Should I Lease or Buy Solar Panels?

Should I Purchase Batteries?

Solar Roof Shingles vs. Panels

Costs and Savings of Solar

Choosing the Best Solar Company for You

Which Solar Panels are Best for Me?

Tesla

Tesla is the nation’s largest photovoltaic installer. The company is famous for its commitment to relentless innovation in financing, technology, and virtually all aspects of solar service.

Tesla (formerly SolarCity) rolled out its signature solar roof tiles in late 2016. What sets Tesla apart from its competitors is its focus on a comprehensive energy solution that includes perfectly-integrated solar generation, battery storage, and electric vehicle solutions. While primarily a residential installer at its inception, it’s now a major player in the commercial and utility-scale spaces as well.

Tesla can be reached through its website at https://www.tesla.com/energy.

Vivint

Vivint was named #2 on Solar Power World’s Top 500 Solar Contractors in North America list and continues to be an award-winning company dedicated to customer service and decreasing the carbon footprint of its clients.
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Vivint won numerous awards related to its client care, including the 2013 People’s Choice Stevie Award for Favorite Customer Service Provider and Silver Stevie Award for Customer Service Department of the Year. The firm additionally received the 2016 Community Impact Award from Trade & Industry Development magazine because of its involvement and dedication to communities throughout California.

Vivint features an educated workforce that offers services like individual property consultations, solar energy system design which suits each rooftop’s structure and the owner’s needs, permitting, equipment installation, and system activation. Interested individuals can contact the company to receive a free initial quote for services and the necessary equipment. The firm understands that not everyone can afford a full solar energy system outright and thus provides many financing options, including leases, loans, and PPAs.

Vivint can be reached through its website at https://www.vivintsolar.com/state/california or its phone number 1-877-404-4129.

Sunrun

Sunrun is one of the country’s top residential solar companies, boasting more than 111,000 customers across fifteen states and the District of Columbia. Customers choose Sunrun for its affordability, transparent payment plans, and customer service ethic—characteristics that made it bestcompany’s #1 solar company of 2016.
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This San Francisco firm designs each system to fit the site’s layout and solar potential, as well as the customer’s energy requirements. In addition to the panels, homeowners also have the option to tack on Sunrun’s proprietary Brightbox battery storage system, which provides backup power when the grid goes down during storms and high-demand events. Customers can log into their Sunrun accounts to monitor system output and track payments through a well-designed mobile app.

Sunrun offers standard lease, financing, and purchase options. It provides a lifetime warranty and free support. Because it’s one of the top installers in the country, customers will likely be able to rely on the company well into the future.

While Sunrun fell prey to a phishing attack that gave hackers access to employees’ W-2 forms in early 2017, customers were unaffected, and the company’s stock continue to trade high afterwards. It maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Sunrun can be reached through its website at sunrun.com, or by phone at (888) GO-SOLAR.

PetersenDean

This roofing and solar company is the #1 Home Improvement Contractor in the U.S. It’s completed more than a million roof and solar projects for homes and businesses across five states since it opened in 1984.
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The company’s focus on supporting American workers is a key consideration for many customers. PetersenDean is a Master Installer of SolarWorld solar panels, which are manufactured, sourced, and assembled in the U.S. One in six of these panels goes to PetersenDean. The firm also offers a 25 year warranty for roofing and solar installations, quiet battery storage systems that provide backup during grid outages, and real-time monitoring via the Internet.

Unlike most other solar companies, however, PetersenDean doesn’t offer solar leases, which it says are more expensive. Customers can purchase or finance a system instead. The company’s website makes it easy to research payment plans online, based on a current utility bill.

Nevada’s Division of Industrial Relations recognized PetersenDean with the Safe Partner Award in early 2017 for its continued efforts in workplace health and safety—an honor awarded to only four Nevada businesses per year. The Better Business Bureau gives PetersenDean an A+ rating.

PetersenDean can be reached through its website at petersendean.com, or by phone at (877) 552-4418.

SunPower

SunPower opened in 1985 and continues to be a professional solar energy company with over 750 patents for its innovations. The firm has produced over 18,000,000 megawatt hours since its inception and works with residents throughout California.
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SunPower claims to have the world’s highest efficiency solar panels that use SunPower Maxeon cell technology, which would mean the solar panels produce 70% more energy than other types on the market. The firm recently developed the first solar panel to travel across the globe without using another source of fuel, and it features employees who can serve commercial businesses, residential properties, or entities seeking to develop power plants.

The company offers a 25-year Combined Power and Product warranty designed to keep solar energy systems running smoothly. The firm features services such as property evaluation, custom system design, full installation, and equipment maintenance.

SunPower can be reached through its website at https://us.sunpower.com/ or its phone number 1-800-786-7693.

Horizon Solar Power

Horizon Solar Power opened in 2008 and recently merged with Solar Spectrum to create the second-largest provider of residential solar systems throughout California and the fourth largest in the United States.
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The firm offers numerous services, including full property evaluation to determine if it can handle solar power, locating the necessary permits, the design and creation of a customized system, installation, utility interconnection, and powering up the new equipment. Horizon Solar Power claims to never require more than 45 days to finish installation and constantly strives to make the process shorter. …Read More
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Baker Electric Solar

Baker Electric Solar has been meeting Southern California’s energy needs for three-quarters of a century. Today, that largely means solar. In fact, Baker’s various subsidiaries collectively reached 1GW of total installed solar in 2015. San Diego homeowners can even supplement their installations with residential energy storage.

The company had a red letter year in 2016, when it won the Angie’s List Super Service Award for the fourth year in a row, and finally clinched the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for ethics in business. It was nominated for the Torch Award in 2014 and 2015, and maintains an A+ rating with the organization. It’s also earned awards from from Inc. Magazine, Solar Power World, and PV American WEST.

“We’re incredibly honored the BBB has recognized Baker with the Torch Award. Ethics, trust and integrity have been guiding principles for the Baker Electric family of companies for more than 78 years,” said President Mike Teresso. “To us, the Torch Award represents our on-going commitment to bring the highest business values to every one of our over 6500 customers, while empowering our employees for success and giving back to the community.”

Baker Electric Solar can be reached through its website at bakerelectricsolar.com, or by phone at (877) 543-8765.

ASI Hastings

ASI Hastings has been serving the San Diego metro area for more than half a century, garnering numerous awards. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) honored ASI with its Torch Award for business ethics and integrity eight times, for example.
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In addition to solar, the company manages all aspects of home energy use by installing efficient furnaces and air conditioners. The energy efficient upgrades it completed in 2013 and 2014 saved the city’s residents thousands of dollars on their utility bills, earning ASI the title “San Diego’s Energy Upgrade Contractor of the Year.”

The company ensures quality by using its own certified staff, rather than subcontractors. It also offers a satisfaction guarantee, as well as lifetime guarantees for workmanship and service. Homeowners can get started with solar for zero down through a PACE program home equity loan, and track ROI through a system monitoring service.

ASI gives back to the community through a variety of efforts, including donations to programs like the Boys & Girls Clubs of East County’s La Mesa Capital Campaign, which aims to build a new clubhouse at La Mesa Arts Academy. It maintains an A- rating with the BBB.

ASI Hastings Heating and Air Conditioning can be reached through its website at asiheatingandair.com, or by phone at (800) 481-2665.

West Coast Solar

This mature, decade-old company plans and installs residential and commercial solar systems.
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It’s also a go-to choice for powering agricultural operations. It offers a wide range of choices when it comes to solar panels and financing, while still providing personalized service. Customers can opt for a roof-mounted, ground-mounted, or shade awning system. This last option can serve two purposes at once—providing solar power, and sheltering a vehicle or porch. …Read More
Answers to common home solar questions
Buy or lease?Should I purchase batteries?Can I sell my power to the grid?Panels or solar tiles?How much will I pay and save?What incentives do I qualify for?

Stellar Solar

Stellar Solar is a top installer in San Diego County, and the Union Tribune’s best installer of 2013, 2014, and 2015. It uses industry-leading SunPower solar panels, which hold the record for conversion efficiency, and even became a SunPower Master Dealer in late 2016.
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In addition to top quality solar panels, Stellar’s no-pressure approach and 30-day installation guarantee have been major draws for residential and commercial customers. The company’s A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau is a testament to their satisfaction.

The company has worked on several major projects since it opened its doors in 1998, including installations for the Salk Institute, US Foods, and Cedars-Sinai Hospital. It also completed a multi-site campus project for San Diego’s San Rafael Parish that will reduce the organization’s energy costs by 75%. The company doesn’t just do installations, though; it also rents out mobile solar panels that power large events.

Stellar partners with the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA), Mitsubishi Electric, LG, and SunPower to offer its customers lower prices on equipment.

Stellar Solar can be reached through its website at stellarsolar.net, or by phone at (866) 787-6527.

Sunline Energy

In just five years, San Diego-based Sunline Energy has become one of California’s most recognized solar installers. Solar Power World named the company #30 on its list of the Top Solar Contractors headquartered in California, and #55 in the country. Angie’s List also recognized this residential and commercial installer with its Super Service Award in 2014.
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Customers appreciate Sunline’s prices, detail-oriented consultations, and speedy timeline. Its three-week turnaround guarantee is far shorter than that of other installers, which means customers save more money.

This California-grown company knows how to install solar panels on clay tile roofs, as well as standard ones. Customers can get started with a 6KW system for about $18,700. While all plans include Wi-Fi-based system monitoring, customers can also choose to tack on power consumption monitoring and a backup generator.

Sunline gives back to the community by sponsoring local events, such as classes for the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association, an organization that raises money for veterans’ charities. It holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.

Sunline Energy can be reached through its website at sunlineenergy.com, or by phone at (858) 777-7910.

Sullivan Solar

Sullivan Solar is an undisputed authority on residential, commercial, and municipal solar in Southern California, and one of the most successful companies in the area. With more than 5,000 systems under its belt, it’s one of the ten largest solar companies in the state.
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San Diegan Daniel Sullivan founded the company in 2004; he was later named the San Diego Business Journal’s Most Admired CEO of 2013. Under his leadership, Sullivan Solar was dubbed one of the fastest-growing businesses in San Diego in 2010. It also won Angie’s List Super Service Award several times, and earned a spot on Inc. Magazine’s list of the fastest-growing companies multiple times.

Its local focus places Sullivan at the center of solar advocacy in Orange County. It also holds community forums to educate consumers about solar power, in an effort to combat pressure tactics and outdated information in the booming solar industry. It partnered with the Center for Sustainable Energy and the Climate Action Campaign to host the 2017 San Diego Solar Experience, for example, with the aim of giving homeowners accurate information about solar power and current government incentives.

Sullivan Solar holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. It can be reached through its website at sullivansolarpower.com, or by phone at 1-800-SULLIVAN.