There has been a trend in the residential solar industry to treat solar as if it were a commodity. All solar is not the same. Every home is unique. What may be perfect for one home and one family will not be the best solution for the house next door. Be suspect of anyone who offers pricing before they’ve visited your home. Be suspect of a company that sells solar, but doesn’t install it themselves. What would you think of someone who gave you pricing for a kitchen remodel without ever setting foot in your kitchen?

How to Shop for Solar

Solar is a home improvement that affects your roof, your home electrical system, and the aesthetics of your home — not just your future electric costs. Make sure you choose a contractor who’s experienced, and who isn’t using the cheapest roof attachments, wire management, etc. Make sure you’re only considering options that will work with your actual site conditions. And to make sure your solar is sized properly, you’ll want to work with a consultant who understands how to estimate your future electric usage, and your future solar production. Finally, pay attention to the aesthetics of your solar system design, so that you’re not embarrassed to show it off to your neighbors.

Here are just some variables an experienced solar contractor will consider in the design and pricing of your solar system:

1. Roof:  material, age, condition, dimensions, orientation, pitch, location of vents, spacing of rafters, shading, etc.
2. Main electric panel:  location, brand, amperage of busbar, amperage of main breaker, available breaker space, compatibility with SDG&E’s renewable meter adapter, etc.
3. Electric usage:  historical monthly usage, daily usage patterns, opportunities for energy savings, expected increases or decreases in future electric usage, etc.
4. Aesthetics:  is the solar layout based on actual roof and shading conditions?  will there be gaps left in the solar array for vents?  will the solar panels line up?  will the conduit be hidden in the attic?  will any exposed conduit be painted to blend in?  where will the inverter (or combiner box) be located?

Don’t be fooled into thinking that all solar contractors are the same — they’re not! Would you like to speak with a qualified solar professional who can explain the logic behind their equipment choices, and the reasoning behind the solar system size and design? An established San Diego solar contractor who offers quality materials and workmanship at a fair price? Then contact San Diego County Solar for a free consultation.

The post Solar is a Home Improvement, Not a Commodity appeared first on San Diego County Solar.

• Hot does net metering work with SDG&E?
• What are the pros and cons of solar?
• How do the tax credits work?
• What does solar cost?
• What are the different finance vehicles available?
• When does it make sense to buy vs. lease?
• In what situations does solar not make sense?
• How do you size a solar system that that will cover your future electric needs?

These classes are taught by Seth Tilley, a 12 year veteran of the solar industry, with experience and education in renewable energy, real estate, and business. And also by Ken Roberts, an engineer with 19 years experience in technology, a certification by NABCEP in Technical Sales, and a laser-focus on educating the public about the often-missed important details.

Please reserve your seat now at an upcoming educational seminar. Take note, there will be no sales and no pressure at these meetings — just information from two local solar experts.

Click HERE to register for one of the four time slots.

• 9/29/18 10:30-11:30am – Bonita-Sunnyside Library
  • 4375 Bonita Rd. / Bonita 91902
• 10/06/18 -10:30-11:30am – Oceanside Library Mission Branch
  • 3861 Mission Ave. / Oceanside, 92058
• 10/13/18 – 10:30-11:30am- La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center
  • 8450 La Mesa Blvd. / La Mesa, 91942
• 10/20/18 – 1:30-2:30pm- Carlsbad Library Dove Branch
  • 1775 Dove Ln. / Carlsbad, 92011

Click HERE to register for one of the four time slots.

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1. Does the solar company have a contractors license in good standing? If they don’t, then they’re sub-contracting out their installations to someone who does. In recent years, there’s been an onslaught of “solar companies” in the marketplace that do not actually install solar! They have no liability for the solar that’s installed, and the installer has no liability for the proposal that was presented to the homeowner. Not good for the consumer! In California, you can check contractors licenses here, as well as verifying that your salesperson is a licensed Home Improvement Salesperson.
2. Do they have positive online customer reviews that span at least a few years? We recommend looking at Yelp, Google Reviews, Facebook, and the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Some other review sites such as Angie’s List, EnergySage, and SolarReviews strongly favor solar companies that pay fees to the site.
3. How long has the solar company been in business? Solar is a competitive market, and the simple truth is that the majority of solar companies do not survive. As a consumer it’s to your advantage to go with an established contractor. It may behoove you to verify their longevity claims on the state licensing website.
4. What is the solar company’s financial viability?
    Are they profitable? Do they have a lot of debt? This is equally important information to know about the manufactures of the solar panels and inverters.
5. How long has the solar salesperson been in the industry? Were they selling cars or cellular plans last month? Most solar salespeople do not make it in the industry for very long. Similarly, it’s important to know the experience level of the solar installers, since they are the ones that will be working on your roof. Avoid companies that hire installers seasonally.
6. Is the salesperson educating you, or just trying to close the deal? Have they explained Net Energy Metering (NEM), the annual True Up cycle, and time-of-use (TOU) electric rate schedules? Are they proposing a specific layout of solar panels on your roof, and providing estimated annual production of that system based on your actual roof orientation and your actual shading conditions? Are they discussing with you what your expected future electric usage might be, and providing you with options to choose a variety of system sizes? Can they speak intelligently as to why they are specifying the solar panels and the inverter solution on their proposal? And will you have any contact with the salesperson after you sign the contract?
7. Are you able to see previous installations in your area, and talk with previous customers? Does it look like the solar company values the aesthetics of their installations? Do they paint any exposed conduit to match, do they line up the panels properly, etc.?
8. What quality of equipment are they using for the balance of the system? Is the system designed to last for decades, exposed to the elements? Are the roof attachments protected by flashing, or do they rely on sealant? Are they using plastic zip ties to hold the cabling off the roof, or actual wire clips made for outdoor conditions? Do they use plastic flex tube, or metal tubing?
9. What does the pricing on the proposal include, and how firm is it? Some solar companies almost never change pricing once a contract has been signed, and some use change-orders on most every job. What contingencies might cause a change in price? Have they verified that your main electric panel is sufficient, and that there is sufficient space on your roof?
10. Are they transparent about their financing options? It is very common now for contractors to increase your contract price to accommodate “contractor” or “dealer” fees they pay to the finance company in order to offer a special loan product. If the loan sounds too good to be true (e.g. 12 years at 2.99%, or 18 months same as cash), then you are paying for it somewhere else. If they are offering a PACE loan such as the HERO loan, have they explained the extra costs involved, and the actions required when you sell your home? For many homeowners, the best loan may be an equity loan or a loan from a local credit union.
11. Are they pushing a lease or a power purchase agreement (PPA)? There are many downsides to the lease/PPA model, the most important ones being that #1 it is vastly more expensive than buying solar, and #2 it can act as a liability if you sell your home rather than as an asset (talk to a Realtor about this). The lease/PPA model may still be appropriate for some homeowners, but be wary if your salesperson discusses the pros and not the cons. And of course, look at online reviews of the provider of the lease/PPA.
12. Are verbal warranty and guarantee claims backed up in writing? What does the installation warranty cover? Do the equipment warranties from the manufacturers include full replacement or just partial? Do they include labor? What are the production guarantees? It is important to know exactly what is covered. You may be told that a battery has a 10 year warranty, when in fact the reimbursement rate after just a few years for a 40%+ loss of capacity may only be around 1/2 of the original purchase price.
13. Is the solar company offering a never-ending string of promotions? $2000 cash back if you sign up before the end of the month! Sign up now and we’ll pay your utility bills until your solar is installed! Act fast to get your free iPad! Some companies simply design the cost of these constant promotions into their pricing, but for others it may be a sign that the company is struggling.
14. Are there actually new incentives being offered? Can I really get solar for free? Unfortunately a common sales tactic among disreputable solar companies is to claim there are new incentive programs being offered by the government or by the utility, when in reality there are not. Some doorknockers and telemarketers will even pose as a representative of the utility in order to lend authority to their claims. Be very wary of this sort of tactic! Ask for third-party verification for all their assertions, and do your own research before giving them your contact information.

Lastly, we recommend to our friends and family in other regions that they choose a local solar contractor rather than a multi-region installer. In our experience, the customer experience suffers once the company grows too large. And though larger companies can achieve some cost savings through greater buying power, it is not enough to make up for the added costs of bureaucracy. Many national residential solar installers have gone bankrupt in recent years, and as a whole they have seen their market share decrease dramatically. Residential solar is primarily a regional market now, similar to residential roofing, HVAC repair, and swimming pool service.

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We started San Diego County Solar in part so that we could provide our customers with higher-quality solar power installations that are designed to last for decades.

We focus on the details involved with installing solar electric systems properly, because the details matter. When deciding which equipment to use, our thought is always, “what would we use for our own home?” We use the best flashing and attachment systems on the market, and the best racking available (anodized black for aesthetics). We even spend a little extra on better clamps to hold the conduit in place, and on higher-quality stainless steel screws (instead of zinc). Aesthetics is also important, so we take the time to level and align the panels properly, to hide the conduit whenever possible, and to paint any conduit left exposed.

Maybe this attention to quality and detail is why we here at San Diego County Solar don’t have roof leaks. If you want a hassle-free solar installation that remains hassle-free for the long term, then you want a solar power system installed by San Diego County Solar.

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Once you’ve made the decision to install solar panels on your home, there are a number of solar companies to choose from.  A homeowner’s choices range from small local solar installation companies specializing in solar electric systems to national home improvement companies offering solar installation as one of many services.

Solar industry experts agree that soft costs, including marketing, design, permitting and administrative expenses are areas where efficiency will drive down the cost of future solar installation.   The efficiency of local solar companies in these areas allows them to provide the most cost effective solar electric systems.

Homeowners can expect to receive outstanding service from local local companies, as it’s essential for their success and longevity.  Additionally, local solar companies are more likely to employ local workers, spend more of their dollars with local suppliers and share a long-term commitment to the local community.

SDCS – Encinitas, CA – (760) 230-2220

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