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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 Ridley. We base our ranking off average customer ratings weighted against the number of reviews. For more information, check out our full methodology.
To get a high-quality solar panel installation in Ridley, Pennsylvania, you'll need to find a properly certified, qualified and experienced solar installer. We've assembled a list of the best solar companies in Ridley to help you find the right one.
Prior to selecting an installer, ask others for suggestions, assess potential companies and get multiple quotes to find the right company for your needs. You can choose a local solar company in Ridley or pick a well-known national brand.
While putting in solar panels requires a large initial investment, it can decrease your energy bills over time. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows that switching to solar energy enables Ridley homeowners to save an average of $1,100 annually.
Various solar companies offer different products. Make sure to review each company and get quotes from all before booking your solar panel installation.
When looking into Ridley solar companies, find those with a minimum of 3.5 out of 5 stars on sites like Google Reviews and similar platforms, as well as a decent reputation on Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Reading through previous customer reviews will give you a sense of how other homeowners viewed the company, so be wary if you see a pattern of negative reviews.
Below are additional solar installation companies that didn’t make our top picks based on their distance, ratings or service offerings.
Places with varying amounts of sun, including those with more rain or cloud coverage like Ridley, can still benefit from solar energy. Here are the top reasons for going solar:
Our survey from October 2023 found that the national median price of solar panel installation is $11,743.
What you'll pay to install solar panels hinges on factors such as your region, sunlight levels, roof alignment, shading, system size and labor. The price increases if you choose any extras like animal guards, batteries or solar trackers.
According to numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the EIA and NASA, solar panel installation in Ridley has an average cost of $16,181.
Although installing solar panels requires a large investment to start, you can see considerable savings on your energy bills in the long term.
In Ridley, you can anticipate saving money after transitioning fully to solar. However, it takes time to recover the initial investment, and factors such as rain and tree coverage affect how long it takes to see a return on your solar investment.
Beyond cost savings, switching 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 Ridley can enjoy several solar incentives. Certain are available across the state for all Pennsylvania residents, and others are determined by your utility company, municipality and city.
Here are solar incentives offered to Pennsylvania residents, as listed by DSIRE.
Name / Incentive Type | Incentive Amount/Details |
---|---|
Loan Program High Performance Buildings Incentive Program | Residential loans/loan guarantees: $100,000 Commercial loans/loan guarantees: $2 million Grants: Lesser of 10% of project costs or $500,000 |
Loan Program Wind and Geothermal Incentives Program | Manufacturer loans: $40,000 per job created within 3 years Manufacturer grants: $5,000 per job created within 3 years Loans for geothermal systems: $3 per square foot of space served up to $5 million; also limited to 50% of eligible costs for residential systems. Loans for wind energy production projects: $5 million Grants for wind energy production projects: $1 million Grants for feasibility studies: 50% of cost up to $175,000 Loan guarantee grants: Up to 75% of deficient funds up to $5 million |
Solar Renewable Energy Credit Program Solar Alternative Energy Credits | Varies based on market conditions; during 2015 the market price for PA-sourced SRECs has ranged from approximately $32 - $55/MWh ($0.032 - $0.055/kWh) although individual trades have taken place at substantially lower and higher prices. |
Grant Program High Performance Building Incentives Program | Vary by project, but program generally requires matching funds at least equivalent to DCED funding |
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 installation service provider.
Your household's energy use and the solar system's production ratio influence the appropriate panel system size for you. Larger residences tend to use more power and will potentially need bigger solar panel systems. An undersized system faces the risk of inadequate energy generation to fully power your home.
Specific permits and state or local regulations could affect your solar project. You’ll need to apply for the required permits through your local building department and book an inspection.
Not every house gets the same sun exposure. Local tree coverage, rainfall and harsh weather conditions can limit sunlight. If your home lacks adequate sunlight, you may need extra panels with increased wattage.
A lot of solar panel systems include a battery. Solar batteries keep extra power, which is especially useful when you want to prevent power loss in a storm. Installing battery storage may increase the installation cost.
There are multiple solar panel types available, with differences in efficiency, design and life expectancy. These aspects impact not just the cost, but also how often panels will need to be replaced and roof space requirements.
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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