Solar Providers Near Me | Solar Panels, Battery Storage, Roofing, HVAC
If you live in California and are wondering, “How can I find solar providers near me?” then you are in luck. You just happen to live in the number one solar state in the country, a state that employs over 80,000 people in the solar industry. If you live in or near a major city in California, chances are good that dozens of solar installation companies would love to have your business. The real trick, then, isn’t finding a solar installation company near you, it’s figuring out how to choose the best solar company to perform your installation. Putting a solar panel system on your roof is a major expense and represents a big renovation to your home. Workers will need to install racking to your roof and make changes to your electrical system. The solar installer you choose will be the key to ensuring that this process goes smoothly. The quality of their team will play a big role in how well your system functions after the installation and the overall solar power system cost. In other words, choosing a solar installer is a very important decision that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Rather than searching on Google for “solar providers near me,” and choosing the company that paid for an ad at the top of the search engine rankings, do your homework! Not sure how to start your search? Here are four easy steps to help you find the best solar installer in your area. Step One: Ask Your Neighbors and Friends for Referrals The best way to determine whether a solar installer is knowledgeable, trustworthy, and easy to work with is to ask people who have already used them. You won’t find true feedback on a company from the carefully chosen testimonials on their website. Instead, turn to your friends and family who have solar panels and ask about their experience. They will be more than happy to tell you the good, the bad, and the ugly about their solar journey and will also help you understand what to expect as you start on your own solar adventure. The main purpose of this step is to eliminate solar companies that didn’t provide excellent service for your friends, family, and neighbors. If you get a glowing recommendation about a particular solar company, resist the temptation to immediately contact them and sign a contract. Keep in mind that your friend or family member may have not done their homework and could have used the first company that came up in their Google search. You can’t know whether they truly got the best service and price. Keep their recommendations handy and then continue with your research. Step Two: Check Out Review Sites Your friends and neighbors should be able to give you a list of solar installation companies they used and liked (and a list of companies to steer clear of). Of course, you shouldn’t base such a big purchase decision on a single recommendation, so your next step is to do some more research on your new list of prospects. It’s time to head online and see what other previous customers say about your potential solar installers. (Note: If you recently moved to town or don’t have any friends or family who can make solar recommendations, just go straight to this step.) We recommend reading up on reviews at SolarReviews, Angie’s List, and the Better Business Bureau. Use Yelp as a last resort, as the reviews on that site aren’t always of the highest quality. The beauty of large review websites is that you’ll get to learn about the experiences of a number of different people, so you can get a much better idea of how a company consistently operates. It is important to keep in mind that many people are spurred to write reviews based on either a very good experience or a very bad experience, so what you read may not be a completely accurate reflection of a company. Don’t be afraid of one terrible review for a company if the majority of their reviews are positive. If you see a pattern of poor service, then it’s time to cross that name off your list! As you read through reviews, here are a few general things to look for: Did the solar installation company provide good communication throughout the process? Did the company stick with their timeline? Did the company stay on budget? Was the company able to address any concerns the customer had? Was the company able to pull permits, schedule inspections, and order the equipment in a timely manner? Did the installation face any problems? How did the company address these problems and was the customer satisfied with their solution? Is the solar panel system running and working well? Overall, how satisfied is the customer with their experience? It’s important to know that very few solar installations go off without a hitch. Equipment shipping from the manufacturer may be delayed. Perhaps an inspection of the roof revealed damage that required a repair. Maybe someone at the permitting office lost a permit request. These things happen. When you read reviews about a solar installation company, focus on how well they address the inevitable issues that occur. Step Three: Request a Consultation After reading reviews of your potential installers, it’s time to pick a few top contenders. Try to narrow your list to between two and four companies that have gotten an endorsement from a friend or family member and have generally positive reviews. It’s time to request a consultation. Any solar installation company worth their sunbeams should offer a free consultation. Give the company a call or fill out the form on their website, and you should be contacted shortly by a representative to schedule the consultation. The company will send an experienced associate to your home to discuss your project, goals, and budget. Here are a few of the things to expect during your consultation. The association will: Calculate your home’s average monthly energy usage Assess your roof to understand its orientation, slope, and pitch, which all affect how much direct sunlight it receives Determine if you would be a good candidate for a rooftop solar system and/or discuss alternative configurations, like ground mount systems or carport solar systems Discuss your budget and provide you with information about different payment options, including no-money offers, leasing, and power purchase agreements Review and recommend different solar panel brands and inverter brands to help you decide which equipment would work best with your budget and goals Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of hooking your system directly to the public utility grid to versus investing in a solar storage solution, like a Tesla Powerwall Walk you through the full installation process, including ordering the equipment, pulling permits, scheduling inspections, and hooking your system to the grid. Discuss all renewable energy incentives that you may qualify for, including the Investment Tax Credit Provide you with a recommended solar plan, which will include a timeline and price quote for the entire project The best associates will take the time to learn about your unique situation, answer your questions, and address your concerns. Ideally, they’ll also tell you about their company’s history and mission and help you feel comfortable with the entire solar installation process. Not every solar installer is the right choice for your project. Often, you’ll see red flags during the consultation, such as: The associate tries to steer you towards a specific payment plan The associate recommends a certain size solar system without explaining why that size is a good fit for your family The associate recommends a solar system that is bigger than you need The associate only offers you one or two solar panel brands to choose from and doesn’t really know much about how other brands compare The associate doesn’t know the answers to many of your questions and doesn’t offer to research them and follow up with you The associate doesn’t listen to you and rushes the consultation Once you’ve completed all the consultations, it’s time to compare your quotes and make the big decision. Step Four: Choosing a Solar Provider Near Me After your solar consultations are complete, you may have a clear winner in mind, or perhaps you were able to cross one or two companies off your list, leaving you with several great options to choose from. Now it’s time to compare your quotes and think carefully about how you feel about each company. While it’s tempting to simply choose the company that offers the lowest solar power system cost, we encourage you to take a number of factors into consideration, including: Your comfort level with the company The company’s communication Overall customer reviews The company’s willingness to provide a personalized solar recommendation plan for you One other important factor to contemplate is whether or not the company is locally established. By taking your business to a local solar company, you are keeping your dollars in your community and supporting local, high-paying solar jobs for your friends and neighbors. There’s another important reason to “go local.” A local solar installation company will already be familiar with common roofing trends in your neighborhood which can help them avoid issues when they begin their installation. Local companies are also highly experienced pulling permits in your area. They know where to go and how to fill out the forms. Finally, they are also much more likely to know if any local renewable energy incentives – like rebates or tax deductions – are available. At Semper Solaris, we believe in investing in local communities, which is why we have opened locations throughout California. We are a veteran owned and operated business that instills our military values of integrity, responsibility, and attention to detail into everything that we do. When it comes time to search for solar installers in your area, we encourage you to take a look at all of our reviews on SolarReviews.com, Angie’s List, and The Better Business Bureau. We would appreciate the opportunity to compete for your business. Schedule a solar consultation today.
“The solar industry is booming.” That’s according to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), which found that the solar industry has grown by an average annual rate of 59% over the last ten years. The rise in solar installation has spurred the appearance of many different solar installers, including large, national chains. If you’re in the market for solar panels, you have more solar installation companies to choose from than ever before. With so many options, you may be wondering, “Do I really need to choose from solar providers near me?” It’s tempting to work with a national solar installation chain for several reasons. These huge companies have plenty of money for slick advertising and also offer competitive pricing. You may even run into their friendly representatives at Costco or Home Depot. However, by choosing a national corporation instead of a local solar installer, you may be shortchanging your community, your wallet, and the integrity of your solar panel system! Here are five big reasons that the answer to the question, “Do I need to choose from solar providers near me?” should be YES! Local Companies Understand Your Roof Your city and neighborhood has a unique character and architectural history. It’s important that any contractor who works on your home possesses a deep understanding of the design standards and common building materials of your area. A local solar installation company will have plenty of experience working on the types of roofs that are common in your city. This is important because the installers need to know how to work on your roof without damaging it and how to correctly install the racking that attaches to your roof and holds the solar panels in place. It makes a big difference if your roof is made from clay tiles, asphalt shingles, rubber slate, or metal. Understanding your roofing structure is especially important if you need to replace your roof before installing solar panels. Some solar companies (including Semper Solaris) also offer roof replacement services. A roof is much more than just tiles or shingles on top of your house. It is a complex system that requires an in-depth knowledge of local materials and local roof styles. Your roof protects your home and can help make your house much more energy efficient. Don’t trust it to a big, national company that doesn’t understand local roof styles and hasn’t worked extensively with the roof materials that are common to your area. Local Companies Know the Local Law Every state, county, city, and town has its own local ordinances, including specific building and safety standards that contractors must meet when making changes to residential homes. Local solar installation companies are very familiar with all these local building requirements. They are pros at submitting paperwork, pulling the correct permits, and setting up final inspections once a solar power system has been installed. They also know how to work with local homeowners associations to get projects approved. In fact, a local solar installation company may already have experience working with your HOA. You can’t put a price on this knowledge. Local companies can save lots of time and headaches just by knowing the lay of the land. On the other hand, a national company will have to figure all of the local rules and building codes out from scratch. This increases the chances of delay, or worse, and error. A national company may overlook needed paperwork or fail to pull the correct permit, which could endanger your entire project! Local Companies Can Help You Get Renewal Energy Incentives Cities all across California offer homeowners valuable incentives to invest in solar. However, these incentives are only available to homeowners in the know… or, more accurately, to solar installers who know how to obtain them. For example, Los Angeles currently offers homeowners a one-time rebate of $0.25 per watt on their new solar panel installation. Depending on the size of your solar panel system, you could receive a rebate check in the mail worth thousands of dollars! However, the steps to qualify for the rebate aren’t easy. It requires submitting specialized paperwork as well as scheduling an on-site inspection through the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, among other steps. If your solar installer gets even one step wrong, you could wave bye-bye to that juicy rebate check! (Live in Los Angeles and interested in learning about this solar rebate? We recently posted an entire article about it.) A local solar installation company is your best shot at getting every available rebate. First of all, they know which rebates are available in your area and whether or not you would qualify. They also know how to navigate the different programs in order to achieve a successful outcome. A national company just doesn’t have this level of localized regional experience, which means it’s more likely that they don't know about a program and/or will struggle to figure all the required steps. Local Companies Hire Local Workers A healthy community is able to attract and retain residents by offering high-paying, steady employment. Over the past decade, the solar industry has been on a hiring frenzy and now employs almost 250,000 Americans across the country, according to SEIA. Solar jobs typically pay well above minimum wage. Many jobs in the solar field are also among the few remaining employment avenues where Americans can make a good living without a college degree. When you hire a local solar installation company, you are investing in well-paying jobs within your own community. Solar installation companies seek project coordinators, installation technicians, interconnection representatives, warehouse managers, electricians, crew foremen, solar sales consultants, and more. Each of these great jobs could be available to your neighbors, friends, or even your local family members and offer them a rewarding career that allows them to support their family! Their salaries, in turn, go right back into the community every time they go grocery shopping, grab a movie, or sign their children up for a local sports league. National companies may hire a local team to install your solar panels, but the majority of their workforce (and the best-paying jobs) will stay in their headquarters far away. Much more of your investment will stay in your community when you work with a local installation company. Local Companies Need to Do a Good Job We’re sure that national solar companies want to do a great job and make every customer happy, but if they happen to do a poor job for one customer in one town, it really doesn’t affect their bottom line. That’s because there are endless potential customers across the country. A local company doesn’t have the luxury of disappointing their customers. They live, play, and work in the same community, and their success depends upon building a strong reputation for reliability, integrity, and high-quality work. Most local solar installation companies rely heavily on customer referrals and good customer reviews to bring new clients in the door. Unlike large national companies, they literally can’t afford to write off customers or shirk their duties. Local companies will often go the extra mile to provide great customer service. They’ll listen closely to their customers, address concerns, and fix any problems that might arise. They know that if a customer isn’t completely satisfied, that customer will gripe to their neighbors, friends, fellow PTA parents, and all their social media followers! Where to Find Solar Providers Near Me There are so many reasons to hire a local company to install your solar panels. Local companies know how to work on your roof, they understand the local laws, and they know how to get you all the solar incentives you deserve. They also put their reputation on the line with each project they take, which is a great incentive to do the best job possible. Finally, by hiring a local company, you’ll support local jobs and keep your hard-earned money in your community. Sound good? If the answer is yes, then your next task is to find a local solar installer. At Semper Solaris, we’ve opened offices throughout California as part of our mission to invest in local communities and to hire local workers. Our offices cover Southern, Central, and Northern California. In each location, we’ve made a special commitment to hire veterans who are looking to transition into civilian life. We love investing in communities across California and providing great careers for veterans, as well as your other neighbors, friends, and family members. We also love doing a great job for each and every one of our customers. Don’t take our word for it. Check out our excellent ratings on SolarReviews.com, Angie’s List, The Better Business Bureau, and Yelp. If you are ready to hire a solar installation company that really cares about your community and about doing a great job for you, then contact us today to schedule a no-pressure, no-obligation energy analysis.
If you’re ready to buy solar panels for your home, there are a few questions you should ask. While you are indeed making the smart decision to go solar, you still need to do your due diligence in order to make this transition to renewable energy a successful one. From questions that can help reinforce your choice to switch to solar and understanding exactly what solar energy can be used for, to finalizing the details of costs, installation and which solar panels you should buy—there’s a lot to know about installing a solar power system. Here are five crucial questions you should be asking before installing a home solar power system - with answers to match - so you can go solar with full confidence. 1. Why go solar? There’s a long list of benefits to going solar that should make you feel comfortable in changing your home energy source. For starters, using solar energy reduces your carbon footprint. Unlike fossil fuels and gas, solar is considered a clean source of energy, meaning it doesn’t pollute the air with harmful emissions. So, while you’re doing good for the environment, what’s in it for you? The bottom line is, going solar will save you money in the long run. Based on the average household electricity usage, solar energy has been shown to save $10k - $30k over a course of 20 years, when compared to what’d you pay for a traditional electric bill. Furthermore, you will never have to deal with unpredictable electricity bills again. Once you have a system installed, the cost of solar energy is fixed and free, since you are essentially getting power from a free energy source (the sun, that is). 2. What can solar energy be used for? Solar panels for home energy can be utilized in a multitude of ways. The primary use most people think of is using the energy collected from your panels to power everything in your house, from the electricity to the heating and cooling. Here’s how it works: The solar panels installed on your roof capture particles of sunlight (aka, photons). These photons are then converted into electrons of direct current electricity. This current then flows through a solar power system that converts it to alternating current power, which is the type of electricity that comes from the wall outlet that connects to your TV, computer, lamps and kitchen appliances. On top of solar panels providing your home with electricity, you can also opt to heat your water through a solar collector that heats water directly or via a “working fluid” that is used to heat water. 3. How much are solar panels going to cost? It’s easy to ask the question, how much do solar panels cost? But when it comes to solar systems, they are not one-size fits all, and an easy answer isn’t always easy to find with a quick Google search. That’s because there are many factors that come into play when determining how much solar panels will cost to install. The size of your home and the amount of electricity needed to power it are the major factors in determining many of the initial costs. To give you a rough idea, this 2018 year, homeowners will pay between $2.71 to $3.57 per watt to install solar, with the average U.S. system calling for 5000 watts. What it boils down to is around $9,485 to $12,495 (after tax credits) for a total system. Don’t be alarmed by these numbers because we’ve seen solar systems pay for themselves relatively quickly. If you’re looking at it from a big-picture perspective, the tax credits you get for going solar and the overall amount of utility savings make the actual value of the panels great. They will pay for themselves and even help you save money over time. For an exact idea of how much solar panels will cost for your home, we’ll give you a free energy analysis that can determine exactly how much energy your home needs and how many panels should be installed. 4. What are the best solar panels for my home? When it comes to installing solar panels on your home, you want to make sure they are the most efficient on the market. The top-rated solar panels, according to SolarReviews, is Enphase Energy. These ratings are based on homeowner reviews, but keep in mind that you should also consider your specific energy-saving goals and how much you're willing to invest upfront. Getting the most trusted name in solar panels is key to ensuring satisfaction in your switch to home solar energy and that’s exactly what our team at Semper Solaris looks for in solar panel manufacturers. 5. Who are the best solar providers near me? While using the best panels the solar industry has to offer is a must, choosing the right solar energy system provider to install them is just as important. You want to look for a company that has had proven experience and expertise in the solar roofing field. Word-of-mouth can be one of the best ways to find out who does solar in your area. You can also opt to do a quick internet search. From the list of providers that pop up, be sure to do your research. We recommend looking for testimonials from homeowners that have used that company’s services. You also want to make sure that you receive personal attention from the solar company you choose to hire. Open communication between contractor and customer builds trust. Knowing that your solar needs are the top priority for the company you are working with will help to keep your mind at ease while you are installing your new system. If you reside in California, Semper Solaris provides solar power services up and down the state, installing only the best solar panels for homes. Making the decision to go solar is a big one that can lead to endless benefits in home energy usage. Understanding what exactly solar energy can power in your home along with the kind of financial investment it will take, can inform your decision on what solar panels to buy and have installed on your home roof.
