Save a Lot Solar

We could not be happier with the system Save a Lot Solar installed for us. We spoke to three local companies about this job. One didn't visit the site and proposed a much larger system than we needed. Price per watt was about the same in the 3 bids. Save a Lot Solar made the best presentation. Installation was very quick (18 panels in 1.5 days) and neatly done. Getting the paperwork done (permits and forms for PG&E) was a breeze thanks to John. A problem connecting to the Enphase website was taken care of quickly and effectively. John and his staff were pleasant and professional. And the system is performing at least as well as John's proposal indicated.

While their price was lower, my main reason for choosing Save A Lot Solar was the knowledge displayed by the owner (John Orfali) and his senior electrician, along with their patience in considering several configurations. The new system augments my existing string-inverter system, which has been working well for 10 years, and generating nearly half my total usage. But last year, PG&E terminated their E-7 rate plan, forcing users like me to switch to their less favorable E-6 plan, and my bills for the remaining usage went up some 20%. Since the cost of solar systems has dropped significantly, I opted for a second system from Save A Lot Solar to cover the remaining usage -- plus some more for a future electric vehicle. The new system cost less than half of my first system, it generates about 30% more power while using fewer panels, and has a 7-8 year payback period (vs. 10 years for the older system). The new system has been in use for one month now, and is performing better than predicted. Unlike the older system, the new system uses microinverters, one per panel, which allow on-line monitoring of each panel. Also, the new system can be expanded without having to match panel types and balance string voltage levels. Now that the two systems are generating all my power needs, PG&E can raise their kilowatt-hour rates all they want, and my bills should be limited to connection fees. The installation went smoothly, and the crew was considerate of my neighbors. I recommend Save A Lot Solar.

I had an odd situation -- I already had the actual solar panels, but no system to install them on. The larger installers wanted nothing to do with me -- they wanted to put in their own systems and panels. John Orfali of Save a Lot Solar was willing to work with me -- he designed a system that would work with my panels, his installers were fast and wonderful, and he got it up and running in no time. He was nice, patient and flexible with my unusual situation, and he was very competitively priced. John also took the time to explain everything to me, both the process of setting things up with PG&E and how the solar system actually works. John is great -- I would recommend him to anyone.

I had several larger companies such as SolarCity, SunRun, Sungevity give me estimates and information about PV installation. Each time I felt hounded by their reps, they just wouldn't leave me alone. Finally I decided to go with a smaller local contractor, based on reviews. I called John Orfali, owner of Save a lot Solar. He came, explained everything in great detail, and gave me as very competitive price estimate. Within 1 week after my initial contact, the system was installed with much better and up-to-date converters (each panel can produce individually) than offered by the "big ones". John designed the system so that I could add to it later, all connections already prepared - for no extra price. Two days to install - great and very friendly crew of two. 3 days later the City inspector ok'd the system. 2 days later PG&E accepted - and I now feed into the PG&E system. The online option to check the function works great as well and is easy to use. Couldn't have been happier. Very highly recommended !!

When we decided to seriously investigate solar power, we turned to solarreviews.com to find solar contractors in our area (at the top of the Oakland, CA hills). We decided to focus only on "five-star" companies and we were pleasantly surprised to find a five-star contractor in our zip code: Save a Lot Solar. John Orfali was the first contractor we interviewed and he set the bar very high for his competitors. In fact, John was not the low bidder for our business but he instilled such confidence--and his Solar reviews were so good--that we really had no choice: we went with Save a Lot Solar and we are very pleased. Our 4.9 kW, 18-panel solar array installation went smoothly and without a hitch. John took care of all of the paperwork (permit, NEM application, inspection sign off, etc.) We highly recommend John Orfali and Save a Lot Solar.

I don't usually write reviews, but John and his crew went above and beyond what was necessary to design and install my system. Within a week of contacting John, my system was up and running and producing better than what was expected. John was always available to answer my questions. The system I got was far superior to Sungevity or Solar City's panels and inverters, and actually cost less.

Save a Lot Solar just completed our solar installation, and the whole process was excellent. From planning, to installing, we were kept informed, and the work was done well and on time.

You will not find a better team to take care of your solar needs than Save A Lot Solar. We co-own a small duplex and received the kind of service one would expect if we represented a much bigger job. John Orfali the team CEO met with us and explained everything clearly and in detail, and he took care of virtually all the paperwork--forms, permits, inspection. We would have been lost otherwise. The cost of the hardware and installation were competitive and the installation itself was completed by a team of workers who were efficient, informative and cordial. If you are considering a solar system, we highly recommend John Orfali and Safe A Lot Solar.

Yes, a great company and great experience. When I started to look for solar, I shopped around for the best rate and SAVE A LOT SOLAR had it. I got panels with Enphase micro inverters and am very happy with them. Through the whole process, I communicated with John the owner and everything worked out as we discussed. At the end of the project, we ran into an issue with city inspector however John took care of the details within 24 hours and Yes, we passed inspection the next day. I'm extremely pleased to say that John and his crew were extremely professional and put us completely at ease by taking full responsibility and going over and beyond what was expected just to ensure our complete satisfaction. We would HIGHLY recommend SAVE A LOT SOLAR to anyone looking for solar installation.

Save a Lot Solar's 5 star rating reflects the company's knowledgeable and professional performance starting with the initial phone conversation and at each subsequent step through inspection and sign off. In particular, the system proposed by Save A Lot included highly rated components at the lowest cost / Kwh. Save A Lot's quote included Enhpase micro inverters and installation on a cedar shake roof both of which were additional charges on every other vendor I spoke with. Several of the larger vendors, especially those affiliated with roofing companies, attempted to foment concerns about roof leaks. I thoroughly reviewed the flashing requirements with cedar shake roofs and without question Save A Lot Solar knows what is required and how to accomplish it.

Reputation is everything. So glad I found Save a Lot Solar and owner, John Orfali. Locally owned (Oakland, CA), services entire SF Bay area. Fair pricing. Very professional, low key, straight-forward. High-quality components. Installers are his own employees, not subs. Delivers what he promises and, in my case, ahead of schedule. No drama. Could not be happier.

We got proposals from 5 other solar companies before meeting John Orfali from Save A Lot Solar. His proposal was reasonable given the quality of panels (SolarWorld Model: SW 285 Mono) and the micro-inverters (Enphase Energy Model: M250-60-240-S22) but it was his responsiveness to our questions and concerns that got our attention. Once we called his references and talked to previous local customers, we made the decision to go with Save A Lot Solar. The process went exactly per the schedule he had quoted and the installation started on time. One panel came in damaged which he replaced immediately so that it would not cause any delays. He took care of the permits and supervised the entire installation without our need to be present. Since we had a very large system (70 panels) and the installation was a hill-side ground mount in a difficult-to-reach spot in our back yard, we give the team a very high score...never heard one complain from anyone! The installation finished on time (right before the rainy season started) and the system was connected to our main electrical panel through a conduit they ran inside a ditch they dug between the hillside and the garage. John filed all the paperwork with PG&E and attended all inspections including the final one. We couldn't be happier with Save A Lot Solar and would recommend it to all potential customers. The only challenge we have faced is picking El Niño as the year for our solar installation. Production has been around 800kWh/month for the past two months since completion of the installation, well under the original projected 1,200. We are hopeful to make the discrepancy up in the sunny months ahead in 2016.

This is local Oakland company owned by John Orfali. John met with us on several occasions, including Sundays, to explain and plan the work.We have a flat foam roof and John coordinated his installation of the solar panels with the roofing company who were refurbishing the roof. The cost was fair and the quality of our interaction with John and his staff was excellent.The panels are now generating electricity and John has answered several questions following the installation. We are very pleased with his work. We highly recommend Save a Lot Solar.

Thanks for getting our new system up and running quickly and flawlessly. And please convey my thanks to your excellent crew as well. The materials and workmanship are top-notch. Our experience with Save A Lot Solar has been exemplary.

Save A lot Solar has completed 2 projects for us with great success: Our Classroom Solar Shading Project was just completed with 198 solar panels producing 52 kW DC of electrical power to our main classroom building. . We designed our new system in house to both cool the classrooms by natural shading and produce electricity taking advantage of the structure required to support the shading material. Save A lot Solar also installed our 7.80 kW DC 46 panel system last year on our award winning “LEED Platinum” Center for Environmental Studies Building John Orfali and crew has worked in our very busy summer school environment meeting critical Site Safety, contract, schedule and budget constraints.

John and his team were great.. I spent a decent amount of time looking at different vendors and SaveALotSolar stood out for a number of reasons including: - John was very knowledgeable and available.. All the other companies I was working with at least 2 people (a sales person + a site evaluation/design person). Many of the sales people were less knowledgeable about the industry and what the site eval/design folks were doing and vice-versa. For some of the other vendors I spoke with, it took days for them to respond to seemingly simple questions I had.. John was much quicker. - Johns was able to offer me a time frame to get the system up and running that was much quicker than the other companies I spoke with. John and his team delivered on meeting this deadline as well which is even better! - John's offering of using Enphase Micro-Inverters was different than all the other companies (all pushing string inverters). The Micro-inverter approach was better for my site because I wanted panels on 2 different planes (some facing south and some facing west). - The Enphase inverter warranty (25 years) and the free on-line monitoring is superior to what other companies can offer. - John's price was very competitive.. He wasn't the cheapest but he wasn't the most expensive either.. I feel the value I received was good relative to the other vendors I spoke with. - John was very patient at helping to educate me about an industry/technology that I am new to. He did a terrific job at explaining things in a way that makes sense.

John Orfali was outstanding to work with. He and his team gave us the best price (17 panels), most efficient working system, with the best guarantees and maintenance records we found from 6 other companies. He answered all out questions on the spot. Followed up quickly on everything. He and his team did all the work from permits, installation, set up, inspection, and computer monitoring within 4 days. It was amazing to have everything completely done and ready for this tax years break (2014). My husband and I fully recommend him, his team and his company, Saves A Lot Solar, without reserve.

I would like to add my voice to the chorus of happy customers who used Save-A-Lot Solar to install their solar photovoltaic systems. John Orfali and his crew are professional, knowledgable, efficient and friendly. I investigated several other companies before choosing Save-A-Lot Solar and was disappointed with all the interactions I had with other companies (and their prices) until I talked to John Orfali. I'm both an electrical and mechanical engineer and I wanted specifics of the system to be installed. In addition, I wanted to be able to use the system when PG&E was not providing power. Almost all solar photovoltaic systems will not operate when not connected to the power grid. That means after an earthquake or big storm when the power is off, your system won't operate. Few people know this. Most companies I talked to either said they didn’t install backup systems to allow the system to operate when off grid or were clueless about their operation. In one instance the company I called said that they had looked at the satellite image of my house, had seen some trees nearby and flatly refused to even bid. On the other hand, John Orfali, was a wealth of knowledge and information and was able to provide specifics so that I could make an informed decision about the details of the system he would install (20 panels-5KW). He had devices to predict what efficiency the system would operate at over the course of the year and provided a detailed report predicting what I could expect form the installation on a month-to-month basis. The devices he uses are manufactured by Canadian Solar and each panel has a microinverter so that a central, main inverter isn't needed. The installation is simple and the inverters also 'talk' to the internet. There is a web based application provided by Enphase that allows me to check how the system is operating on a 15 minute basis and also provides data per day, month, and year. It can also be used to diagnose any problems that might arise and pinpoint the exact panel that's causing the problem. Many companies do fine when everything goes as planned. The true test of a professional is when things don't go according to plan. There were several glitches in my installation: an overly persnickety inspector who insisted on minor and unreasonable changes, a roofing contractor unrelated to Save-A-Lot Solar that delayed the installation, and an antique electrical service that baffled the inspector. John Orfali and his crew took this all in stride and were unflustered by these diversions. They remained professional, resolute and even friendly as they went about making the required modifications. I'm currently waiting for Enphase to release a new battery backup system that will integrate more directly with the PV installation than the current one does. And of course, I'll use Save-A-Lot Solar for that installation. In summary, you can't find a better contractor to install a PV system. He provides a turnkey system, does all the paper work (obtaining permits, filling out PG&E forms, etc.), is onsite while the installation is in progress, and follows up to ensure satisfaction. His communications skills and customer service are the best I have encountered. John Orfali and is crew deserve the 5 stars everyone has given them. Simply: USE THESE GUYS! you won't be disappointed!

I spent more than 3 months evaluating different solar installers and installation options, and I could not be happier with my final choice to go with Save a Lot Solar. John Orfali and his team did a fabulous job through every phase of the project. In the design and planning, he was responsive, thorough, explained things very clearly and provided ample documentation. For example, a big issue that keeps coming up is string inverter vs. micro-inverters. Bottom line is the Enpase micro-inverters John uses are fabulous; I'm so glad he was insistent about. In addition to being able to monitor the system from any computer, tablet or smart phone, they let each panel operate at their optimal at any time. My roof has many different orientations, and I can see tree shadows at times on my panels. With a single string inverter some other installers wanted to use, the system would have been seriously compromised. On price, the many options available can be confusing. Not only was John's price the best per kW, he worked hard to keep his price low. He provided a connection and did all the work to secure a zero-cost loan for the tax credit portion, a big help to paying for the project. I took so long discussing with various contractors, that when we cam back to Save a lot Solar with a modified plan, the cost of the panels had increased. But John honored the original price per kW, taking the cost increase out of his share. One requirement John was very clear about was that we needed to cover the engineering to evaluate and design reinforcement for the attic under the panels. Our house was built in 1880, and has had many renovations, so this turned out to be a much more complicated and expensive effort than anyone could anticipate. John's crew did the reinforcements that turned out to be required at no extra cost, and he covered most of the extra cost of the engineering. The construction was done amazingly quickly with a good size, highly experienced and capable crew. Working late in the afternoon on the final day, they noticed that their work had caused some debris from the roof tiles to fall on the deck. Not only did they completely clean up all their work, they even took time to sweep the decks and make everything nicer than when they started. John then spent time ensuring everything was working, getting all the computer connections working, and continues to monitor our system for problems. He took care of all the building permit paperwork and inspections, and he took care of all the PG&E paperwork. The new SmartMeters don't have dials that run backwards, but it is hard not to stare at it during the day and see the usage with a minus sign, and the total kWh value decrease. I give my highest recommendation to John Orfali and his Save a lot Solar crew. Not only will you Save a lot, but this will be one of best run home construction projects you will ever have the pleasure of contracting.

I began exploring the possibility of installing a solar system at my home in early May and in the process contacted five solar companies for information and pricing. One of those companies was Save a Lot Solar owned and operated by John Orfali. After performing my due diligence, I selected Save a Lot Solar to do the work and I am certainly glad that I did. Without a doubt, John has been the most responsive, professional, and competitively priced of any of the companies I considered. One of my early concerns was that I have a shake roof and many companies refuse to install solar on shake. John put my mind at ease that this would not be a problem and in fact has provided me with a 10 year warranty to repair any leaks that may have been created during installation. From the time my first contact was made in early May, John was there every step of the way to assist in obtaining HOA approval, passing the county building permit inspection process and gaining approval of the PG&E net meter application. The system was up and running on July 10th, only 4 days after the work began and I am now enjoying the benefits of the savings from converting to a solar system for many years to come. It is without reservation that I highly recommend John and his company, Save a Lot Solar, to meet anyone's solar conversion needs in the Bay Area.

Dealing with Save a Lot Solar was a pleasure from start to finish. I did in fact save a lot over other bids that offered a smaller system at a much higher comparable price. The project was executed flawlessly, on time, with the results promised, information provided was excellent and clearly explained. There was no feeling of sales pressure, mostly gratitude that I accepted their offer.

Dealing with Save a Lot Solar was a pleasure from start to finish. I did in fact save a lot over other bids that offered a smaller system at a much higher comparable price. The project was executed flawlessly, on time, with the results promised, information provided was excellent and clearly explained. There was no feeling of sales pressure, mostly gratitude that I accepted their offer.

We couldn't be happier with Save a Lot Solar! We got estimates from 12 other Solar companies and were greatly disappointed. Then a friend recomended John Orfali and George Trillia. We were so impressed with their honesty, knowledge and no BS...not to mention they quoted us a complete system, better system,than ALL the other systems, for $4000.00 lower than our lowest quote. They started on time, completed the job in 3 days, cleaned up EVERYTHING, with time to spare! We flew through the inspections! My $370 PG&E bill is now $47.00 a month. If you want to do business with two of the most honest men we know, call Save a Lot Solar, they are THE BEST!!!!

Save a Lot Solar installed a 14 panel system on the roof of my house. I am a hard person to please, but in this case I am 100% satisfied. The owner, John Orfali, is knowledgable, personable, and a good communicator and educator. He has always been happy to spend time answering my questions and making sure I fully understood the process and product. His bid was very competitive. He was willing to go the extra mile both before and after the job was completed to ensure that I would be a happy customer. After receiving four bids, I decided to go with John because it was clear he was committed to customer satisfaction. About three weeks after signing the contract, the crew started work on my system. The lead electrician, George, takes obvious pride and pleasure in his work. He told me that every job is a little different, and he enjoys figuring out the absolute best way to solve the different situations he encounters. Yes! This is the kind of person I want working on my house! I did not have much contact with the rest of the crew, but they were polite and personable, and it seemed they also took pride in their work. On the third day when they completed the installation and my meter was rolling backwards, they spent some time on the sidewalk looking up to admire the new system (which looks great). On the morning of the fourth day, the system sailed through the final inspection. John was then off to get the final paperwork rolling with PG&E. During this process he continued to keep me well informed and happily answered my questions. Great people, price, product, and installation, without reservation I recommend Save A Lot Solar.

I just had Save A Lot Solar put in a 20 panel system. The system works great and the service was excellent. I got three quotes for my system. The quoted price for this system was significantly less than the other two. In addition, the other vendors could not install the system for over three months, while Save A Lot was able to start in about a week and complete the installation a few days later. Even though the Save A Lot Solar system was less expensive, I believe they installed a superior system. They installed Enphase micro-inverters whereas the others were proposing string inverters. From my research, I learned that the micro inverters are more reliable and more efficient. One of the other vendors reported that they only provide micro inverters if there is a problem with shady spots. In addition, I mentioned to Save A Lot that I was interested in getting a solar attic fan and having pest abatement installed around my panels. They included both of these upgrades free of charge. John Orlafi and his staff were very courteous and professional and the project unfolded exactly as John said it would. I couldn't be happier and strongly recommend using this company.

when John and his crew installed the solar panels, I saw how efficient and friendly people they were, great job and everything works perfect.

John has provided very competitive pricing and quality and on-time installation for my system. Through out the process, he was informative and kept us updated. I have recommended him to my neighbor, and he, too, was impressed with his work.

John gave us excellent service Great job

I was dissapointed that contractor did not have a more intimate knowledge of Richmond building codes. I am not getting the promised Kwh because the Richmond building inspector would not approve original panel location and some panels had to move to a less desirable location.

I asked john a lot of questions about the solar system components and options, the construction schedule and methodology, and how they would tie in to our electrcial system and the grid. He was always willing to explain things to my satisfaction, however long that took. We have not had the utility inspection yet. I have guessed the PG&E inspector will not require corrrections in my answer above.

Very Satisfied

Very caring local shop with lots of attention to detail. They`ve done over a dozen installations and are very good at them. I ordered my parts separately from CivicSolar.com Installer only charged his labor costs. Parts were purchased from CivicSolar.com

they were awesome.

Great service great price and its a local family run business, a definite must for anyone needing solar. The did save me alot just as illustrated by their name.

I received 5 bids to install the PV system. Save A Lot Solar was by far the most complete and thoughtful initial design of all of them and the price was next to the lowest. The final design was very similar to the initial design used for the estimate. The proposal was complete and covered all the potential and real issues involved in the installation and operation of the system. The Company representative was knowledgeable and articulate and there were no surprises. My system is now operating just as advertised. I whole heartedly recommend Save A Lot Solar.

We would recommend this contractor.

They could not have been any better! We recommend them highly.

thorough explanation and quick work

Great customer service! Not only am I saving money on my electric bill but the cost of installing solar was very reasonable and will be more than recovered. The building inspector`s knowledge of PV systems was limited. Cities need to provide more training for them.