4 Best Solar Companies in Birmingham, AL (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 4 in Birmingham based on:
- Customer review scores
- Service area for Birmingham, AL
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Birmingham homeowner saves $1,767/year with solar panels
Updated February 01, 2024
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Birmingham
Looking to go solar but want to know which solar company would be best for your needs? Although it can be difficult to settle on a solar company, the search will pay off because going solar has many good benefits. What's especially making many homeowners consider installing solar panels is their very high energy bills that keep increasing each year.
In this article, we’ll introduce you to the top Birmingham solar installers so you can make the best choice for your home’s green energy needs.To help you figure out if solar panels are something you should get for your home, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from one of the best solar companies in Birmingham by clicking the button below.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
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 Birmingham
Eagle Solar & Light
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Roof Assessment
- Consultation
- Commercial Panels
- Residential Panels
- Solar Panel Upgrades
Vulcan Solar Power, LLC
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Residential Panels
- Commercial Panels
- Permit Assistance
- Consultation
Small Tech Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Residential Panels
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
Solar Technology Alabama
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Panels
- Residential Panels
- Battery Storage
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Birmingham
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Birmingham 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 Birmingham
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 Birmingham
For many people considering switching to solar, the decision of which solar company to go with comes down to how much it’ll cost.Some main factors that dictate how much it will cost to install solar panels on your home and how much money you could save over time are:
- Your location: This affects how much sunlight your roof receives, which helps determine how many panels you need.
- The type and model of solar panels you want to get: More efficient models cost more, so that will determine your budget for your solar project.
- Incentives: Something that can make your solar project cost less is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that’s equal to a percentage of the project cost. You can also save on your energy bills, which can result in an average of $21,000 of savings over 20 years.
- Electricity consumption: The average home in Birmingham uses a lot of energy, and therefore may see more savings on electricity bills than other places.
Solar is a profitable investment for most homeowners. You can produce your own electricity instead of paying for it from a utility company and benefit from solar tax credits and rebates, all while helping the environment.
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For an idea of both how much you could save and help the Earth by switching to solar power, you can test out the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Birmingham, AL.
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Solar Incentives in Birmingham
To increase the adoption of solar power, incentives are offered by the government – and even some utility companies – to help make solar more economical and accessible.When you install solar panels on your home, you can take advatage of the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently reduces your tax bill by 0 of the cost of your solar panels. Plus, there may often be some local incentives that you can take advantage of to further save. Our article on solar incentives has more detailed information on the incentives you can find in Birmingham.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Birmingham
Lots of people want to do what they can to help the environment, which for many is the primary motivation to install solar panels.You may be wondering – how much do solar panels help the environment anyway? One thing to consider is your overall carbon footprint. For example, if you have a long commute time and have an electric vehicle, you can install solar panels on your home to power your EV and therefore help offset your carbon emissions.Even though solar panel production emits carbon dioxide, the panels make up for it by considerably lowering the amount of CO2 you would have produced if you still used traditional energy. In Birmingham, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 90 pounds a year with solar panels. Since energy from the sun is renewable and makes electricity without free from carbon dioxide emissions, making the switch to solar power is one easy step you can take to help preserve the planet.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
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 Birmingham, AL Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar company is the best in Birmingham?
In Birmingham, Eagle Solar & Light is the top local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 3.00 stars, so it's a great choice if you're looking to install solar panels on your house.
Are solar panels actually good for the environment?
Solar panels can be bad for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals when they’re made. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to dispose of safely once they’ve reached the end of their lifespan. Solar panel manufacturing needs a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
How long does it take for solar to pay for itself?
Solar panels generally pay for themselves in about 11.1 years, but your solar payback period will depend on your utility costs. The higher your typical energy bill, the faster your solar panel system will pay for itself.
How long do solar panels last?
Even though the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they stop working completely. What this means is the amount of energy they produce will have decreased significantly after that point. You can opt to replace them once you've had them for that long or you can continue to use 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.