This ninth video in a ten-part training series of key concepts for people looking to buy a solar system has Kerim Baran of SolarAcademy describing the best sources for nonprofits looking to find contractors to work with when they go solar. The entire series can be viewed here.

Below is the video transcription.

Kerim Baran of SolarAcademy: And the next question we’re going to cover in this segment is where to buy your solar system from. So assuming you’re buying a residential solar system there are actually a number of really good solar comparison shopping sites or services. And the three top brands that I’m aware of are EnergySage, Electrum which also used to be pickmysolar or solar.com (I believe all three are the same company), and SolarReviews.

These three websites or services support consumers and homeowners in various ways when they’re going solar. Generally they provide the consumers with multiple quotes from multiple local installers. Some of them have integrated on-the-phone consulting services in person. Some of them are purely web-based but those are the three established solar comparison sites that I’m aware of.

And then of course you can go to yelp.com or you can go to thumbtack.com and various other similar services where you can find a local solar contractor and see their reviews and and so forth.

Of course another way to buy solar is from your local electrical contractor who does solar work. In fact many industry veterans recommend that way of buying solar because local electrical contractors that have been in business for a long time – five ten plus years – are generally well regarded by the community. They do good honest work and they do not have the high overhead and the sales and marketing costs that most purely solar-focused businesses carry. And that way they can install the system for the cost of the equipment plus some labor but without including the high sales and marketing costs that other businesses incur. So if you do know a capable local electrical contractor who’s also doing solar work that would probably be your best best bet when going solar.

If your project is not a residential project but a commercial project, that might require a little bit more complexity. Again, the local electrical contractor is a good option and you can also come to us at SolarAcademy where we can provide consulting services like a buyer’s rep kind of services that you would see in the construction and the real estate industry.

That concludes our ‘where to buy the solar system segment.’ Thank you.