A&R Solar
5.0
5.0
Author: Kaitlyn Short
A&R Solar is headquartered in both Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The company was founded in 2007 and provides solar energy nationwide. The company was founded on unyielding moral and ethical standards to create a culture of caring and value to both its customers and employees. As a result, A&R Solar won the 2015 King County Executive's Small Business Award for Workforce development. The company was also a finalist for the Puget Sound Business Journal's 2015 Washington's Best Workplace. A&R Solar was also recognized as a Top 500 Solar Contractor by Solar Power World, and in 2015 the company was named the #1 Solar Contractor in Washington.
A&R Solar is an employee-owned business committed to providing the highest quality solar in all areas and continuing to innovate in a growing renewable energy industry. The company is a Certified B-Corporation and holds more NABCEP licenses than any other company in the Northwest.
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- Full-Service Solar Installation
- Referral Program
- They Handle the Paperwork
- High Quality Equipment
- 110% Highest Performance Guarantee
Full-Service Solar Installation
A&R Solar provides top-level support at every step of the installation process, starting with the energy audit that establishes the home's energy consumption and electric bill savings goals. The company will also evaluate the current state and shade/sun potential of the roof to determine a home's candidacy for solar energy.
If solar is the right choice for the home, A&R Solar's expert team will go over all financing options, state rebates and energy credits, and federal incentives like the solar tax credit. A custom design, accompanied by a final solar quote and contract, will be drawn up before the installation team gets to work.
Following installation, A&R Solar will work with the local utility to interconnect the system to the power grid, and homeowners can begin to see their energy costs decrease from day one.
Referral Program
The solar installer offers a referral program, which can help individuals and their referrals earn cash. Through the program, the referrer and the referree will each receive $500 for spreading the word about A&R Solar. The company offers $500 for each solar project and $500 for each battery storage project, which means referrers and referrees can earn $1,000 for a solar-plus-storage project. There's no limit to the number of referrals that can be sent in, and even those who are not A&R Solar customers may participate in the program.
They Handle the Paperwork
When converting your home to solar energy requires a lot of paperwork. Permits from the city and state need to be obtained, and sometimes even paperwork from the homeowners association- depending on your state. Most companies leave this up to the homeowner to handle. A&R Solar's trained professionals who have years of experience in filing for permits and completing this type of paperwork remove that burden from their customers. The federal government offers a 26 percent tax incentive to everyone who installs a solar energy system. Certain states also have their own energy credits as well. Filing for these tax incentives requires a lot of paperwork and A&R Solar will complete this for their customers as well.
A&R Solar will also make sure the homeowner takes advantage of all other available incentives, including the state's net metering policy, which requires the utility company to credit solar power users for the surplus energy their solar array contributes to the power grid.
High Quality Equipment
A&R Solar uses SunPower solar panels and SolarEdge inverter modules. Solar panels from SunPower rank among the most energy-efficient and durable cells on the market, generating an industry-best 22.8 percent efficiency. They also come with a comprehensive 25-year warranty, including parts, labor, and performance. SolarEdge inverter modules meanwhile convert solar energy at more than 97 percent efficiency, and also come with a 25-year warranty.
The company also provides production monitoring for its solar systems as part of the cost, which allows customers to check up on their system and see how their equipment is performing.
In addition to quality solar panel systems, A&R Solar offers customers the option to install solar battery components. A&R Solar is a Tesla Powerwall Certified Installer, meaning the company is authorized to install one of the premier solar battery solutions in the industry. Solar batteries allow the homeowner to store and use excess solar energy in the event of a power outage or blackouts. The solar company also provides EV charging stations that integrate seamlessly with the existing solar energy system to power your electric car.
110% Highest Performance Guarantee
A&R promises that your panels will produce the amount of that the company says it will of they will refund 110% of all missed and state production tax credits. This guarantee really sets the company apart in the in the United States. Very few companies offer this type of guarantee which promises and provides substantial peace of mind.
The Bad
- Only Two Payment Options Available
- Limited National Availability
Only Two Payment Options Available
A&R Solar only offers customers two ways to financing their solar panel system: direct purchase and solar loans. While both financing options entitle customers to the Federal Solar Tax Credit, both can require tens of thousands of dollars. Leading companies also provide the homeowner with more cost-effective solutions like solar leasing and power purchase agreements (PPA), which are likewise able to reduce electricity costs while also leveraging the clean energy of solar power.
Limited National Availability
A&R Solar is only available in Washington State and Oregon, both of which offer a growth market for solar and have consequently produced a highly competitive market for the residential solar company. Promoting verified AR Solar reviews can be an effective way for the installer to stand out from the crowd.
The Bottom Line
A&R Solar is an overall great company. The solar installation company offers fantastic incentives, such as its referral program and its 110% production guarantee, which guarantees savings to the consumer. A&R Solar will also handle any and all paperwork needed to go solar and obtain tax incentives.
