Reno Solar
4.9
4.9
Author: Kaitlyn Short
Reno Solar is a local solar provider that helps homeowners navigate the solar process. By creating a streamlined and efficient process, Reno Solar has helped hundreds of homeowners realize the benefits of solar since its founding in 2022. The team at Reno Solar is dedicated to helping clients from the initial consultation all the way through the point when the solar system is finally activated.
Whether the goal is to reduce carbon footprints or decrease monthly utility bills, Reno Solar has helped clients exceed expectations. While a majority of the solar installations Reno Solar conducts are residential, the Reno Solar team is fully capable of helping business owners in commercial property settings utilize solar energy. With custom solar solutions, Reno Solar will help clients protect the planet while also lowering monthly electricity bills.
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- Financial Benefits
- Free Consultation
- Company Backed Warranties
Financial Benefits
A driving force for many solar customers is the financial gain of switching over to solar produced energy. Whether it is through immediate savings on electric bills or hedging against unpredictable utility price hikes, solar helps clients save in a number of ways.
In addition to that, having a solar system installed on a home increases the overall property value. Reno Solar clients have found an upfront property value increase of 4 percent immediately upon installation completion.
Free Consultation
Each interested customer has the ability to take advantage of a free consultation with a Reno Solar professional. Many solar providers charge for this service or require some sort of initial commitment. Reno Solar offers this service with no strings attached.
In this complimentary consultations, a trained professional will go over the following elements of the solar project:
- Engineering
- Material
- Permitting
- Labor
- Process Scope
This consultation will give prospective clients the opportunity to ask questions and receive clarification on any issues.
Company-Backed Warranties
An interesting feature of the Reno Solar service is that the company backs its own warranties. Typically, solar contractors leave all of the warranty coverage up to the manufacturer and then use those protections as a selling point to customers. Whether it is the equipment or production warranty, generally the manufacturer shoulders those obligations.
For Reno Solar customers, the company itself backs a 25-year equipment warranty and then offers a 10-year workmanship warranty. This goes a long way in demonstrating the company’s confidence in the overall performance and sustainability of the systems it installs.
The Bad
- Undisclosed Equipment Partnerships
- Limited Service Area
- Certifications and Experience
Undisclosed Equipment Partnerships
Despite claiming to work with tier-1 solar manufacturers, Reno Solar has failed to publicly disclose what manufacturers it works directly with in order to construct solar systems. This makes it difficult for prospective clients to determine the quality of equipment offered through the company.
Most solar contractors will disclose equipment partnerships as it is key for many interested customers still making a purchasing decision. Unfortunately for Reno Solar clients, this information is unknown.
Limited Service Area
It is not uncommon for solar contractors to provide a local service, meaning the geographical service area of the company is restricted to a single state, region, or more populated cities/counties. This is the case for Reno Solar as the company provides services in the Northern Nevada region but particularly within the city of Reno.
There are benefits of working with a local professional but there are limitations that should be noted as well. Reno Solar simply cannot service clients on a broader scale like some of its competitive counterparts since the service area is restricted.
Certifications and Experience
According to business license documents, Reno Solar was launched at the end of 2022 making it a relatively new company within the solar industry. While the staff has accumulated years of solar experience, the business itself is still in its infancy especially compared to more tenured competitors.
Additionally, there are no in-house professionals on the Reno Solar team that have acquired NABCEP certification on either the sales or installation side of the operation. While it is not required to be NABCEP certified, it goes a long way in demonstrating renewable energy knowledge and expertise. Many end-to-end solar contractors have at least one NABCEP-certified individual on staff, but that is not the case for Reno Solar.
The Bottom Line
Reno Solar helps those looking to take advantage of solar benefits realize increased energy independence. Clients that take advantage of the Reno Solar program will benefit by seeing an increased home value and straightforward and affordable financing.
Interested clients can take advantage of a no-strings-attached consultations where a number of project details are covered. It should also be noted that Reno Solar backs its own warranties, something not commonly found in the industry. Clients will be protected by 25-year equipment warranties and a 10-year workmanship warranty.
Despite offering a number of beneficial services and solutions to interested solar clients, there are limitations to what Reno Solar can offer. The transparency surrounding what equipment is installed in its projects is lacking with no public mention of particular manufacturers. The service area is restricted to Northern Nevada, particularly servicing the city of Reno. Lastly, there are no NABCEP certified professionals on staff.
Homeowners looking for an end-to-end solar provider that provides quality protections in the form of robust warranties will likely benefit from what Reno Solar provides. However, those looking for providers that install trusted rated equipment, may want to consider alternatives as that information is not publicly available.
