12 Best Solar Companies in Virginia Beach, VA (2023 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 12 in Virginia Beach 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 March 14, 2023
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best solar companies in Virginia Beach
As a homeowner in Virginia Beach, you may be planning on switching to solar and curious about the best solar companies in your area. Solar could be a good idea since it comes with a lot of perks. Because solar panels generate their own energy, they can vastly lower your electricity bill each month, if not completely eliminate it. In fact, you could end up with about $19,000 of savings over 20 years.
The cost of installing solar panels can vary greatly according to your home's infrastructure and your household energy needs. To get an estimate of what 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 Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
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 Virginia Beach
Local Service
Live Wire Electrical Services
-
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 Panels
Local Service
Total Solutions
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Educational sales approach
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Roof Shingles
- Commercial Solar Services
Local Service
Moxie Solar Inc
- Offers a free quote process
- Educational sales approach
- Has an online quote form
- NABCEP-certified technicians
- Some reports of long wait times for installation
- Some reported communication issues
- Some reports of high-pressure sales tactics
- Some reported issues with customer services
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Batteries
- Solar Panels
- Solar Roof Shingles
Local Service
Radiant Solar
- Educational sales approach
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Batteries
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
POWERHOME SOLAR
- Offers a free quote process
- Educational sales approach
- NABCEP-certified technicians
- Licensing and credentials transparency
- Some reports of long wait times for installation
- Some reported issues with customer services
Services Offered
- Solar Batteries
- Solar Panels
- Commercial Solar Services
Local Service
Performance Solar
- 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 Roof Shingles
- Solar Panels
Local Service
ION Solar, LLC - Virginia
- Offers a free quote process
- Educational sales approach
- Makes charitable contributions
- NABCEP-certified technicians
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
691 Electric
- Educational sales approach
- Licensing and credentials transparency
- Excellent reputation
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Freedom Solar
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Educational sales approach
- Speedy and efficient installations
- Can browse portfolio on website
- Assists with maximizing rebate
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Commercial Solar Services
- Solar Panels
Local Service
Solar Tyme
- Custom system designs
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Batteries
- Solar Panels
Nationwide Service
Average Cost
SunPower
- Most efficient panels on the market
- National coverage
- Cradle to Cradle sustainability certification
- Great warranty coverage
- Expensive
- Customer service varies by local dealer
Services Offered
- Solar Panels
- Solar Batteries
- EV Chargers
- System Monitoring
Local Service
Norfolk Solar energy Contractor
- More transparent pricing than competitors
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- 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 Virginia Beach
When deciding on a solar company, most homeowners or business owners wonder about the costs the most. There are several factors you should consider when trying to determine the overall cost and how much you can save, including:
- Whether or not your roof gets a lot of direct sunlight: This, and how your roof is set up, affects affect how much power your solar panels can generate.
- Choice of solar panels: The type of solar panels you want will affect your total cost. High-efficiency monocrystalline panels will cost more upfront but can also save you more money over the lifetime of your system. If you don't need to maximize efficiency, you can go with a higher number of more affordable panels.
- How much you spend on energy: The average family in Virginia Beach spends around $1,400 a year on home energy use alone, so you could end up with that much in savings.
- Incentives: One thing that can make your solar project cost less is the solar investment tax credit (ITC), which is a tax credit that's equal to a percentage of the project cost. You can also save a decent amount of money on your power bills, which can lead to an average of $19,000 of savings over 20 years.
So is installing solar panels worth it? Whether you hope to lower your energy bills, greenhouse gas emissions or both, solar panels are a great investment for many Virginia Beach homeowners.
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To see how much you can help the environment and your wallet by making the switch to solar, try out the calculator below. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Virginia Beach, VA.
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Solar Incentives in Virginia Beach
Because solar power is a cleaner source of energy than burning fossil fuels, there are quite a few government incentives in place to encourage people to make the switch. These incentives mostly consist of cash rebates, tax credits and/or performance-based incentives. They can cut the cost of installing solar panels by 30%, upwards of 50% depending on your location. For comprehensive information about local incentives, check out our our article on solar incentives.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Virginia Beach
One reason so many homeowners are considering switching to solar power is to help lower their environmental impact. But — how much exactly can you help by using solar power? In a city like Virginia Beach where energy use is particularly high, going solar is a fantastic idea for homeowners who are worried about the state of the planet. Even though solar panel production releases carbon dioxide emissions, the panels make up for it by considerably lowering the amount of CO2 you would have been responsible for if you still used traditional energy. In Virginia Beach, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 60 pounds a year with solar panels. For people who want to help 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 Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
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 Virginia Beach, VA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the most reputable solar panel installation company in Virginia Beach?
The highest-rated local solar company in Virginia Beach is Live Wire Electrical Services, with a rating of 5.00 stars.
What are some of the pros and cons of installing solar panels?
A few of the biggest pros are that it reduces your electricity bills, it's good for the environment, and it gives you a significant return on your investment (ROI). The most notable cons are that solar panels don't produce electricity at night, the startup costs are high and solar panels can be an eyesore.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after buying solar panels?
Solar panels generally pay for themselves in about 9.5 years, but your solar payback period will depend on your utility costs. The more your typical power bill, the quicker your solar panel system will pay for itself.
When is the best time of year to install solar panels?
You can install solar panels whenever it's convenient for you, but consider doing it in the winter when the demand is less. With fewer homeowners switching to solar, you could potentially see faster 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.