15 Best Solar Companies in Charlottesville, VA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Charlottesville based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Charlottesville, VA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Charlottesville homeowner saves $1,496/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Charlottesville
If you’re on the hunt for the best solar companies in Charlottesville, combing through hundreds of options can be intimidating, but it can pay off since switching to solar energy can offer so many fantastic benefits. Because solar panels generate their own energy, they can vastly lower your electricity bill each month, if not fully eliminate it. In fact, you could be looking at about $18,000 of savings over 20 years.
If you want to make use of the great number of benefits of solar, we’re here to help you narrow down your options to find the Charlottesville solar installer that’s perfect for you.We recommend shopping around to get multiple quotes and comparing them to find the best installer for your home. To get started with free quotes from the top solar installers in Charlottesville, click the link below.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
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
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 Charlottesville
Virtue Solar
Clear Pricing Policy- Free Quotes
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Panel Installation- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Battery Storage
- Tesla Powerwall
Paradise Energy Solutions
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Panel Installation
Tiger Solar
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
SunDay Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
SANDWAVE ENERGY
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Community Solar Projects
Genesis Home and Energy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
Green Hill Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Financing Assistance
Radiant Home | Solar, Roofing, Battery Backup
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Southern Exposure Solar
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
Nexus Energy Systems
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Tesla Powerwall
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Skilled Repairs
Huffman Electrical Systems Inc
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
Shockoe Solar, LLC
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Skilled Repairs
Horizon Solar
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
Affordable Energy Concepts Inc
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Community Solar Projects
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
JD Solar Power
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Charlottesville
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Charlottesville 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 Charlottesville
Below are some the criteria we examined specifically for Virginia 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 Charlottesville
While solar panels can help save you money on utility bills over time, it’s necessary to take into consideration the startup costs.The cost of solar and the savings it generates vary depending on some important factors such as:
- Incentives: Tax-paying citizens who buy and install a solar energy system this year can save 0 of their installation costs by using the federal solar investment tax credit. You can also save about $18,000 on your electricity bills over 20 years without incentives.
- Energy consumption: Installing solar panels may be an expensive investment for families that don’t consume too much energy each month.
- Average daily sunlight: Since Charlottesville gets a decent amount of average daily sunlight, your solar panels can generally generate enough energy to power your whole home, which affects how much you can save on your energy bills.
- The type of solar panels you’re thinking of getting: Some are more highly priced, so that will influence your budget for your solar project.
Because of solar panels now being cheaper than ever as well as several solar incentives, they are a cost-effective investment for the majority of homeowners.
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For an estimate of both how much you could save and help the Earth by switching to solar power, you can give the calculator below a try. You can also view our solar panel cost guide for Charlottesville, VA.
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Solar Incentives in Charlottesville
Switching to solar power has plenty of wonderful benefits. Not only can it help protect the environment, but you can also save some money on your installation with various government incentives.Local solar incentives depend on the location and, sometimes, utility company. A lot of states offer rebates for solar power, in addition to the federal solar tax credit. Check out our article on solar incentives to see what incentives you can benefit from.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Charlottesville
There are many reasons to make the switch to solar energy, like saving some money on electricity bills and helping to lower your carbon footprint.Something many homeowners might be thinking about is how much can they really help the environment by going solar anyway? The average person has a substantial carbon footprint. Between their car, which releases over 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year, and powering their home, it can be overwhelming to figure out what to do. Using solar power is a practical thing you can do to help.Even though solar panel production releases carbon dioxide emissions, the panels make up for it by greatly reducing the amount of CO2 you would have been responsible for if you still used nonrenewable energy. In Charlottesville, you can reduce your carbon footprint by 60 pounds a year with solar panels. Since solar energy is plentiful and produces electricity without releasing carbon emissions, installing solar panels is one easy step you can take to help the environment.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries
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
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 Charlottesville, VA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
Which solar power company is the best in Charlottesville?
In Charlottesville, Virtue Solar is the best local solar company. Our team of experts rates it 5.00 stars, so it's a solid choice if you're looking to add solar panels to your roof.
What are the best and worst things about solar power?
The biggest advantages of solar power are that it can decrease or, for some, totally eradicate your electricity bills, improve the value of your home and bring down your carbon footprint. The main disadvantages are that solar panels can be pricey to install, you may not save a lot if you don’t use a lot of electricity and whether you can install solar panels depends on your roof configuration.
How long does it take to see a return on your investment after installing solar panels?
Solar panels typically pay for themselves in about 13.4 years, but your solar payback period will vary based on your utility costs. The more your typical power bill, the quicker your solar panel system will recoup your installation costs.
What is solar panel capacity and how much do I need for my house?
Solar panel capacity is how much energy the panels can produce under ideal conditions (a sunny day around noon). The average household requires between 20 and 35 panels to account for their energy needs.
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.