15 Best Solar Companies in Durham, NC (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Durham based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Durham, NC
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Durham homeowner saves $1,476/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Durham
When looking for the best solar companies in Durham, going through so many options can be intimidating, but it can pay off since adopting solar power can offer so many great perks. After 20 years of offsetting your energy costs with a solar system, you can save about $18,000 on your utility bills.
If you want to start taking advantage of the great number of perks of solar, we’ll help you narrow down your options to find the Durham solar installer that’s right for you.If you want to receive free, no-obligation quotes from the top Durham solar companies, you can click the button below to learn more.
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 Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Outstanding Regional Installer
Renu Energy Solutions
- Excellent reputation
- Many financing options
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- No leases or PPAs
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Durham
Renu Energy Solutions
Informative Resources- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Panel Installation- Consultation
- Tesla Powerwall
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
Southern Energy Management
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Tesla Powerwall
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Permit Assistance
Freedom Solar Power - Raleigh Solar Panel Installers
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Tesla Powerwall
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
Jim's Solarguard
- Informative Resources
- Family-Operated Business
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Yes Solar Solutions
- Informative Resources
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Family-Operated Business
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Tesla Powerwall
- Solar Carports
- Panel Installation
Just One Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
Triangle Solar JB
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Emerald Energy
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
8MSolar
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- System Decommissioning
- Skilled Repairs
- Permit Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Tesla Powerwall
- Consultation
NC Solar Now
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Noon Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
PE Solar
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Wiring Solutions Plus LLC
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Green Home Systems
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Quick Solar Solutions
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Tesla Powerwall
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
- Permit Assistance
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Durham
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Durham 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 Durham
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for North Carolina 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 Durham
We get that for many homeowners, the choice to invest in solar depends on installation costs.The cost of solar and the savings it generates vary depending on some key factors such as:
- Electricity consumption: The average household in Durham uses a lot of energy, and consequently may see more savings on electricity bills than other places.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone in the U.S. is eligible for, allows you to deduct 0 of the cost of installing your solar panel system from your taxes. Additionally, not including incentives, you can save about $18,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
- Where your home is: This affects how much sunlight your roof gets, which helps determine how many panels you need.
- Your energy bills: This will dictate how much you can save. In Durham, the average resident can save about $1,400 a year on their electricity bills.
There are several wonderful benefits of solar despite the upfront cost of installation. It can help the environment and your finances. In addition, it can boost the value of your home, giving you even more benefits if you want to sell your home later.
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Solar Incentives in Durham
One of the great things about installing a solar panel system is receiving government incentives.Everyone can take advantage of the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which will let you claim 0 of how much your solar project cost when you file taxes, reducing the amount of taxes you owe that year. In addition, there may be some local incentives that stack with the ITC too. In our article on solar incentives, you can read about the incentives you qualify for in your area.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Durham
An important reason so many people are thinking of switching to solar power is to help bring down their environmental impact.A question many people might be wondering about is how much can they really help preserve the environment by going solar anyway? In a place like Durham where commute times can be pretty long, installing solar panels can help help reduce the carbon footprint of being on the road a lot.In fact, if you adopt solar power, you could look forward to lowering your carbon dioxide emissions by about 60 pounds each year. As you can see, going solar has so many other benefits besides saving money. One of the most important ones is that you can help save the Earth too.
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 Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
Outstanding Regional Installer
Renu Energy Solutions
- Excellent reputation
- Many financing options
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- No leases or PPAs
EcoWatch's Durham, NC Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar installation company is the best near me?
The best local solar company in Durham is Renu Energy Solutions, with a rating of 3.00 stars.
What is the negative environmental impact of solar panel manufacturing?
Manufacturing solar panels needs to use chemicals and produces toxic waste that can be harmful for the environment, which is the main drawback of solar panels.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after getting solar panels?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 13.3 years, but the exact period depends on local electricity costs, incentives and net metering programs.
How efficient are solar panels?
For the most part, solar panels are about 15 to 25% efficient, which means they can convert that percentage of the sun’s energy into usable electricity.
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.