11 Best Solar Companies in Berkeley, CA (Feb 2023 Review)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 11 in Berkeley based on:
-
Customer review scores - Solar installers near you
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
Please enter a valid 5-digit zip code!
Updated January 20, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best solar companies in Berkeley
If you're a home or business owner looking to make use of the solar incentives in Berkeley, it can be hard to narrow down which company to choose. But, it's worth it since switching to solar energy is often a great choice. The average home can save $33,000 over 20 years by using solar power. And because solar panels have a lifespan of about 25 to 30 years, the amount of money you'll save in the long run will be well above that overall.
If you want to take advantage of the great amount of perks of solar, we can help you narrow down your options to find the Berkeley solar installer that's right for you. To get a sense of how much it might cost to install solar panels on your roof, you can click the button below to get a quote from a certified installer near you.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Berkeley
Local Service
Extreme Solar Solutions
-
Educational sales approach - Locally owned and operated
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Licensing and credentials transparency
- Excellent reputation
-
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
-
Commercial Solar Services - Solar Panels
Local Service
Mid-State Solar
- Educational sales approach
- Custom system designs
- Some reported communication issues
- Some reports of long wait times for installation
- Some reported issues with customer services
- Some reports of high-pressure sales tactics
Services Offered
- Solar Batteries
- Solar Panels
- Commercial Solar Services
Local Service
SunLectric
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Family owned and operated
- Custom system designs
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Licensing and credentials transparency
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Batteries
- Solar Panels
- Commercial Solar Services
Local Service
Honey's Air & Solar
- Educational sales approach
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Maintenance and Repairs
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Apex Electric Inc
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Educational sales approach
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Maintenance and Repairs
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Mid Matthews Construction
- Educational sales approach
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Commercial Solar Services
Local Service
Young's Air Conditioning
- Educational sales approach
- Assists with maximizing rebate
- Custom system designs
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Maintenance and Repairs
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Solaron Pool Heating, Inc.
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Educational sales approach
- Excellent reputation
- Some reports of long wait times for installation
- Some reports of high-pressure sales tactics
- Some reported issues with customer services
- Some reported communication issues
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Element Solar Panel Cleaning
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Educational sales approach
- Speedy and efficient installations
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Roof Shingles
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Simmitri Solar
- Educational sales approach
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Comprehensive service offerings
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Maintenance and Repairs
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Batteries
- Solar Panels
- Solar Roof Shingles
Local Service
Vista Solar, Inc.
- Educational sales approach
- Licensing and credentials transparency
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Batteries
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Solar Company Ranking Methodology
Click here to see a more detailed overview of our solar company ranking methodology.
The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Berkeley
Solar panels are powered by a free energy source — the sun — but to take advantage of this you first need to pay to install your panels. The installation cost is just one important factor you should take into account when looking into installing solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things such as:
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone in the U.S. is eligible for, lets you deduct 30% of the cost of your solar system installation from your taxes. Additionally, not including incentives, you can save about $33,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
- Where your home is: This influences the average daily sunlight your roof gets, which helps determine how many panels you need.
- System size and type: Some models are more costly than others, so the one you want to get can raise or lower your initial investment. Plus, the more solar panels you need to get, the more it'll cost.
- Electricity consumption: The average home in Berkeley doesn't use much energy, and consequently may not see as many savings on their power bills.
Thanks to solar panels now being cheaper than ever as well as local and federal solar incentives, they are a solid investment for the majority of homeowners.
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Use the calculator below to find out how much adopting solar power could affect the Earth and your bank account. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Berkeley, CA.
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Solar Incentives in Berkeley
In order to increase the number of homes and businesses that use solar power, incentives are offered by the government — and even some utility companies — to help make going solar more affordable and accessible. State and city solar incentives depend on the location and, sometimes, utility company. A lot of states offer rebates for solar power systems, in addition to the federal solar tax credit. Check out our article on solar incentives to see what incentives are available to you.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Berkeley
Lots of people want to do their part to help the planet, which in many cases is the prime reason they're interested in installing a solar system. But you may be curious — how much exactly can you help the environment by making the switch to solar? An important thing to keep in mind is your overall carbon footprint. For example, if you spend a lot of time driving to work, your footprint may be larger, so adopting solar power for your house can help offset that. In Berkeley, the average homeowner can lower their carbon footprint by 50 pounds a year after going solar. For homeowners who are concerned about the environment, the upfront cost of solar is a small price to pay for reducing your carbon footprint.
Best National Provider
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
EcoWatch's Berkeley, CA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar panel installer is the best near me?
The top local solar company in Berkeley is Extreme Solar Solutions, with a rating of 5.00 stars.
Are solar panels actually bad for the environment?
Manufacturing solar panels needs to use chemicals and produces toxic waste that can be bad for the environment, which is the main negative thing about solar panels.
How long does it take for solar to pay for itself?
Solar panels generally pay for themselves in about 5.5 years, but your solar payback period will vary based on your utility costs. The more your typical power bill, the quicker your solar panel system will pay for itself.
When should I put up solar panels?
You can install solar panels whenever it's convenient for you, but consider doing it in the winter when there's less demand. With fewer homeowners switching to solar, you could potentially see quicker installation times and more savings.
Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert’s opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.
Company research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.