11 Best Solar Companies in Santa Cruz, CA (Mar 2023 Review)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 11 in Santa Cruz based on:
-
Customer review scores - Solar installers near you
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Updated March 14, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best solar companies in Santa Cruz
When choosing between the best solar installers, Santa Cruz homeowners have more options to choose from than ever before, which can be overwhelming, but we're here to make adopting solar energy that much easier. Solar panels aren't just good for the Earth — your wallet will be better off too. After switching to solar power, you can save an average of $33,000 over 20 years, and this doesn't even include incentives.
There are lots of installers to consider, but in this article, we'll help you narrow down your options by recommending some of the best solar companies in Santa Cruz. To get a sense 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 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 Santa Cruz
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
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 Santa Cruz
We understand that for many homeowners, the choice to invest in solar comes down to installation costs. A few key factors that determine how much it will cost to install a solar panel system on your home and how much money you could save over time are:
- Your current energy bills: Solar panels can noticeably reduce, or entirely get rid of, your utility bills. In Santa Cruz, you can save an average of $88 a month.
- Incentives: Along with the federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which lets you receive a tax credit curretnly worth 30% of your overall installation cost, your state or local government may offer additional tax exemptions, credits or rebates that will help you save even more. Not including incentives, you can save an average of $33,000 over 20 years with your system, too.
- How much sunlight your roof gets: This, and your roof configuration, affects affect how much energy your solar panels can generate.
- The model of solar panels you're planning on getting: More high-tech panels are more highly priced, so that will influence your budget for your solar project.
So is installing solar panels worth it? Whether you hope to reduce your electric bills, carbon dioxide emissions or both, solar panels are a worthwhile investment for many Santa Cruz homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Santa Cruz
There are many good reasons why you should switch to solar. One of them includes some government incentives that can help save you some money. When you install a solar panel system on your home, you become eligible to claim the federal tax credit, or ITC. This credit currently reduces your tax bill by 30% of the cost of your solar panels. Additionally, there may often be some local incentives that you can use to further save. Our article on solar incentives goes over more detailed information on the incentives you can take advantage of in Santa Cruz.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Santa Cruz
Going solar can have a beneficial effect on the environment. You may be asking yourself — how much do solar panels help the planet anyway? As reported by the EPA, electricity production is the second biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions and about 62% of our electricity comes from burning fossil fuels. Installing solar panels and switching to renewable energy can help put a dent in that statistic in a city like Santa Cruz that accounts for a fair amount of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Because solar panels don't release carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere when creating electricity, they're a good swap for nonrenewable energy sources. In fact, you could be looking at reducing your carbon dioxide emissions by about 50 pounds each year. Since solar energy is abundant and makes electricity without CO2 emissions, adding solar panels to your home is one easy step you can take to help preserve the planet.
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 Santa Cruz, CA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar company is the best in Santa Cruz?
In Santa Cruz, APG Solar is the best local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 5.00 stars, so it's a great choice if you're planning to add solar panels to your house.
What are the pros and cons of solar power?
The greatest advantages of solar power are that it can lower or, in some cases, completely erase your electricity bills, improve your home's value and lower your carbon footprint. The greatest disadvantages are that solar panels can be expensive to install, you may not see as many savings if you don't use a lot of electricity and it doesn't work for all roof types and locations.
Is it worth putting solar panels on my home?
Solar panels can be a good investment for lots of homeowners, but honestly, they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get a lot of direct sunlight or your energy bills are already pretty low, solar panels might not be for you.
What is the efficiency of solar panels?
Usually, solar panels are about 15 to 25% efficient, which means they can convert that percentage of the energy from the sun into usable electricity.
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.