15 Best Solar Companies in Santa Cruz, CA (2024 Reviews)
We analyzed over 1500 solar companies in the nation,
and have selected the top 15 in Santa Cruz based on:
Customer review scores- Service area for Santa Cruz, CA
- Company policies and services offered
- Accreditations and certifications
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Average Santa Cruz homeowner saves $2,742/year with solar panels
Why you can trust EcoWatch
Best Solar Companies in Santa Cruz
Looking for energy freedom in Santa Cruz? Installing solar panels can be a rewarding home project since you can take advantage of lots of perks when you go solar. Since Santa Cruz is a solar paradise, it's no wonder you're looking into installing solar panels.
As you set out on your search for the best solar companies in Santa Cruz, you might notice that there are a great number of providers to choose from. So, we’ve organized a curated list of the top solar companies in the area.For an idea of how much you would pay to put up solar panels on your roof, you can get a free, no-obligation quote from one of the top solar companies in Santa Cruz by clicking the "get quote" button below.
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 Santa Cruz
Allterra Solar
Reliable Customer Support- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
Limited information available on website
Services Offered
Panel Installation- Tesla Powerwall
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
Sandbar Solar & Electric
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Nomadic Solar
- Informative Resources
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
Solar Electric Supply, Inc.
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Off-Grid Solar Systems
- Panel Installation
- Financing Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Grid-Tied Solar System
- Solar Carports
Solar Technologies Santa Cruz
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
Greentech Renewables Santa Cruz
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
Cinnamon Energy Systems
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Tesla Powerwall
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Skilled Repairs
- Solar Panel Upgrades
Infinium Solar, Inc.
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Financing Assistance
- System Decommissioning
- Panel Installation
- Solar Carports
- Battery Storage
Sunternal
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Tesla Powerwall
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Permit Assistance
Semper Solaris
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Panel Installation
- Skilled Repairs
- Consultation
- Financing Assistance
TN Electrical and Solar Services
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Battery Storage
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Solar Panel Upgrades
- Panel Installation
- Consultation
- Grid-Tied Solar System
Highlight Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Informative Resources
- Reliable Customer Support
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Permit Assistance
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
Monarch Home Services (Salinas)
- Reliable Customer Support
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Informative Resources
- Free Quotes
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Cleaning and Maintenance
- Skilled Repairs
- Financing Assistance
- Panel Installation
Soleeva
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Free Quotes
- Reliable Customer Support
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Panel Installation
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Cleaning and Maintenance
Clean Solar
- Clear Pricing Policy
- Prompt Service Delivery
- Reliable Customer Support
- Free Quotes
- Informative Resources
- Limited information available on website
Services Offered
- Consultation
- Tesla Powerwall
- Battery Storage
- Financing Assistance
- Skilled Repairs
- Permit Assistance
- Panel Installation
Methodology: How We Ranked the Best Solar Companies in Santa Cruz
EcoWatch's solar experts analyzed each solar company in Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz
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 Santa Cruz
When picking a solar company, most homeowners or business owners care about the costs the most.The installation cost is just one important factor you should take into account when looking into installing solar panels. How much it'll cost and how much you can save depend on things including:
- Choice of solar panels: The type of solar panels you need 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 opt for a higher number of more affordable panels.
- Average daily sunlight: Since Santa Cruz gets lots of sunlight, your solar panel system will most likely be able to generate enough energy to power your whole home, which influences how much your electricity bills will be.
- Incentives: The federal solar investment tax credit currently allows you to lower your taxes by 0 of the project cost. Your state may also have incentives and rebates that you can benefit from. Plus, you can save about $33,000 over 20 years on your utility bills, not including incentives.
- How much energy you use: If your family regularly uses a lot of energy, you'll see more savings from going solar.
As a result of solar panels decreasing in cost as well as several solar incentives, they are a cost-effective investment for many homeowners.
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Solar Incentives in Santa Cruz
There are several reasons why adopting solar power is beneficial. One of them involves some government incentives that can help save you some money.There are quite a few federal, state and local rebates and tax credits that may earn you a decent amount of money in return after paying for solar panels. In our article on solar incentives, you can read about the incentives you qualify for near you.
Environmental Impact of Switching to Solar in Santa Cruz
One reason so many homeowners are considering going solar is to help reduce their environmental impact.Many homeowners might be wondering how much exactly they can impact the environment by switching to solar in Santa Cruz, though. In a city like Santa Cruz where commute times can be pretty long, going solar can help help reduce the carbon footprint of driving a lot.In fact, if you adopt solar power, you could look forward to lowering your carbon dioxide emissions by about 50 pounds each year. Since energy from the sun is renewable and makes electricity without CO2 emissions, adding solar panels to your home 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 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 Santa Cruz, CA Solar Company Rankings FAQs
What is the top solar company in Santa Cruz?
The highest-rated local solar company in Santa Cruz is Allterra Solar, with a rating of 4.90 stars.
Are solar panels really bad for the environment?
Solar panels can be bad for the environment when manufacturers use toxic chemicals when they’re made. Chemicals can make solar panels difficult to dispose of 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?
Solar panels generally pay for themselves in about 7.1 years, but your solar payback period will vary based on your utility costs. The more your typical electricity bill, the faster your solar panel system will pay for itself.
What is the best type of solar panel?
There are three main types of solar panels: monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film. In regard to efficiency and price, monocrystalline has the highest for both, then polycrystalline, and then thin-film. The best choice for you is highly influenced by your roof configuration, your budget and how much energy generation you want.
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.