Josephine NesbitContributing Writer
Josephine Nesbit is a contributing writer for USA TODAY Homefront. She specializes in home impr...
Updated Apr. 22, 2024
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Homefront Local uses a unique algorithm to score solar companies based on important factors like user reviews and how popular they are in your area.
High-quality solar panel installation in Fair Lawn, New Jersey, requires choosing a solar installer that is properly certified, skilled and experienced. To help you find the right team, we’ve assembled a list of the leading solar panel companies in Fair Lawn.
Before deciding on an installer, ask others for suggestions, evaluate the installers you're considering and collect quotes from multiple companies to find the one that suits your needs. You can select a local solar company in Fair Lawn or choose an established national brand.
Although solar panels require a big upfront investment, you can reduce your energy bills over the long term. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), transitioning to solar energy enables Fair Lawn homeowners to save $710 on average each year.
Many solar companies offer different services. Take the time to review each company and get quotes from all before booking your solar panel installation.
Vet Fair Lawn solar companies with a minimum of 3.5 out of 5 stars on Google Reviews and comparable customer review platforms. The company should also have a good rating on Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Browse reviews to understand other homeowners’ experiences with a company, and be on the lookout for mutiple bad reviews.
Even areas with changing sun amounts, including rainier and cloudier places such as Fair Lawn, can still use solar panels. Key reasons to adopt solar are:
According to the results of our survey done in October 2023, the median cost for solar panel installation nationally is $11,743.
The price of installing solar panels varies based on several factors, including your location, sunlight exposure, roof orientation, shading, system size and labor. Be prepared to pay extra if you pick any add-ons like animal guards, batteries or solar trackers.
According to data from the EIA, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and NASA, installing solar panels in Fair Lawn generally runs about $11,529.
Though installing solar panels requires a major investment to start, you can achieve considerable savings on your energy bills in the long term.
In Fair Lawn, you can plan to save money after transitioning fully to solar. However, it takes time to recover the initial investment, and factors such as rain and tree coverage influence how long it takes to see a return on your solar investment.
Beyond cost savings, switching to solar power also lessens your carbon footprint and minimizes your environmental impact. Provided below are the projected 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 Fair Lawn can qualify for several solar incentives. Some are available across the state for all New Jersey residents, and others differ by your municipality, city and utility company.
The following solar incentives are accessible to New Jersey residents, according to DSIRE:
Name / Incentive Type | Incentive Amount/Details |
---|---|
Sales Tax Incentive Solar Energy Sales Tax Exemption | 100% exemption |
Performance-Based Incentive Successor Solar Incentive (SuSI) Program | Net-Metered Residential: $90/SREC-II Small Net-Metered Non-Residential located on Rooftop, Carport, Canopy and Floating Solar Projects smaller than 1 MW (dc): $100/SREC-II, $120 for public entities Projects 1 MW to 5 MW (dc): $90/SREC-II, $110 for public entities Net Metered Non-Residential Ground Mount Projects smaller than 1 MW (dc): $85/SREC-II, $105 for public entities Projects 1 MW to 5 MW (dc): $80/SREC-II, $100 for public entities Community Solar LMI: $90/SREC-II Community Solar Non-LMI: $70/SREC-II |
Property Tax Incentive Property Tax Exemption for Renewable Energy Systems | 100% of value added by renewable system |
Solar Renewable Energy Credit Program Solar Renewable Energy Certificates (SRECs) Registration Program | Determined by the market. In June 2016, SREC traded at an average price of $229.90. |
Other Incentive PSE&G - Solar Loan Program | See Website |
Rebate Program NJ Clean Energy- Residential New Construction Program | Incentives depend on the HERS score and the classification Single family homes: Ranges from $1,125 to - 24,250 Multi-single homes: Ranges from $1,125 to $18,188 Multifamily homes: Ranges from $625-$12,125 |
Rebate Program Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program | Rebates Single family : $2,000 to $4,000 Multi-family : $500-$1,500 per unit Rebates for single family and multi-family should not exceed 50% of the cost of the measures used to calculate total estimated savings (TES) See table below for details Loans Single-family: $5,000 (Tier II) or $10,000 (Tier III)4.99% interest loans up to $15,000 (where utility 0% financing is unavailable) |
Rebate Program COOLAdvantage Program | Central AC: Tier 1 $300(Tier 1), $500 (Tier 2) Ductless Mini Split A/C or Heat Pump: $500 Air Source Heat Pump: $300 (Tier 1), $500(Tier 2) Geothermal Heat Pump: $500 |
Rebate Program NJ Clean Energy- WARMAdvantage Program (Electric and Gas) | Residential Electric Customers (including municipal utility customers): Solar Hot Water Heater: $1,200 Heat Pump Water Heater: $500 Geothermal Heat Pump: $500 Air-Source or Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump: $300- $500 Residential Gas Customers (including propane): Gas Furnace: $250- $500 Gas Boiler: $300 Gas Water Heater: $300 Solar Hot Water Heater: $1,200 Oil Heating Customers: Oil Furnace: $250 Oil Boiler: $300 Combination Rebate Boiler and Water Heater Combination Rebate: $700 Furnace and Water Heater Combination Rebate: $700- $950 |
Rebate Program New Jersey Renewable Energy Incentive Program (Sustainable Biopower) | $900,000 or 30% of the cost per project, which ever is less |
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. |
When selecting a professional solar panel installation company, first review these important questions.
Your household's energy use and the solar system's production ratio determine the appropriate panel system size for you. Larger houses tend to use more power and will potentially need larger solar installations. An undersized system could lead to inadequate energy generation to completely power your home.
Your solar installation project may be subject to applicable codes and permit requirements by your state. You'll need to obtain the required permits from your local building department, as well as arrange an inspection.
Not all homes receive the same amount of sunlight. Surrounding trees, rainfall and severe weather conditions in your area can impact sunlight access. If your home doesn’t get enough sunlight, then you may require more panels with a higher wattage.
For extra power storage, a lot of panel systems include a solar battery. This feature is invaluable when sunlight is scarce and helps to prevent power loss. However, adding battery storage may lead to increased setup expenses.
Multiple solar panel varieties exist, each differing in design, life expectancy and efficiency. These factors impact pricing, the frequency of replacing panels and space taken 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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