When you’re considering solar for your roof, big name companies like Sunrun or Tesla probably pop up in your search. But is it worth it to go solar with one of the big players, or with a local business? Since Uprise is a small local solar company, you can probably guess our answer already. But we think there’s a very compelling case to be made for local solar companies.
We’re There For The Entire Project
Big solar companies often subcontract their work out, which means instead of sending out their own installers to complete a job, they’ll hire other workers for the installation. This move can increase costs for the company, which they’ll pass on to customers — and it can also mean that there isn’t much accountability for the installers. The quality of work may suffer.
That’s not how Uprise operates. We hire our own construction team, who will be at your house to install your project. We don’t subcontract work out. From your initial meeting with our sales team to the moment you receive permission to turn on your system, we’re with you every step of the way. We’re there from the start all the way through to the end — and beyond, if you ever have questions post-installation or need maintenance.
Not only that, but we care about our people. We believe in training our installers to build their skills for the future, so they could find another excellent job in renewable energy, but we also believe in treating them so well they don’t want to leave Uprise.
A Local Company Can Offer Better Customer Service
We like to say that with Uprise, you’re not a number. You’re our neighbor! If you reach out to us, you’ll be able to connect with a person — and not just a person, but someone who lives in your area. We live and work in DC, Maryland, and Virginia, and we’re invested in our local community. Our office is right by the NOMA Metro stop, and if you shop at the Trader Joe’s on Florida Avenue NE, you might just run into one of our team members picking up groceries after work.
Part of the reason why we offer better customer service, besides being your neighbor, is that your opinion truly matters to us. One bad review won’t make or break the big guys — but every review we receive matters to us. Frankly, we’ve just got more on the line!
We also care about the quality of work we provide for you because we care about your referrals. We want you to be so happy with the job we’ve done that you run out and tell your neighbors and friends to go solar with Uprise, too.
Check out our team page to meet the people who will be working on your project!
We’re Incentivized To Do A Good Job
Uprise offers a no-cost solar program, which means we own your system and you benefit from clean energy without paying for the installation. And since we do own the system, we’re incentivized to do the job right.
But even if we don’t own your system and you pay for installation, we still want to do good work because of those sweet referrals and glowing reviews.
We Know The DMV
With a local solar company, you won’t have to worry about whether or not a representative somewhere across the country knows the DMV’s solar rules and regulations. Uprise knows the DMV installation scene. We’ve already been working with local government agencies and utility companies. We know what to include in your design (like the precise number of inches for fire setbacks). And we know how to install on the flat roofs so prevalent on DC rowhouses. We’re out there in the summer humidity and winter chill. We know how to work here because it’s our home.
We’re a certified small business in DC (a Certified Business Enterprise or CBE). You can find us out in the city at community events and farmers’ markets. (In the picture below, Permitting and Registration Associate Jesus and Solar Specialist Jose attend the Healthy Homes Fair.)
We Can Move Faster Than A Big National Company
A typical residential solar installation takes one to two days — and that number will probably be the same no matter which solar company you’re researching. But there are more steps to going solar than just those two days. The permitting process can take weeks (around six in DC!) — but a local solar company can move through the process faster because they know how to navigate the local permitting game.
At Uprise, we’re not trying to learn the permitting process from scratch. We handle this paperwork day in and day out. Our record is three weeks from the time a customer signed their contract to permit approval!
We’ll Offer You A Better Price
We bet most large companies won’t be able to beat our no-cost solar program! And turns out, a National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) study, written by Eric O’Shaughnessy and Robert Margolis, also found local solar companies charge less than large companies. They found quotes from the big players tend to be around 10% higher than quotes from the little guys. That can mean thousands of dollars for a homeowner who wants to own their solar array.
“Large installer quotes are associated with smaller system sizes, earlier quote dates, and they are more likely to be external,” O’Shaughnessy and Margolis said. Their study also suggested large companies have higher overhead costs, and may not expect to compete against as many other companies as a smaller installer.
O’Shaughnessy and Margolis concluded, “…our results suggest that customers could benefit from obtaining more quotes before making a decision.”
We Care About Customer Education
We want you to feel like you understand the solar process when you go green with Uprise. Transparency is important to us, and customer education is part of that openness. You can find several posts right here on the blog about different aspects of solar. And if you ever have an idea for a post you’d like to see, we’re all ears. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn so you never miss a post.
Be sure to check out our Humans of Uprise page, too, to hear the stories of your neighbors who have gone solar with Uprise!
Ready To Go Solar?
When you want work done on your home, you’ve probably found a local contractor will do a better job at a fairer price than a large company. The same thing goes for solar. When you go green with a local solar company, you’re not just making a difference for the environment — you’re investing in your community too.
We’re here to simplify the solar process for you! Reach out online or call (202) 280-2285 to start your solar journey.