Residential Solar
Switching to solar energy might seem intimidating — but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s how we’ll help you go solar with ease.
- Solar System Design
- Solar Installation
- Battery Storage
- Utility + Permitting
- Incentives Guidance
- Monitoring+ Support
Why Go Solar?
Our Process
Pre-Installation
We’ll conduct a comprehensive site assessment and design a solar solution that’s aligned with your home’s architecture and energy needs. We’ll also handle any necessary permits.
Procurement & Installation
We’ll choose the best panels, inverters, and micro inverters for your solar build. Then, we’ll install your solar system, equipping it with advanced monitoring technology.
System Check™
We’ll test your solar system to guarantee peak performance and reliability. Then, we’ll walk you through your new system, so you’re well-equipped to get the most out of your setup.
NEM & Utility Approvals
Finally, we’ll get you registered for Net Energy Metering (NEM) and coordinate with utility providers to finalize the connection between your solar system and the grid.
It’s Time For Your Custom Solar Solution
Are you ready to lower your carbon footprint and your energy bills?
Our expert team is standing by for you! Just take a minute or two of your time to fill out the form below, and we’ll be in touch right away.
A Local Team You Can Trust
We’ve been proud to serve the Santa Cruz County community for more than a decade. We’ve helped hundreds of Central Coast families transition to solar energy — and we’d love to help you make the switch too. So, here a few of the friendly faces you might encounter while working with us.
VP, Project Management
Matt Thompson
Matt Thompson brings over 20 years of experience in the solar energy field, and manages Day One's residential and commercial projects. Matt lives in Santa Cruz with his wife and son, and enjoys surfing and mountain biking whenever possible.
President/CEO
Tony Armor
Tony Armor founded Day One Solar in Santa Cruz in 2013, beginning with a small office downtown and two employees. Tony’s extensive background as a General Building Contractor has always been valuable asset at Day One, providing experienced leadership for our operations management team. Tony lives on the west side of Santa Cruz with his wife Kate, where he enjoys organic gardening and beekeeping.
Operations Manager
Megan Barrett
Megan Barrett joined Day One Solar in 2019 as an administrative assistant. Megan oversees the general office management. She facilitates customer contacts and interfaces with PG&E. When she isn’t working she enjoys running, playing the banjo and spending time with her partner, Evan and their dog Yarrow.
See what our clients have to say
I have been absolutely delighted with the whole process with Day One Solar and thrilled to be producing energy rather than just consuming! Tony and his staff are most personable, professional and reliable. The installation team was courteous and efficient. Day One facilitated the contract with PG&E. I highly recommend them!
Fantastic experience with Day One Solar! Throughout the whole process they were easy to get along with, knowledgeable, and non-pushy. The install crew wasn't farmed out, they took their time to do things right, like running conduit through the attic instead of the lazy way of running it over the roof. Very impressive. Please tell your family and friends about Day One Solar. You'll be happy like me!
We got quotes from FOUR solar companies and decided to go with Day One. They were so easy to work with and very communicative. They have a very professional installation team, and the whole process from signing the contract to getting PG&E to start our net metering agreement was faster than anyone estimated: less than a month during the Christmas holiday. We are very happy with our decision to go with Day One and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them.
From our first introductory meeting to assess our needs it was clear that Day One's team was knowledgeable and professional. All phases of the project went smoothly, planning through inspection. Installation took three days and the communication with the installers was excellent. During the installation, If there was a question they got the answer before proceeding. We recommend Day One Solar without reservation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Solar is a renewable energy source that doesn’t diminish like other fossil fuels, boosting your home’s resiliency. But that’s not the only benefit solar offers. Going solar will reduce your electric bill and increase your property value, all while decreasing your greenhouse gas emissions.
Solar system design and layout is affected by many factors including the size, shape, and slope of your roof or property (for a ground mount). We use advanced programming to identify the best solar layout to meet your home’s energy needs. For added assurance, we always schedule an in person site visit to the property before we finalize our layout and design.
The size of your solar system will depend on your electrical usage and the amount of space available for the solar panel array(s). To determine the ideal system size we evaluate your current electrical usage and account for any future electrical upgrades, like heat pumps or an EV charger, so that the system is sized to meet your needs for years to come.
Yes! There are usually several rebates available when you make the switch to go solar. Because these rebates change its best to contact us directly so that we can give you the most up to date information on any available rebates.
We break our solar installation projects into five parts. We begin by designing the engineering planet. Once the engineering plan is complete we submit this to the Acting Housing Jurisdiction (AHJ) for the building permit. In the meantime, we order the materials for the project. After the AHJ issues the building permit, we schedule the installation. Once the system is built we schedule the final building inspection with the AHJ where we meet with the inspector onsite. After we pass the final inspection, we submit the PG&E NEM/NBT paperwork. The last step is for PG&E to approve the system and issue permission to operate. The entire process takes about 4-6 weeks.
Installation for a roof-mounted solar system usually takes anywhere from 1-3 days. Installation for a ground-mounted system usually takes longer as the installation process is more complex.
The PG&E NEM/NBT program will compensate you when your system produces and exports excess solar energy to the grid. For each kilowatt-hour (kWh) that you export to the grid, you get a credit on your bill for the value of that kWh. Completing and submitting the NEM/NBT application is included in our scope of work.
After the NEM/NBT application is submitted, PG&E will review the application. Once they complete their review they will issue “Permission to Operate”. You will begin to receive credits for any excess solar that is exported to the grid beginning on the day that “Permission to Operate” is authorized.
