Evergreen Solar and Construction
Is This Your Business?1.0
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Author: Kaitlyn Short
Founded in 2017, Evergreen Solar provides a number of residential and commercial services with a focus on solar installation projects. The mission of Evergreen Solar was to bring a more viable and sustainable energy option to California residents looking to reduce their electricity bills and carbon footprint. The leadership of Evergreen Solar includes those with backgrounds in architecture, engineering, and business administration to provide a well-rounded approach to every solar project.
Evergreen Solar has worked to provide a number of alternative solar options for clients to choose from. These other solutions use solar to power everyday items in the home without having to use traditional means of energy.
Where Evergreen Solar generally excels is the company’s ability to assist clients through the financing process. Whether it is helping clients utilize state and federal tax incentives or pairing them with a leasing or loan partner, Evergreen Solar has an option for every financial situation.
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- Certified Energy Efficient Home Improvements
- Additional Services
- Financing Partners
Certified Energy Efficient Home Improvements
One of the most unique aspects of the Evergreen Solar service is its energy efficient home improvement solutions offered to its clients. In an attempt to help clients reduce overall electrical usage, the company has teamed up with Energy Star to offer these certified energy saving services:
- Solar thermal water and pool heaters
- Cool roofing
- HAC
- Heat resistant cool pain
- Reflect-Tec roof paint
- Insulation
- Artificial grass
- Pavers for pools
- Tankless water heaters
All of these services will provide cost cutting and energy efficient solutions for residential homeowners. Most solar installation companies do not come close to offering all of these solutions, and Evergreen Solar provides certified services in each of these areas.
Additional Services
Most solar installation companies stick to just that, providing solar installation services. Evergreen Solar has expanded its offerings to include a number of home solutions. Some are still related to the solar industry while others are not. Additional Evergreen Solar solutions include the following:
- Roofing — Evergreen Solar is certified to install a “cool roof” on residential properties protecting it from the elements and reinforcing energy reduction initiatives.
- AC and heating — Clients in need of AC and heating unit repairs can use the professional at Evergreen Solar to make sure everything is operating appropriately.
- ADU and garage conversions — Clients interested in transforming their garage into a living space or building a separate ADU entity can use Evergreen Solar to generate a more passive income or increase the living space of the home.
- Storage batteries — To prevent inclement weather and energy shortages from affecting clients, Evergreen Solar will install storage batteries to provide uninterrupted solar energy.
By offering roofing solutions, Evergreen Solar clients can eliminate the headache of having a solar system removed to have roofing replacements and repairs done. Evergreen Solar can handle all aspects of this process which is something not all solar installation companies can provide.
Financing Partners
The average solar system in America costs anywhere from $15,000 to $25,000 to have equipment ordered and subsequently installed. Tax incentives are offered on a state and federal level, which Evergreen Solar is prepared to help clients access. After these incentives kick in, there is still thousands of dollars to make up for.
Realizing that not all clients can pay for the system in cash, Evergreen Solar has been proactive in developing relationships with the following solar financing organizations and operations:
- Energy Loan Network
- Ygrene Works
- Dividend
These built-in partnerships allow Evergreen Solar clients to swiftly move through the financing process and get their solar system installed in a timely manner.
The Bad
- Undisclosed Equipment Information
- Unclear Warranty Details
- Limited Service Area
Undisclosed Equipment Information
Despite claims of offering tier-1 equipment to clients, Evergreen Solar has failed to disclose what specific manufacturers it has access to in order to provide that equipment to clients. If the company shops around for equipment, it may not get that equipment at the rate of another solar company that has manufacturer partnerships. By not having these partnerships in place, Evergreen Solar clients may be at a pricing and access disadvantage.
Unclear Warranty Details
Evergreen Solar offers a production guarantee; however, the specifics surrounding term length and coverage is vague at best. The company claims it offers one of the longest warranties in the industry, but fails to disclose the specifics. It also claims to install panels at company cost if the unprecedented production guarantee is not met but does not state what rate efficiency panels can be expected to operate at.
These hazy details make it difficult to determine whether Evergreen Solar offers a high quality warranty or not. Additionally, there does not appear to be a workmanship warranty offered through the company.
Limited Service Area
The solar installation industry is generally a local endeavor with a vast majority of companies within the space only offering services in one state or a select few cities with a high concentration of consumers. However, some solar installation companies have found ways to expand into neighboring states or cover regions across the United Statesw. Unfortunately, Evergreen Solar is not one of these companies and has opted for a more localized service.
Currently Evergreen Solar offers solar installation services in the following areas:
- Los Angeles
- Riverside
- San Diego
- Oceanside
- Irvine
- Ontario
- Oxnard
- Ventura
- Santa Barbara
- Palm Springs
- Goleta
- Simi Valley
- Santa Clarita
By limiting services to just these cities, Evergreen Solar limits the number of clients it is able to service in Southern California.
The Bottom Line
Evergreen Solar is a more complex solar company than is typically found within the industry. The company offers a wide range of certified energy efficient home improvements for additional savings and carbon footprint reduction. In addition to providing traditional solar services, Evergreen Solar offers a number of roofing and appliance solutions to clients in need of roofing or AC and heating services. Lastly, Evergreen Solar has a number of financing partners and options for clients to choose from.
Evergreen Solar does have some things that prospective customers should be aware of. First, the company has failed to disclose any equipment information, and there are only vague allusions to a warranty offered to clients. The service area is restricted to just a few cities in the state of California limiting who can access the Evergreen Solar service.
Prospective clients should consider all options prior to making any commitments with Evergreen Solar. While the company offers a number of beneficial services, there is limited information on what the company’s solar service actually entails.
