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Josephine NesbitHome improvement writer
Josephine Nesbit is a contributing writer for USA TODAY Homefront. She specializes in home impr...
Updated Jun 22, 2024
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We've ranked the top 10 solar companies that operate within 50 miles of Norwood. We base our ranking off average customer ratings weighted against the number of reviews. For more information, check out our full methodology.
Top-quality solar panel installation in Norwood, Massachusetts, requires you to hire a solar installer that is certified, trained and experienced. To guide your search for the best possible installer, we've gathered a list of the top solar companies in Norwood.
Prior to picking an installer, request referrals from others, vet potential companies and request multiple quotes to determine the ideal company for your requirements. You can find a local solar company in Norwood or use a well-known national brand.
Although solar panels call for a big upfront investment, you can lower your energy bills over the long term. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), switching to solar energy allows Norwood homeowners to save $1,000 on average each year.
Not every solar company boats the same offerings. Ahead of scheduling your solar panel installation, weigh different companies' offerings and get multiple quotes.
Look for Norwood solar companies that have a minimum of 3.5 out of 5 stars in customer ratings on Google Reviews and other review platforms. The company should also have a good rating on Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Looking at previous customer testimonials can give insight into other homeowners' experiences working with the solar company. Frequent poor reviews are worth making a note of as a possible warning sign.
Below are additional solar installation companies that didn’t make our top picks based on their distance, ratings or service offerings.
Regions with inconsistent sunshine, including those with extra rain or clouds like Norwood, can still make use of solar energy. A few key motivations to start using solar power include these:
Our survey from October 2023 showed that the national median price of solar panel installation is $11,743.
The cost of solar panel installation is impacted by your area, labor costs, shading, roof orientation, sunlight availability and system size. Opting for extras such as batteries, animal guards or solar trackers will increase the overall cost.
Based on statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), NASA and the EIA the mean cost to install solar panels in Norwood is $12,529.
Installing solar panels means sizable spending upfront, but you can make those costs back through big reductions in your energy bills down the line.
In Norwood, you can expect to save money once you've transitioned fully to solar. But it takes time to recover the upfront costs, and factors like precipitation and tree coverage influence how soon you'll get a return on your solar investment.
Beyond cost savings, changing to solar power also decreases your carbon footprint and minimizes your environmental impact. Provided below are the approximated CO2 emission reductions you can expect from solar energy, as determined by our analysis of data from NASA and the EPA.
Experts Ready to Help
Homeowners in Norwood can be eligible for several solar incentives. A few are available across the state for all Massachusetts residents, and others are based on your utility company, municipality and city.
Per the DSIRE, these are the solar incentives offered to Massachusetts residents:
Name / Incentive Type | Incentive Amount/Details |
---|---|
Property Tax Incentive Renewable Energy Property Tax Exemption | Solar energy systems used for heating or cooling: out-of-pocket expenditures by the owner for the components and labor Wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, solar thermal, solar PV, and other solar energy systems: the assessed value of the system |
Personal Tax Credit Residential Renewable Energy Income Tax Credit | 15% |
Sales Tax Incentive Renewable Energy Equipment Sales Tax Exemption | 100% exemption |
Industry Recruitment/Support Alternative Energy and Energy Conservation Patent Income Tax Deduction (Personal) | 100% deduction |
Rebate Program Cape Light Compact- Residential Energy Efficiency Rebate Program | Appliances Refrigerator and Freezer Recycling: $125 Electric Clothes Dryers: $50 Clothes Washer: $350 Dehumidifiers: $30 Room Air Purifiers: $40 Room Air Conditioner: $40 Heating & Cooling Oil Heating System: Up to $800 Propane Heating Equipment: Up to $2,300 Oil Water Heater: Up to $400 Propane Water Heater: Up to $800 Heat Pump Water Heater: Up to $600 Central AC/Heat Pump: Up to $250/ton Mini-Split Heat Pump: Up to $250/ton Programmable Thermostats: Up to $25 WiFi Thermostat: Up to $100 Solar Domestic Hot Water heater: $500 - $1,500 Home Electronics Advanced Power Strips: Varies Home Insulation Limited Time Enhanced Incentive: 75% Year-Round Tenant Incentive: 100% Enhanced Residential Program: 100% Lighting LEDs: Varies Home Energy Assessment: Free |
Performance-Based Incentive Solar Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program | (Base compensation rate + compensation rate adders - greenfield subtractor) * total kWh generated - value of energy generated |
Loan Program Mass Solar Loan Program | Maximum required: $35,000; maximum possible: $60,000 |
Rebate Program Residential and Small-Scale Ground-Source Heat Pump Rebate Program | New GSHP Rebate: $2,000 per ton with adders to eligible applicants Retrofit Existing GSHP Rebate: varies with installation costs |
Rebate Program Commonwealth Woodstove Change-Out Program | Standard Residential: Pellet Stove: $1,000 - $1,750 Catalytic Woodstove: $750 - $1,250 Non-Catalytic Woodstove: $500-$1,250 Fully Automated Wood Stove: $1,500 - $1,750 Low-Income Residential: Pellet Stove: $2,500 - $3,250 Catalytic Woodstove: $2,250 - $2,750 Non-Catalytic Woodstove: $2,000-$2,750 Fully Automated Wood Stove: $2,750 - $3,250 |
PACE Financing Local Option - Energy Revolving Loan Fund | Financing amount locally determined; 20-year financing term |
Solar Renewable Energy Credit Program Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SREC-II) | Varies, depending on market supply and demand |
Personal Tax Credit Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit | 30% federal tax credit for systems placed in service after 12/31/2021 and before 01/01/2033. Good for: solar water heat, solar photovoltaics, biomass, geothermal heat pumps, wind (small), fuel cells using renewable fuels. |
Take time to think through these questions prior to hiring a solar panel installation company.
Your solar panel system's size hinges on your home's energy consumption and the system's production capacity. Larger homes use more electricity and will potentially require bigger solar setups. An undersized system could struggle to fully energize your house.
Specific permits and state or local requirements could affect your solar project. You’ll need to apply for the proper permits through your local building department and arrange an inspection.
Not all homes receive the same amount of sunlight. Nearby trees, rain conditions and severe weather can affect sunlight access. If your property doesn’t get adequate sunlight, then you may need additional panels with higher wattage.
A lot of solar panel systems include a battery. Solar batteries hold extra power, which is particularly beneficial when you want to avoid power loss when there's no sunshine. Adding battery storage might affect the installation cost.
There are several solar panel types available, with differences in design, life expectancy and efficiency. These aspects affect not just the cost, but also how often panels will need to be replaced and the space needed on your roof.
The Homefront Local team employs a proprietary scoring algorithm that evaluates companies based on key factors you value, such as average customer review ratings and trustworthiness indicators. Our method for determining trust involves a comparative analysis of the number of reviews a company receives compared to its local competitors. This leads to companies that have earned more trust from your local community being awarded a higher score.
We review national and large regional solar providers against our full methodology. We score solar companies on reputation and customer reviews, service options, payment, financing and warranties.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics. Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information. Go back to top
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