15 Best Solar Companies in Kensington, CA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Kensington based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Kensington, CA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Kensington homeowner saves $2,768/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Kensington
Thinking of going solar but trying to figure out which company would be best for your needs? Although it can be hard to decide on a solar company, the effort will pay off because going solar has many good benefits. Because Kensington has a very high capacity for solar energy generation, installing solar panels is financially rewarding for many homeowners.
The cost of installing solar panels can change significantly according to your home’s configuration and your household energy usage.To start getting free quotes from the best solar companies in Kensington, you can click "get quote" below.
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Kensington
SunPower
ed_content- price_transparency
- free_inspection
- customer_service
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Panel Installation- Consultation
- Battery Storage
SunPower by The Solar Quote
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- customer_service
- price_transparency
- free_inspection
- timeliness
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Consultation
Solar Works
- award_winning
- customer_service
- free_inspection
- ed_content
- price_transparency
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Community Solar Projects
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
CivicSolar, Inc
- customer_service
- price_transparency
- ed_content
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
SolarUnion
- price_transparency
- ed_content
- free_inspection
- customer_service
- award_winning
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Skilled Repairs
- Solar Panel Upgrades
Source Energy
- price_transparency
- free_inspection
- ed_content
- customer_service
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
Got Watts?
- timeliness
- price_transparency
- award_winning
- customer_service
- ed_content
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Skilled Repairs
- Permit Assistance
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
Bay Valley Solar Roofing
- ed_content
- price_transparency
- free_inspection
- customer_service
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
GRID Alternatives
- charitable_giving
- customer_service
- ed_content
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Save a Lot Solar
- price_transparency
- free_inspection
- timeliness
- customer_service
- ed_content
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Permit Assistance
solarXperts
- price_transparency
- free_inspection
- customer_service
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
High Definition Solar
- price_transparency
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Pac Solar Corporation
- ed_content
- free_inspection
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Green Air and Solar
- price_transparency
- customer_service
- award_winning
- free_inspection
- timeliness
- ed_content
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
Semper Solaris
- price_transparency
- customer_service
- ed_content
- award_winning
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Kensington
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Kensington based on criteria such as its reputation in the industry, customer reviews, services, warranty coverage and financing. Using this solar methodology, we used the data we collected to rate and rank each company and narrow down our picks for the best solar companies in Kensington
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for California solar companies
- Brand reputation and certifications (20%): We take each company's Better Business Bureau (BBB) score into consideration, as well as how long the installer has been in business (at least 5 years is required, 10 preferred) and what type of solar certifications it holds.
- Customer reviews (20%): Trust is a top priority at EcoWatch, so we take customer experience under close consideration. We scour different review sites and customer testimonials when ranking our top solar companies, checking sites such as Trustpilot and Google Reviews. We also consider any potential complaints or lawsuits filed against these companies and award or remove points accordingly.
- Warranty (20%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers 25-year warranties that cover performance, product and workmanship. The industry standard that we measure companies against is 25-year product and performance warranties, along with a 10-year workmanship warranty. We also look closely into the track record of the post-installation support each company provides in terms of honoring its contracts
- Solar services (10%): All of the companies we review install solar panels, but we award companies higher points if they offer additional services for customers, like battery installation, energy-efficiency audits, and EV chargers.
- Pricing and financing (10%): It's hard to get exact quotes for solar projects, but we use marketplace research to determine how each company prices its equipment and installation services. Additionally, companies that offer more help for panel financing — like in-house loans, leases, or PPAs — score higher than those that don't.
- Availability (10%): The bigger the service area, the higher the company will score.
- Transparency and accessibility (5%): Solar installers that offer free consultations and easy contact methods score higher in this category.
- Environmental, social and corporate governance factors (5%): A company earns a perfect score in this category if it offers public data disclosure, addresses end-of-life (EOL) products or processes, and demonstrates a commitment to uplifting the communities that it serves.
The Cost and Benefits of Solar in Kensington
The cost of putting up solar panels has decreased greatly in the past several years, but it’s still a substantial investment for most homeowners.Some significant things that impact the upfront cost and potential savings over time include:
- Incentives: Tax-paying citizens who buy and install a solar energy system this year can save 0 of their overall solar costs by using the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $33,000 on your electricity bills over 20 years without incentives.
- Your income and budget: This determines what type of solar panels you can buy.
- Your home's orientation toward the sun: This, along with the configuration of your roof, affects affect how much electricity your solar panels can make.
- Electricity consumption: The average household in Kensington doesn’t use much energy, and therefore may not see as many savings on their power bills.
So is installing solar panels worth it? Whether you hope to lower your electric bills, carbon emissions or both, solar panels are a great investment for many Kensington homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Kensington
If you’re considering making the switch to solar power, several government incentives and solar rebates can immensely lower the installation costs and expedite the return on your investment.When you install a solar panel system, you can take advatage of the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently lets you reduce your tax bill by 0 of the cost of your solar panels. In addition, there may often be some state and city incentives that you can benefit from to further save. In our article on solar incentives, you can read about the incentives you qualify for in your area.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Kensington
If you want to add solar panels to your home, one of the principal reasons why may be to reduce your carbon footprint.A question many homeowners might be asking themselves is how much can they really help save the environment by going solar anyway? A key thing to think about is your overall carbon footprint. For example, if you have a long commute, your footprint may be larger, so adopting solar energy for your house can help offset that.In fact, if you make the switch to solar power, you could expect to reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by about 50 pounds each year. If you care about the environment, you’ll no doubt recognize that there are many benefits of adopting solar energy other than just saving money on electricity. You can also help protect the environment, which some would argue is invaluable.
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
- Great warranty coverage
- Representatives are experts on local policies
- Concierge service ensures steady communication
- Slightly limited service offerings
Best for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
Best Social Impact
Palmetto Solar
- Expansive service area
- Makes charitable contributions
- Certified B Corp
- No leases or PPAs
- Quality of installation may vary by location
EcoWatch's Kensington, CA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the most reputable solar panel installer in Kensington?
The highest-rated local solar company in Kensington is SunPower, with a rating of 4.50 stars.
What are some of the pros and cons of going solar?
A few of the biggest pros are that it decreases your power bills, it’s environmentally friendly, and it can provide a good return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don’t produce electricity at night, there is a high upfront cost and solar panels aren’t always aesthetically pleasing.
How long does it take for solar to pay for itself?
The average payback period for solar panel installation is about 7.0 years, but the exact period is influenced by local electricity costs, incentives and net metering programs.
What is the best type of solar panel?
There are three main types of solar panels: monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film. In regard to efficiency and price, monocrystalline has the highest for both, then polycrystalline, and then thin-film. The best choice for you is highly influenced by your roof configuration, how much you're willing to spend and how much efficiency you're looking for.
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.