuscaloosa’s very high amount of average daily sunlight, you should be able to save a lot on your electric bills.
Thanks to solar panels now being cheaper than ever as well as several solar incentives, they are a solid investment for most homeowners.
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For an idea of both how much you could save and help protect the environment by switching to solar power, you can play around with the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Tuscaloosa, AL.
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Solar Incentives in Tuscaloosa
Adopting solar power has lots of considerable benefits. Not only can it help protect the planet, but you can also save a good amount of money on your installation with various government incentives.There are several federal, state and local rebates and tax credits that may earn you anywhere from 0 to 50% of your money back after installing a solar panel system. You can find out about the incentives you can take advantage of in our article on solar incentives
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Tuscaloosa
There are lots of reasons to switch to solar energy, like saving on electricity bills and helping to reduce your carbon footprint.But how much can using solar energy instead of traditional energy actually affect the environment? As stated by the EPA, electricity production is the second biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions and about 62% of our electricity is produced by burning fossil fuels. Installing solar panels and switching to renewable energy can help bring down that number in a city like Tuscaloosa that accounts for a sizable amount of carbon dioxide emissions each year.Since solar panels don’t release CO2 emissions into the atmosphere when creating electricity, they’re a good swap for nonrenewable energy sources. In fact, you could be looking at reducing your carbon dioxide emissions by about 90 pounds each year. Since solar energy is abundant and generates electricity without CO2 emissions, making the switch to solar power is one easy step you can take to help preserve the environment.
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 Tuscaloosa, AL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the most reputable solar panel company in Tuscaloosa?
The best local solar company in Tuscaloosa is Small Tech Solar, with a rating of 3.00 stars.
What are the pros and cons of solar power?
The main advantages of solar power are that it can decrease or, for some, completely eradicate your electricity bills, raise the value of your home and lower your carbon footprint. The biggest disadvantages are that solar panels can be pricey to install, you may not save a lot if you don’t use a lot of electricity and whether you can install solar panels depends on your roof configuration.
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.
How much solar panel capacity do I need for my house?
Solar panel capacity is rated based on how many watts of power they generate under standard testing conditions. Since each panel can generally produce about 250 to 400 watts per hour, the average house 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.