Green Stock Solar
PO BOX 3205 , NAPA, California, United States

We don’t have any highly commissioned salesmen whose cost we pass on to you, and this allows us to provide superior workmanship using the highest quality materials at the lowest price possible.  We don’t want to be intrusive nor waste your time.  If you are interested or have any questions, we can start with a simple phone call or email.  We promise we will NOT repeatedly contact you, nor sell your contact information to others.  Let us know your average monthly usage or electricity bill for a free estimate and financial analysis, including the Return on Investment (ROI) and payback time.  After receiving our estimate and you would like to consider solar with us, the next step would be to take measurements and asses the site.  Of course, it’s free with no obligations.  At that time our system designer can explain how we are different from the other solar companies, why our workmanship is superior, and answer any questions you might have.  The system designer is NOT a salesman and will not try to make you sign up for anything.  We also don’t demand that all the home/property owners be present.  The meeting can take as little as 15 minutes, and take place outside your house.  We will then email you our findings and a quote so you can start saving today!

Installation

Once you select us as you solar provider, we will generate the documents necessary and submit them for the municipal building permit.  As soon as the building permit is approved, we will schedule the installation of your solar system.  It is best to install a solar system on a roof that is in good condition and will not require replacing or fixing for a while.  Have your roof thoroughly inspected.  The cost of having your roof inspected can be added on to your cost of going solar, which makes it eligible for a 30% Federal Tax Credit.  Have any roof work that needs to be done take place before the actual install of the solar system.  This way, the labor cost of the roof work can also be added on to the overall cost of going solar and be eligible for the 30% Federal Tax Credit.  Our focus is on a quality installation team and we use only in-house trained installers.  Unlike many other solar companies that subcontract out the installation work, we do not subcontract out the solar installation work to any other third party.  We are also unlike many other solar companies as we have no intent to “knock out” the installation as fast as possible to save money.  We take our time to ensure the solar system we install is aesthetically the best and the cleanest looking it can be.  We will also be present for any municipal inspections that is carried out and will immediately make any adjustments that need to be made to pass inspection.  After the installation of the solar system, the next step is setting up the monitoring system (if using Enphase micro-inverters) and showing you how to monitor your own system.  Finally, we will process the necessary work that is required for you to be interconnected with PG&E.

What maintenance? 

Some solar companies, especially those that provide solar leasing, make a big deal that they will take care of all maintenance (except cleaning) throughout the lifetime of the system they installed.  It might sound good, but what does it really mean?  A properly installed solar system requires virtually no maintenance other than a good cleaning every year or two.  The premium solar panels, as well as the Enphase micro-inverters we use, have a manufacturer’s warranty of 25 years and are expected to last over 40 years without requiring any regular maintenance.

How To Choose A Solar Contractor

Choosing the right solar contractor to carry out your solar project is critical in making the experience a happy one, so that you receive the best pricing and maximize the benefits of going solar.  We recommend taking your time to contact 3 (or more) solar contractors in your area and carefully comparing and considering them before selecting the best one for you.  It is essential to know the reputation of the company you’re dealing with.  There are old and new companies in the marketplace, but that doesn’t mean any of them necessarily offer the best service.  You will want to find a company that has developed a great reputation over a number of years with a track record of satisfied customers from projects similar to yours.  After finding out what solar companies service your area, check out their reviews. Checking out Yelp reviews is a good start.  You have also probably heard or experienced aggressive solar salesmen who promises all sorts of “discounts” if you sign up right away. Ask them for a written estimate, telling them you want to compare them with other solar companies, and this will either make them leave or provide you with their best price.  Too often we hear or experience persistent door-to-door solicitors.  Ask them to show you their solicitor’s permit.  If they don’t have a permit, you really don’t know who you are talking to, and it’s just unfair to you and to the companies that follow the rules.

Financing

Even if you finance the purchase (take out a loan) you own the system.  The loan payments can be structured like a lease (no money down), but you own the system from the get-go and are eligible for the 30% Federal Tax Credit or any other benefits, that goes to the owner of the solar system.  Everything considered, it is very likely that you will have paid off the loan/purchase with only half the cost of a lease/PPA.  Some banks now offer renewable energy loans that can have lower rates than a home equity loan.  For instance, Umpqua Bank has their Green Street Lending that has been quite successful in providing such a loan.  Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Loans is another option.  The loan is NOT tied to your credit score, basically requires you to have at least 10% equity on the house, and is paid twice a year as a part of your property tax.  It takes only minutes to find out how much your property is eligible for by simply typing in your address.  Some popular ones includes the CaliforniaFIRST program and the HERO program.