1 Source Solar Review 2023 - The Residential View

1 Source Solar Overview

1 Source Solar is a turnkey solar energy installer headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa. The company has experienced steady growth over the years which has allowed it to expand its service beyond the borders of Iowa to neighboring states. The company has won several awards for its contribution to the solar industry and is partnered with companies such as Red Barn Solar and Alliant Energy.

1 Source Solar specializes in serving agricultural, commercial, and residential clients across the state of Iowa. They handle both high-cost and low-cost projects, and aim to provide superior customer service through each stage of its process. 

1 Source Solar Services and Specifics

Solar Panels and Services offered by 1 Source Solar

1 Source Solar systems use N-type or P-type monocrystalline solar panels.

Specific Solar Panels Offered

1 Source Solar installs solar products from the following solar manufacturers:

EnPhase Solar Panels

EnPhase Energy is an energy technology company and one of the world’s largest suppliers of micro-inverter based solar systems. The Enphase Energy IQ systems is the company’s most popular line, providing users with an all-in-one solar, battery, and software solution that can be controlled via their state of the art mobile application, which has been deployed in over 130 countries worldwide. 

SMA Solar Panels 

SMA has installed over 50 gigawatts of solar products globally and is ranked as a top-three inverter company worldwide. These panels carry the title of “German Engineered” and are designed according to strict specification to ensure optimal performance and durability. Their inverters have an average rated power of 4000 watts and a CEC efficiency of 96.5 percent.

SolarEdge Solar Panels

SolarEdge solar panels are equipped with the company’s own Power Optimizers that are specifically designed for maximum energy production, easy installation, and easier servicing over the lifetime of the system. The company combines its industry leading DC optimization technology with enhanced module performance to ensure that users receive maximum module output.

Tesla Solar Panels

1 Source Solar offers Tesla Powerwall power storage systems for off-grid installations so you can store solar energy generated, assuring power even in the event of a grid outage. Each Powerwall holds 12.2 kWh of usable capacity and maintains a 10% reserve so that when the power goes out, the battery has enough power to turn your solar on to get the battery recharged when the sun comes up the next day.

Additional Services

• Generac Backup Power
• Site Analysis
• Solar Design 
• Solar Installation
• Solar System Monitoring 

Specific Types of Solar Offered

1 Source Solar LLC offers grid-tied and off-the-grid installations. They handle the following types of solar projects:

Residential Solar: In this service, 1 Source Solar LLC installs a complete solar energy kit customized to the electricity needs of a resident’s home.

Commercial Solar: This service is designed for business organizations. It targets business owners who wish to opt for more economical energy-saving strategies to maximize profit long term.

Agricultural Solar: 1 Source Solar specializes in agricultural solar panel design, build, and installations. The company has partnered with the following organizations to standardize their solar farm solutions:

• Iowa Poultry Association
• Iowa Pork Producers Association
• Missouri Pork Association

Installation costs and process

Costs

The average cost of solar panels in Iowa is between $3.10 and $4.50 per watt. This means that a solar system that is 5 kilowatts in size would generally cost between $15,500 – $20,500 to install. 1 Source Solar does not advertise a specific cost for its solar installation since its system’s costs vary depending on factors such as the design, size, and materials used.

Using a cost sample from the company’s website, the cost of going solar with 1 Source is estimated to be about $2.40 per watt before any solar incentive. This is noticeably lower than the national average which is in the range of $2.60 – $2.70 per watt.

If you include the Federal Tax Credit and Depreciation incentive in Iowa, the cost cuts to about $1.17 per watt. That is an incredibly low rate to pay to go solar in today’s solar market.

Having trawled several customer reviews we did find instances of reviewers mentioning hat the company is affordable with their pricing while maintaining excellent quality. 

Here is an example:

1 Source Solar offers the following financing options:

• Lease – Low monthly payments to add solar to your home or business.
• Loan – You can apply for a loan through your local bank or credit union or explore 1 Source Solar’s loan options, allowing you to finance your solar system even if you cannot purchase it outright. Clients can also utilize tax credits and rebates for cheaper payment.
• Cash – With 1 Source Solar, you can pay off your solar system with cash upfront. Tax credits and rebates can lower the price.
• HERO – HERO financing is based on the equity in your home and debt payment history, meaning that a low credit score is not an immediate disqualifier. Clients can check if they are in a HERO-approved area and apply for a no-money-down, fixed-rate financing program.
• PACE – Through the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, businesses in participating areas can pay for their solar system through their property tax, allowing repayment for up to 20 years on a fixed-rate loan.

With excellent customer feedback, a variety of financing options, and seemingly competitive pricing, 1 Source Solar ticks all the boxes in terms of costs.

Legitimacy

Awards and Accreditations:

• Certified Installer – Tesla Powerwall and Generac solar battery system
• Registered Member – Iowa Solar Energy Trade Association (ISETA)
• Registered Member – Missouri Solar Energy Industries Association (MOSEIA)
• Certified Member – Solar Energy Industries Association

Based on these findings, we are confident to say 1 Source Solar is a fully registered and legitimate company.

Maintenance

1 Source Solar provides after-sales support, and a variety of warranties to give its customers peace of mind. This includes a 25-year product warranty on its solar panels and a 10-year warranty on the inverters it installs. The Tesla PowerWall comes with its own warranty of 10 years and the company backs all of these up with a 5-year workmanship warranty.

It is worth mentioning that while the company’s product and inverter warranties are in line with the industry average, the workmanship warranty is notably shorter, with most companies offering between 10-15 years of cover.

Nevertheless, customers have expressed much satisfaction with 1 Source Solar’s maintenance team for their availability and timeliness.

Customer service

Like the maintenance service, 1 Source Solar’s customer service has received very positive reviews, with most customers commending its responsiveness. From over 25 reviews, the company has managed to achieve a 4.7 star rating with only one customer providing a 1 star rating, though they did not explain what their iss was. 

The SolarEmpower View

1 Source Solar is a top-level solar energy solutions provider Iowa. and is a worthwhile option to consider if you are planning to go solar in Iowa or Missouri. They have the necessary years of experience in the solar business with multiple awards for their contribution to the industry, and to top it off, their pricing and maintenance service is commended and very competitive.

We highly recommend 1 Source Solar for any solar project in Iowa and Missouri.