Go Solar Virginia
5.0
7.0
Overall Score
Author: Kaitlyn Short
Go Solar Virginia provides residential solar clients with a reliable solar contractor that handles all the ins and outs of equipment ordering, design, installation, and operation.
After identifying the gap between the solar industry and the solutions made available by qualified suppliers, the leadership at Go Solar Virginia decided to offer a trustworthy service with customer satisfaction at the forefront of the operation.
Since it was established in 2017, Go Solar Virginia has quickly risen to prominence among the solar installers within the state. By taking care of each customer and ensuring organized project management, Go Solar Virginia has provided countless homeowners with a positive solar experience that continues to save money on monthly utility bills.
Whether homeowners are looking for complete photovoltaic system installation or whole home backup solutions, the professionals at Go Solar Virginia are qualified to help. Prospective clients can take advantage of a complimentary in-home analysis that does not require any sort of commitment to review potential solutions.
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- End-to-End Solar Supplier
- Tier-1 Equipment Partners
- Comprehensive Warranty
- Certified Installation Services
End-to-End Solar Supplier
Go Solar Virginia provides complete end-to-end services for each client that utilizes the service. That means that every aspect of the solar purchasing and installation process will be handled by a Go Solar Virginia professional in-house.
A trend within the solar installation industry is the outsourcing of certain components of the solar process. This can lead to miscommunications and loose ends that leave clients frustrated and unsatisfied. That is not the case with Go Solar Virginia; the company provides complete and comprehensive solar installation solutions.
Tier-1 Equipment Partners
Clients who work with Go Solar Virginia can rest assured that all products used in installation are made from tier-1 solar manufacturers. Not all solar installers can make this promise as many companies do not have relationships with a number of the top-quality brands in the industry. Go Solar Virginia has partnerships with the following equipment providers:
| Panels | Inverters | Batteries |
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All equipment parts and connections used in Go Solar Virginia include systems that have been tested and proved to perform at a high level for decades to come.
Comprehensive Warranty
Since having a solar system installed on a residential property is a hefty investment, many prospective clients are interested in what kinds of guarantees and warranties come with the product to ensure proper performance. As a result, most solar companies offer some sort of warranty including workmanship, equipment, and performance warranties.
On average, clients will receive a 25-year equipment warranty backed by the equipment manufacturer and a 10-year workmanship warranty backed by the actual solar supplier/installer. This is where Go Solar Virginia sets itself apart as the company offers clients full bumper-to-bumper protection. Go Solar Virginia clients will receive a complete 25 years of protection on the product, performance, and labor. Clients can expect the following:
- Free equipment replacement
- Free system repairs (including parts and labor)
- Watertight roof penetrations
- Certified installation services
Another major benefit of working with Go Solar Virginia is its use of professionals from The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. The NABCEP is an independent certification organization that is widely recognized as the gold standard of certification within the renewable energy field.
It is not required to be NABCEP certified to handle solar installation, but it does demonstrate a level of skill and knowledge professionals possess when the certification has been achieved.
Not all solar installers are NABCEP certified, but Go Solar Virginia clients can rest assured that all aspects of the installation process will be handled by properly certified professionals. The Go Solar Virginia installers are well-equipped and trained to handle even the most complex solar installation projects.
The Bad
- Undisclosed Financing Solutions
- Limited Service Area
Undisclosed Financing Solutions
One of the first questions many prospective solar clients have is “how much will solar cost me?” The answer to that question will vary based on a number of different factors, but the reality is that installing a solar system is expensive. As a result, many homeowners are unable to pay for the system up-front and in cash.
Due to the high initial costs of a solar system, many solar suppliers and installers offer alternative financing solutions. Typically, solar companies will offer one or all of the following financing solutions: loans, leases, power purchase agreements.
These options are then typically disclosed on the company's website so researching customers can determine whether or not that particular solar supplier will work with their financial needs. While Go Solar Virginia claims to offer flexible financing options, the company has failed to publicly disclose what those options are and what the specific requirements surrounding those options entail.
Limited Service Area
The solar installation business as a whole is relatively localized service. A vast majority of solar suppliers limit the geographic service area to one state or some of the more populated cities and counties within a state. Go Solar Virginia is the same in this regard, only offering services to homeowners in Virginia.
That being said, there are a few solar contractors that have found ways to expand services successfully without compromising a service standard. Unfortunately at this time, residents outside of Virginia will not be able to utilize the services offered through Go Solar Virginia and will have to find an alternative provider.
The Bottom Line
Go Solar Virginia provides start-to-finish services, handling each aspect of the solar process in house and streamlining the process. All equipment used in Go Solar Virginia projects comes from tier-1 manufacturers, meaning clients can trust the equipment brands used in the installation.
Even more impressive than the equipment used in Go Solar Virginia projects is the warranty and protections offered to clients. The company provides a complete bumper-to-bumper guarantee. Lastly, the installation part of the process is highly recommended and trusted as Go Solar Virginia installers are NABCEP certified.
There are a host of reasons prospective solar clients should consider services offered by Go Solar Virginia, but there are some drawbacks that should be noted as well. Despite claiming to offer in-house financing solutions, there are no specific alternatives mentioned publicly making it difficult to determine the quality of those financing solutions.
Additionally, Go Solar Virginia services are limited to Virginia homeowners only.
Virginia homeowners looking for a reliable and reputable solar service that will handle each aspect of the solar installation process will likely benefit from the solutions available through Go Solar Virginia.
