14 Best Solar Companies in Orinda, CA (Feb 2023 Review)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 14 in Orinda 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 Orinda
Thinking of going solar but still deciding on which company would be best for your needs? Although it can be challenging to choose a solar company, the search will pay off because going solar has many good perks. With an average energy bill of $88 per month in Orinda, switching to solar power can reduce your monthly bills by about that much.
Here, we'll give you a list of some of the best solar companies in Orinda to make your choice much easier. To get an estimate of how much it might cost to install solar panels on your roof, you can click the button below to be connected to 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 Orinda
Local Service
APG Solar
-
Can browse portfolio on website - Offers a free quote process
- Educational sales approach
- Custom system designs
- Excellent reputation
-
Some reported issues with customer services - Some reported communication issues
Services Offered
-
Solar Batteries - Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
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
Gold Electric Inc
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Educational sales approach
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Custom system designs
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- 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
Local Service
Solar System , Inc.
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Educational sales approach
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Roof Shingles
- 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 Orinda
For many readers, the decision of which solar company to hire depends on how much it'll cost. Some important factors that determine how much it will cost to install solar panels on your home and how much it could save you over time include:
- Your household's power bills: Based on the fairly high monthly electric bills in Orinda, you could save about $1,100 a year with solar.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit, which everyone in the U.S. is eligible for, lets you deduct 30% of the cost of installing your solar panel system from your taxes. In addition, not including incentives, you can save about $33,000 over 20 years on your energy bills.
- Your city: This affects how much sunlight your roof gets, which helps determine how many panels you need.
- Choice of solar panels: The type of solar panels you choose will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels will cost more upfront but can also lead to more savings over the lifetime of your system. If space isn't a constraint for your project, you can go with a higher number of more affordable panels.
There are many wonderful benefits of solar despite the upfront cost of installation. It can help the environment and your wallet. In addition, it can raise the value of your home, leading to even more benefits if you want to sell your home later.
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Solar Incentives in Orinda
If you're considering switching to solar energy, a number of government incentives and tax credits can greatly reduce your project costs and speed up the return on your investment. There are quite a few federal, state and local rebates and tax credits that let you earn a decent amount of money back after installing a qualifying system. Our article on solar incentives has more detailed information on the incentives you can find in Orinda.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Orinda
One of the reasons so many homeowners are considering going solar is to help lower their environmental impact. Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Orinda, though. One thing you should keep in mind is your overall carbon footprint. For example, if you spend lots of time commuting to work and have an electric vehicle, you can install solar panels on your home to power your EV and therefore help offset your carbon emissions. In Orinda, the average person can reduce their carbon footprint by 50 pounds a year after going solar. Since solar power is renewable and makes electricity without releasing carbon emissions, installing solar panels is one easy step you can take to help preserve the environment.
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 Orinda, CA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar panel installer is the best near me?
The top local solar company in Orinda is APG Solar, with a rating of 5.00 stars.
What is the negative environmental impact of solar panels?
Manufacturing solar panels needs to use chemicals and produces toxic waste that can be dangerous for the environment, which is the main drawback of solar panels.
Is it worth installing solar panels on my home?
Solar panels can be a fruitful investment for a majority of homeowners, but truthfully, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get a lot of direct sunlight or your electricity bills are already reasonably low, solar panels might not be for you.
What is solar panel capacity and how much do I need for my house?
Solar panel capacity is rated based on the amount of power they produce under standard testing conditions. Since each panel can generally produce about 250 to 400 watts per hour, the average home will need 20 to 35 panels.
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.