15 Best Solar Companies in Orinda, CA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Orinda based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Orinda, CA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Orinda homeowner saves $2,768/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Orinda
Looking for energy freedom in Orinda? Installing solar panels can be a rewarding investment since there are a lot of benefits when you go solar. Because Orinda has a very high capacity for solar energy generation, installing solar panels is financially rewarding for many homeowners.
In this article, we’ll list out the top Orinda solar installers so you can make the best decision for your home’s solar energy needs.To get an estimate of how much it could 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 for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
EcoWatch Rankings for Solar Companies in Orinda
SunPower
Free Quotes- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Panel Installation- Battery Storage
- Consultation
SunPower by The Solar Quote
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
Source Energy
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
Got Watts?
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Skilled Repairs
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Permit Assistance
CivicSolar, Inc
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
solarXperts
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Bay Valley Solar Roofing
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Skilled Repairs
High Definition Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Green Air and Solar
- Free Quotes
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Skilled Repairs
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
Certified Solar, Heating & Air Conditioning
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Skilled Repairs
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
Semper Solaris
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
SolarUnion
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
Solar Technologies
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Battery Storage
GRID Alternatives
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
NorthStar Solar Inc
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Orinda
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Orinda 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 Orinda
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 Orinda
We get that for many homeowners, the decision to invest in solar highly depends on installation costs.There are a few factors you should take into consideration when determining the overall cost and how much you can save, including:
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently allows you to reduce your taxes by 0 of the project cost. Your state may also have incentives and rebates that you can benefit from. Additionally, you can save about $33,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, without incentives.
- How much sunlight your roof gets: If your roof doesn’t get a lot of direct sunlight, your solar panel system won’t be able to make as much energy, which will leave you with lower savings on electric bills than a roof that gets a lot of sunlight.
- Your income and budget: This guides what type of solar panels you can afford.
- Your energy bills: This will dictate how much you can save. In Orinda, the average homeowner can save about $1,500 a year on their electricity bills.
Solar is a profitable investment for most homeowners. You can produce your own power instead of paying for it from a utility company and make use of solar incentives and rebates, all while helping preserve the planet.
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Solar Incentives in Orinda
If you’re planning on making the switch to solar power, several government incentives and solar rebates can immensely lower the installation costs and speed up the return on your investment.These incentives normally take the form of cash rebates, tax breaks and/or solar renewable energy credits. They can reduce the cost you pay for going solar by 0, upwards of 50% depending on where you live. Take a look at our article on solar incentives to see what incentives are available to you.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Orinda
One of the reasons so many people are thinking of adopting solar energy 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. Switching to renewable energy for electricity instead of burning fossil fuels is an impactful way to lower your carbon footprint if you're worried about Orinda's fair level of greenhouse gas emissions.Once you go solar, your carbon emissions can be cut by about 50 pounds each year. As you can see, using solar power has so many other perks apart from saving money. One of the most important ones is that you can help save the environment too.
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 for Leasing
Sunrun
- Expansive service area
- Many financing options
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Some reported issues with door-to-door sales
EcoWatch's Orinda, CA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the top solar installer in Orinda?
The highest-rated local solar company in Orinda is SunPower, with a rating of 4.50 stars.
What is the negative environmental impact of making solar panels?
Solar panels can be detrimental for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals in the construction. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to recycle safely once they’ve reached the end of their lifespan. Making solar panels requires a lot of energy as well. The energy payback period is about 1 to 4 years.
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 varies depending on the cost of electricity where you are, incentives and net metering programs.
When should I install solar panels?
Despite summer being the most popular time people install solar panels, the optimal time is actually winter. You can save money since there's less demand during the winter months, and it allows you to be up and running with solar for the higher power bills you may get during the summer.
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.