Best Solar Companies In Detroit

• Ease Solar
• Solar Energy Detroit
• GreenLancer
• Zero-Point Electric
• Gurr Brothers Energy
• Off The Grid Energy Solutions
• A J Leo Electric & Solar
• Solar On Inc
• Water Winter Solar Installers Co
• SunergyPWR

During the solar research process, the most important thing any homeowner can do is find the best installation company. Here’s everything you need to know about the best solar companies in Detroit:

When selecting a solar installation company in Detroit, there are a number of specific factors to consider. With 4 solar companies in the area and the median Detroit household size as 1,531 square feet, you should get a basic idea of how many options are at your disposal and what size solar system you’ll need for your home. Below are a handful of other important aspects of choosing a solar installation company in the Detroit metro area.

Size of the System You Need

An important part of solar installation is determining what size system, or how many solar panels, will work best for your home. To best determine how many solar panels you’ll need, be ready to give companies the following information:

• How much available space is on your roof
• The amount of energy your household uses
• The average number of hours of sun that your home receives
• The wattage and relative efficiency of the photovoltaic (PV) the type of solar panels you want to install

Finally, be sure to inform the company of the number of people that reside in your home.

Detroit has four people in the average household, so many installers will use this number as a benchmark for how much solar energy your home will require.

Solar Warranties

Solar companies offer different warranties on their products and services, but you can find some common themes among the most prominent companies. For example, most solar companies and vendors offer 25-year warranties for solar panel performance and factory defects. Warranties for other elements, such as battery and charge controllers, vary depending on the item and the manufacturer.

You may find that some companies also include extra insurance and protection options for situations like property damage during installation, since the installation process involves altering your existing structures to accommodate the technology and wiring. Workmanship guarantees usually come standard, but coverage length can vary as well.

If you plan to lease your solar system, most companies will cover all issues throughout the contract duration. Also, they will typically take responsibility for solar system maintenance.

Types of Solar Warranties

Each solar company offers a variety of warranty options for its panels and installation services. It’s common, however, for companies to extend a 25-year warranty that covers their solar panels’ performance as well as any factory defects. Conversely, different companies offer varying policies for solar batteries, charge controllers and other elements, depending on the manufacturer.

Some companies also offer additional protection packages for things like installer errors and property damage. The duration of coverage varies between businesses, but most offer standard workmanship guarantees.

If solar panel leasing is the best option for you, the company you work with will typically be responsible for any necessary panel maintenance or concerns.

• Manufacturer’s Equipment Warranty (Product Guarantee): This coverage option typically provides 25 years of protection for high-quality solar panels against manufacturing defects and panel failure.
• Performance Warranty (Power Guarantee): This is a manufacturer’s guarantee that the solar panels will continue to perform at a certain percentage of the original levels. These warranties can last anywhere from 10 to 15 years, with about 90% capability after 10 years and 80% after 25.
• Workmanship Warranty: The final option, also known as an installation warranty, typically lasts anywhere from two to 15 years. It protects against damage that may have occurred during the panel mounting process.

Solar Panel Type

Determining which type of solar panels will best suit your lifestyle is an important part of choosing an installation company. For residential use, there are typically three solar panel options: monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film. A fourth option, solar shingles, are newer and less cost-effective. But if money is less of an obstacle, solar roofing shingles are great for those who prefer a sleeker finished look.

Monocrystalline solar panels: These are the most frequently installed panels, boasting the highest efficiency rating of 20% or higher with warranties that typically last 25 years. Monocrystalline panels tend to cost the most upfront, as it costs more to manufacture them.

Polycrystalline solar panels: This panel option is typically less costly to build than its monocrystalline counterpart, making it cheaper to buy but also less efficient. Each panel produces about 250 watts of power instead of 300 or more. Polycrystalline panels resemble the more popular versions, though, and last nearly as long depending on the brand.

Thin-film solar panels: The most cost-effective option, thin-film solar panels are much lighter in comparison. They tend to be less efficient overall.

Solar shingles: For those with larger budgets, solar shingles may be the way to go. While they tend to be less efficient than monocrystalline panels (they have between 14% and 18% efficiency), shingles are a more attractive option.

Cost

Monocrystalline solar panels are pricey, costing an average of $1 to $1.50 per watt. On the other side of the price spectrum, thin-film panels cost between $0.43 and $0.50 per watt.

Shingles are a newer technology and accordingly cost more money and require a more in-depth installation.

Detroit Home Energy Needs

You can estimate how much energy your home requires by using the median size of a Detroit household, which is 1,531 square feet, and the average energy usage per household in Michigan, which is 670 kWh per household. This will help you choose a solar company that can meet the needs of your home while staying within your budget.

Know what your household needs most when it comes to solar panels (perhaps an affordable price range or a certain amount of daily wattage), and ensure that each installation company knows as well. The following tips will further help you choose the best solar company in Detroit.

Get Multiple Quotes

When you’re in the market for solar panels, price shopping is imperative. Costs can drastically differ from company to company, so by shopping around and getting multiple quotes (at least four or five) you can better understand what it costs to install solar in your area and then make an informed decision on who to work with. And remember, the lowest quote isn’t always the best one. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Read Reviews From Detroit Homeowners

As with most products and services we purchase these days, you can gain a lot of insight from researching any company you’re interested in and checking out their ratings and reviews from sites like Facebook and Google. This can be a valuable asset when deciding which solar installer is right for you. If there aren’t enough reviews online for you to make an informed decision, feel free to contact the company directly and ask for testimonials from some of their past customers.

Choose an Established Reputable Solar Company

Not all solar companies are made equal. Some have long standing histories; others are newcomers to the alternative energy industry. New installation companies certainly have their merits, but it may be worth noting that older businesses will likely have a greater online footprint—which means more company reviews and trust ratings.

Aside from their reputation, more established solar companies may also be able to operate in more parts of the country.

If you install solar panels, your home will be a step closer to being more sustainable and you may receive an income tax credit from the federal government. To qualify for the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), your solar system must be new or used for the first time between January 1, 20006 and December 31, 2023. The ITC will expire in 2024 if Congress elects not to renew it.

The incentive programs may make a solar panel installation worth it despite the upfront costs. Homeowners who mount their panels between 2022 and 2023, for example, might qualify for a dollar-for-dollar credit for up to 30% of the solar system’s total price.

Many states are offering similar incentives. New Yorkers, who currently have some of the highest electricity bill costs nationwide, may receive federal dollar-per-watt rebates and up to $5,000 in tax deductions and sales tax exemptions if their panels produce more solar energy than the household can use.

If, as a resident of the Detroit metro area, you want to determine how much solar panels will cost, you should first determine, on average, how much a solar system in your state costs (6kW/8kW/10kW/12kW), then consider any federal solar tax credits that you may be eligible for. Lastly, determine your average monthly kWh usage (using the Detroit metro’s average kWh as a reference point).

On average, solar panels cost around $16,000, or between $3,500 to $35,000, nationally, subject to the model and type you choose.

Size of Solar System (kW)	Average Annual System Output* (kWh)	Average Cost of Solar System (Before Tax Credit)	Cost With (30%) Solar Tax Credit Applied
6 kW	8,000 - 10,000	$10,506	$7,354
8 kW	10,500 - 13,300	$14,008	$9,806
10 kW	13,200 - 16,700	$17,510	$12,257
12 kW	16,000 - 20,000	$21,012	$14,708

* Depends on location and the amount of sun hours received

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Savings is a major reason for going solar, so how much can you really save by switching to solar energy in Detroit? When looking at the average cost for grid power per kilowatt-hour, which is $0.19, as well as the average household kWh usage per month in Michigan, which clocks in at 670 kWh, you can get a good idea of how much your household may be using against the overall grid power costs in your area.

The estimated yearly savings for going solar in Detroit, assuming solar covers 100% of your electrical needs and you have a 6 kW system and pay for it over 25 years, is $1,250. There may be state-specific incentives you can take advantage of, which can help you save even more money. Keep in mind when calculating that utility rates tend to increase by 2.2% each year (yet another reason to install solar panels).

Details	Costs and Savings
Average Cost of 6kW Solar System with Installation	$10,506
Detroit State Incentives (30%)	$3,152
Estimated System Cost (inc. Incentives)	$7,354
Break Even Period	4.8 years
20-Year Savings	$24,990
25-Year Savings	$31,238

* Depends on location and the amount of sun hours received

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While costs can be a lot up front, solar panels can help save you money on your energy bill in the long run. Considering that Detroit gets an average of 241 days of sun and the total potential savings of installing solar in Detroit, which is $1,250 annually, and how many solar installations occur in Detroit (around 90), you can determine if the cost and effort of installing solar will be worth the savings later.

For this list, Forbes Home analyzed the customer service quality of solar companies in Detroit. We ranked each solar company based on several data points related to customer experience.

Here’s the weighting assigned to each category:

Ratio of Low to High Star Ratings (35%)

We analyzed the number of Google reviews for each company against the ratings associated with those reviews. Companies with a higher percentage of positive reviews received more points than companies with a higher rate of negative reviews.

Response Time (25%)

Companies that offer speedy response times received more points than companies with longer or inconsistent response times.

Hours of Operation (10%)

Solar installers with longer operating hours were considered more accessible and thus received a higher score.

Ratio of Complaints to Reviews (25%)

We compared the number of complaints for each solar installer based on their reviews. A lower complaints ratio resulted in a higher score.

Offers a Website (5%)

Solar installers with an official website receive a higher score, as we believe it indicates professionalism and provides customers with additional information.

Other Important Methodology Notes

1. Bayesian rating: We computed a Bayesian rating for each solar installer based on their average rating and the total number of ratings. This provides a more reliable score than a simple average rating, especially when comparing businesses with different numbers of ratings.
2. Response time: We estimated each installer’s response time based on their reviews. A faster response time results in a higher score. We surmised that a solar company with more reviews and a higher average rating has a faster response time.
3. Total score: We then calculated the total score for each solar installer by applying the category weights to each data point.