Sunbridge Solar
5.0
5.0
Author: Kaitlyn Short
Sunbridge Solar was founded in Washington State in 2010, and markets itself as “the most recommended solar installation company” in Washington and Oregon. In addition to both residential and commercial solar system offerings, the company possesses an active humanitarian arm, with solar projects extending as far as Nepal.
Sunbridge Solar has maintained a steady position on SolarWorld Magazine’s “Top 500 Solar Contractors” every year since 2015, and has installed nearly 5,000 Kilowatts of energy since its founding.
Top Ranked Companies
The Good
- Trusted Solar Partners
- Grid-Tied and Off-Grid Systems
- Industry-Certified Staff
- Comprehensive Knowledge Base
- GuildQuality Award Recipient
Trusted Solar Partners
Sunbridge has partnered with industry-leading solar system manufacturers to ensure its customers receive the most reliable equipment available on the market. Not only does Sunbridge source solar panels from top national companies like SunPower, LG, Hyundai, and Solaris, but the company also installs panels from Silfab, a Washington-based solar panel manufacturer.
In addition to top-quality solar panels, Sunbridge implements both Enphase and SolarEdge inverters into its solar arrays. For homeowners and businesses interested in backing up their solar energy, Sunbridge provides the option to install solar batteries from LG and Pika Energy. The company has also partnered with local companies like SunModo to supply its solar mounting and racking equipment.
Grid-Tied and Off-Grid Systems
As a rising solar installer in the Pacific Northwest, Sunbridge Solar is prepared to meet customer needs in the urban, suburban, and rural service areas of Washington State and Oregon. For developed areas with reliable access to a power grid, Sunbridge installs grid-tied systems; for remote areas, standalone off-grid systems.
The company also engineers solar solutions for nearly any terrain — rooftop installations when available and ground-mounted solar arrays when necessary. This kind of versatility allows the company to serve a variety of customer needs and has made its humanitarian projects in places like Columbia and Nepal possible.
Industry-Certified Staff
While Sunbrige’s staff might be considered lean when compared to some of the industry’s larger, more nationally recognized players, the company’s surveyors, designers, installers, and administrators offer a wealth of experience and certifications from top solar industry associations:
- The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners® (NABCEP®)
- Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association (OSEIA)
Sunbridge makes a point of hiring qualified individuals who are passionate about technology and environmental conservation, and many of the company’s employees have received advanced degrees in solar technology and environmental studies. Customers can trust that Sunbridge Solar’s personnel are apprised of the latest industry trends and requirements.
Comprehensive Knowledge Base
Sunbridge Solar offers an impressive online knowledge base that covers a range of relevant topics. Potential solar customers in Washington and Oregon can gain insights into what solar incentives and tax credits are available in their states, how much they can expect to pay for a residential solar installation, along with potential savings.
The company also addresses concerns that the Pacific Northwest, a notoriously cloudy part of the country, may not be ideal for a solar net metering. Through the Sunbridge Solar blog, customers can better assess the pros and cons of solar in their area, as well as assess factors like shade and seasonality. The knowledge base also regularly reviews new solar products like the Tesla Powerwall, to empower customers to make better decisions.
For questions not addressed in the blog, Subridge’s customer service agents are available five days a week.
GuildQuality Award Recipient
Third-party customer satisfaction surveying company GuildQuality presented Sunbridge Solar with its 2019 GuildMaster Award for outstanding customer service.
The Bad
- Limited Availability
- Limited Payment Options
Limited Availability
Currently, Sunbridge Solar is only available in Washington and Oregon.
Limited Payment Options
Sunbridge’s solar solutions are only available for purchase. The company strives for as much transparency as possible regarding the potential upfront costs for a solar system installation; it also actively blogs about the disadvantages of alternative payment options like solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs). Although the company never explicitly states it does not offer alternative ways to finance a solar system (like a solar loan), its repeated warnings of the weaknesses of PPAs and solar leases act as tacit endorsement of outright purchase as the only viable payment option.
The Bottom Line
Despite only 10 years of experience in the industry, Sunbridge Solar’s customer service, quality equipment, and versatile solar applications have translated to rapid growth in the greater Portland, Oregon area. Its consistent rankings on SolarWorld Magazine’s “Top 500 Solar Contractors,” along with certifications from industry-recognized organizations, make it a reputable solar energy provider for residential and commercial projects in Washington and Oregon.
However, the company only provides solar solutions for outright purchase, which, despite Sunbridge’s repeated assurances of declining costs and potential utility offsets, can act as a major barrier for most potential solar customers. Sunbridge Solar might be an excellent company for residents of Oregon and Washington, but only if those customers can afford the thousands of dollars necessary to fund their solar systems themselves.
