American Solar Logo

American Solar

star star star star_half star_border

5.3

Overall Score

Author: Kaitlyn Short

LAST UPDATED: April 25th, 2024

American Solar is a residential solar provider based in Beverly Hills, California and founded in 2020. The company is available in 12 states and counting, most recently launching operations in North Carolina. American Solar prides itself on what it calls a "modular digital enterprise" approach to the traditional solar installation framework, which in essense makes buying a solar panel system easier and more affordable for homeowners.

Top Ranked Companies

thumb_up

The Good

  • Modular Digital Enterprise Framework
  • Available in 12 US States
  • Buy, Loan, or Lease Solar Panels

Modular Digital Enterprise Framework

One area in which American Solar is truly seeking to set itself apart is in its operational approach to residential solar energy. The company is a pioneer in what it calls a "modular digital enterprise" (MDE) framework, which implements a fully remote technology platform designed to reduce some of the overhead costs and bottlenecks that often plague traditional installers.

A reduction in marketing and operational costs allows American Solar to not only pass the savings onto the customer, but also streamline the solar installation process, making solar adoption fast and affordable for homeowners.

As evidence that this framework have proven effective for both American Solar and its customer base, MDE has led to an average quarterly growth of 150 percent every quarter from 2021 to 2022.

Available in 12 US States

American Solar is currently available in the following states, with more states to come:

  • Arizona
  • California
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Nevada
  • New Jersey
  • North Carolina
  • Pennsylvania
  • Texas
  • Virginia

Customers living within American Solar's ever growing service area are encouraged to read the latest verified American Solar reviews to see how the company compares to industry leaders in their area.

Buy, Loan, or Lease Solar Panels

American Solar offers customers three financing methods to go solar:

  • Solar lease — American Solar's zero-down lease option allows customers to have a solar panel system installed without a down payment. Some advantages with the solar lease include lease payments often being lower than traditional utiltiy payments, and homeowners not being liable to pay for damaged or defective parts.
  • Solar loan — solar financing through American Solar provides homeowners with an easy path to ownership, which qualifies them for certain state and federal incentives, including the Federal Solar Tax Credit.
  • Direct purchase — American Solar also facilitates the direct purchase of solar energy systems, why provides the fastest and most valuable return on investment of any financing option. Direct purchase also qualifies homeowners for the Solar Tax Credit.
thumb_down

The Bad

  • Warranty Disclosures
  • Equipment Disclosures
  • Certification and Award Disclosures

Warranty Disclosures

American Solar has yet to disclose some important data points that would further empower homeowners to make an informed decision regarding their solar future. For example, the solar provider does not make any warranty disclosures on its website or social media platforms. Warranties are an important part of solar adoption and are designed to guarantee the following:

  • Functional solar products
  • Quality installer workmanship
  • Consistent system performance

Leading solar providers warranty the equipment, labor, and performance of their systems for 25 years or more.

Equipment Disclosures

Homeowners can generally assume their solar provider will have a broad inventory of solar brands to choose from when designing and building a solar energy system; that said, most solar providers like to advertise their preferred manufacturing partners for solar panels, solar inverters, backup batteries, and even mounting/racking equipment. American Solar makes no such disclosures as yet.

Publishing a list of preferred solar brands can answer a number of questions for customers: does the company prefer American-made panels; has the company been certified by a particular solar brand; will the system feature more expensive components, etc.

Certification and Award Disclosures

Solar providers can distinguish themselves from the competition in numerous ways. For example, industry certifications like one from the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) can demonstrate a company's expertise to potential customers.

American Solar has not disclosed that it has any industry or brand-related certifications or awards.

gavel

The Bottom Line

Overall, American Solar appears to be a solid solar company that is making good on its mission to make solar energy accessible and affordable to homeowners everywhere. Customers can purchase, loan, or lease out a solar panel system for zero money down, while also taking advantage of the companies modular digital enterprise framework.

That said, American Solar needs to provide potential customers with more information in order for them to make a fair and accurate comparison among solar providers. Disclosing its warranty information, preferred manufacturing partners, and industry certifications and credentials can go a long way toward instilling confidence in customers that they'll be receiving a quality system, installed by experts, and built to last.

We encourage customers to reach out to American Solar for a free quote, and compare their findings to other top solar providers in their state.

Was this content helpful?
thumb_up Yes thumb_down No