Nova Solar

Outstanding Job

I spoke to Trip when I was interviewing companies for my solar installation. He gave me all the information I needed and made me feel very comfortable that they would do an outstanding job. NovaSolar did not disappoint. LB (Project Manager) did a great job keeping me informed and made sure the project moved along. Once we got the final approvals from my county, everything moved along flawlessly. I would recommend NovaSolar to anyone looking to add solar to their home.

Incredible Service!

I cannot express how incredible this company is. Everything was done meticulously, the communication was prompt, and the quality top-notch. I wish every contractor and business could operate this way! I recommend these guys fully. You will not be disappointed!

Outstanding Company

Working with the Nova Solar team was very easy and they kept us in the loop every step of the way. They handled all of the permitting and inspections from the county. I cannot recommend this company enough if you are considering solar. Out of the 5 companies that submitted estimates Nova Solar was the only one not trying to up-sell me on battery back-up. They were also one of the few that were very responsive prior to selecting a company.

Solar Installation

I was extremely satisfied with everything about this company. Personable, professional, on time and efficient. You can't go wrong with them.

Outstanding Service

When I decided to install solar panels at our Fairfax county home, I had several criteria for the company I would select: technical expertise; locally owned; a good reputation; and a company that did the design and installation itself, and did not contract out any of the work. Nova Solar clearly met all these criteria. I found that they are a local company, not a franchise, in business for many years, with an excellent reputation. My first phone conversation with Barklie was quite long. I had already looked at the technical specifications for the panels and inverters Nova Solar used, and those that other companies used. I asked many technical questions about the hardware they offered, what specifically he recommended for our house and why, what my other options were, etc. It was clear to me from this conversation with Barklie that he had a very in-depth knowledge of solar equipment, the installation process, and the process of getting a solar system approved by the county. I was also assured that Nova Solar employees would be doing the design and installation of the system. Jake, our project manager kept me informed of the progress with the design, and the status of the permit application. A last-minute change in the position of the panels to accommodate a sun tunnel was easily accommodated. The installation went very smoothly, and was completed in less than a day. All my questions about the electrical connections, location of wires, and the monitoring system were answered in detail. A few questions came up after the system started to produce energy. My e-mails to Jake were all answered very promptly and to my complete satisfaction. All the people at Nova Solar are very knowledgeable and pleasant to work with. I have been very satisfied by the system they installed, and have no hesitation in recommending Nova Solar to anyone interested in solar energy for their home.

Really, another 5 star review? Yes, they are that good.

Read the other reviews and you will see the quality of the people, the installation, and the product. There is no high pressure sales group - when you are working on a quote you are talking with the people who do the work and know the equipment. No "I need to ask someone about that question." If you are really interested in solar, they are ready to work with you. Yes, it is a good value. Value is not just the prices ($/watt) but also their level of care and diligence. I did plenty of research before signing and couldn't be more pleased with making the right decision to go with Nova Solar.

Great experience

Nova Solar has been excellent to work with from site visit, design, installation and activation. Very professional and knowledgeable team.

Very Knowledgable, Professional, and Great Value

I rarely (make that never) write reviews, but I am compelled to urge anyone contemplating a residential solar installation to contact Nova Solar. This is an excellent operation from start to finish. First, Nova Solar has no sales staff. They are a small family owned business based in Northern Virginia. When you contact Nova Solar you will be speaking with one of the principals from the get go, most likely Barklie or Trip. Nova Solar will detail one person as your contact and this person has direct hands on experience with analysis of your solar potential, design of your system (including aesthetic considerations), permitting, installation, and connection to the grid. Unlike a salesperson, you will never hear “I”ll get back to you after I talk to our (fill in the blank)”. And the person with whom you have gone through this major home improvement decision will be there, up on your roof, when it is time to install. The only down side to this is your contact might not pick up the phone right away when you call. This is because he is up on a roof doing an install. I will gladly wait an hour for a call back to talk to a guy who knows what he is talking about, because he DOES what he is talking about. During my due diligence, I interacted with a larger multistate solar company. My phone is still full of messages and texts from sales people doing a hard sell. Nova Solar will answer your questions and leave you to decide if and when to go forward with such a major decision about your home…a decision that can’t easily be undone. Second, Nova Solar installs what I believe to be top of the line equipment. During my due diligence it became apparent that many residential solar companies install panels from their preferred supplier. My research indicated the panels Nova Solar is installing are more powerful, durable, and robust. They cost a bit more per panel, but the increased power per panel meant fewer panels for my installation and hence lower overall cost with a longer life expectance. It is wise to do some research on this just as you would with a car. You can trade in a car you’re not happy with. This purchase will be securely bolted on your home. Third, the Nova Solar crew (including my dedicated contact person) showed up to the minute they said they would, took remarkable care with a challenging install on a steeply pitched roof, and finished in one day as they said they would, leaving my property cleaner than they found it. The one minor hitch in the install was handled quicker than anticipated without me chasing them down. They clearly care about the quality of their work. I cannot speak highly enough about my experience with these guys. And it was kind of nice to have two guys with MBAs up on my roof. -Mike F

Amazing Solar experience

I highly recommend going with Nova Solar. They were excellent with keeping us informed of the process with step by step on what inspections have been completed and what was next in the process. Fantastic communication! We have other projects going on and I have never seen one be so exact in its timing. Jake, Barklie and all the whole Nova Solar team were super professional. They were very clear on how long everything would take. The crew who installed the 38 panels were very careful bringing them up and precise in placing them on the back roof. My husband and I have enjoyed seeing that the energy we are generating from the panels is enough to run our house in one day (in the fall).

Great experience.

We chose Nova Solar after much online research and after entertaining bids from 3 other installers. The price for the product we wanted was competitive, the on-line reviews encouraging, their prompt and professional communication very helpful, and the twenty-five-year warranty unsurpassed. Awaiting installation was difficult but worth the wait. They completed the task in one day as promised and we became very happy solar energy producers shortly thereafter.

Great company!

I wondered if I could get solar panels installed in rural Brunswick County, Virginia, but quickly got three quotes from EnergySage. I chose Nova Solar primarily because of the many five-star reviews and am delighted to add my own. It was a pleasure to work with Nova Solar’s staff, from asking initial questions through installation to wrap-up. Everything went smoothly and I’m happy to have a system up and running about two months after signing the contract.

Highly recommend Nova Solar!

After speaking and meeting with several local solar companies, the choice was easy. The team at Nova Solar answered all my questions in depth, communicated in a timely fashion and the price was right. My primary point of contact at the company was Trip Estes, one of the owners. Aside from his bright personality, he is professional, intelligent, knowledgeable, and passionate about solar. Without his expertise I would have never entertained the necessity of replacing my roof. Existing leaks were discovered and potential future damage was avoided. I am impressed that Nova Solar completed my project (from signing to turning the system "on") in record time. On the day of installation, Trip and his crew installed 32 panels in just seven hours! They worked hard and it was a pleasure to observe the team interact - a textbook example of synergy. It was a privilege to work with motivated professionals. Thank you Nova Solar!

You will be highly impressed with Nova Solar!

Using EnergySage is absolutely the right way to go - multiple bids to analyze and get questions answered and then make a choice. Our choice, NovaSolar, Inc, was fully transparent with all the hardware they would be using for our installation, they answered questions promptly and were able to work our installation in earlier than expected when an opening occurred in their work schedule. The initial survey was done professionally, the design and permitting processes occurred quickly, and the actual installation took a total of 6.5 hours from the time they arrived until they were leaving our driveway -- unreal! We were VERY impressed with every team member; very professional, courteous, and working safely. Followup communications were excellent and we are now awaiting CVEC's meter swap out so we can turn the system on and start reducing our carbon footprint and saving $$ on our electrical bill. We highly recommend NovaSolar, Inc! You will be impressed with this company in every way!

Ethical, Efficient, Communicative

I could not be happier with Nova Solar. I decided to go with Nova because of their initial responsiveness: they were willing to educate me on the options and immediately signaled that they were a company I could trust, that would be responsive to my needs, that would communicate in a timely manner, and that could get the job done quickly and efficiently. I was not disappointed. Nova quickly and effectively managed the permitting process with our local authorities, and despite complicating factors due to summer weather and distance to the site, we were able to schedule an initial site visit and installation much more rapidly than I expected. They communicated regularly during the process and I always received a response within a day when I reached out with a question. The system is now up and running and generating loads of electricity! I also think it’s worth mentioning Nova’s ethos as a company. Nova Solar is in this business for all the right reasons: they value the environment and are quite knowledgeable about the ever-developing options for renewable energy. A small, family-oriented company, they also seem to have happy and empowered employees. I cannot recommend them highly enough!

Excellent Experience

We had an excellent experience with Nova Solar, and we highly recommend them. Our initial contact and discussions with Trip and LB were very positive. They clearly explained to us the differences between the system options, and they were very willing to answer any of our questions and concerns. They were very fast to respond to email and very easy to work with. We compared quotes from a handful of competitors, and Nova provided the best quality product overall. The installation process went smoothly, and in the end all documentations (including warranty, approvals, etc) were nicely organized and provided to us for our reference. We reiterate our highest recommendation for Nova Solar.

Excellent company - highly recommend

I had a stellar experience with Nova Solar, and highly recommend them. From beginning to end, the staff were smart, knowledgable, patient with my questions, willing to make changes, reliable, responsive, and professional through and through.

OUTSTANDING COMPANY

Best experience with a company I have ever had!!! Did everything over phone and email with ZERO sales pitch. After dealing with several other companies that was a welcomed approach. They took the lead with educating my HOA on the current laws and providing any and all requests for information. My HOA is now in the process of updating their laws. Their knowledge and professionalism is top notch. They had my 31 panel system up in less than 8 hours and took the time to answer the myriad of questions I threw at them. All with a smile on their faces!! I HIGHLY recommend this company. You will not be disappointed. Thank You Nova Solar.

Best Combination of Technology and Cost

We received 5 bids -- 3 through Energy Sage and 2 from local providers we called directly, including the hometown favorite that dominates solar installs in the Charlottesville area. We selected NOVA Solar based on a combination of $/Watt ($2.84) and technology. The hometown favorite was actually the most expensive and was unwilling to commit to exactly which panels they would use, although they did have a very slick sales representation. When pressed, they sent me data on the panels they were currently using but wouldn't commit to using these. Here's the comparison: • NOVA Solar: $2.84/W using 360W REC Alpha Black panels with 92% guaranteed power output after 25 years • Hometown Favorite: $3.30/W using 315W Mystery Brand panels with 80% guaranteed power output after 25 years. Not even close. While we selected NOVA based on cost and technology, they were also super easy to work with. We iterated the design to something that is downright elegant and blends right into our roof. Then they took care of all the permits and paperwork. Installation was quick -- took a single day. In short, NOVA made it extremely easy for us to go solar. Zero regrets. If you are in the Charlottesville area, do yourself a favor and contact NOVA Solar before you blindly sign with the hometown favorite.

The best in DC, Maryland and Virginia

If you are looking for the overall best solar installer in all of Virginia, DC and Maryland, look no further. For the price, which is very competitive, the quality of the work, the quality of the individuals that work for Nova Solar, the quality of the service provided, the quality of the communication with the customer and the quality of the products they use to put together your solar array, you will not find a better Solar Installation company. I ended up going with Nova Solar for the following reasons: 1. I read every single review I could find on them and not even one was bad. In fact, they were all glowing endorsements of Nova Solar! 2. Their proposal was excellent pricewise and I was very pleased that they proposed to use panels that were outputting more Watts, 360, than all but one of the other companies that had submitted proposals. To be transparent, I received five total proposals. 3. NovaSolar has EnergySage's Three Star Seal of Approval, which gave me comfort in knowing that these guys know what they are doing. There is no sales pitch from their team, because as one of them said, "Solar sells itself". They are straight forward and will answer any and all questions that you have without hesitation. They handle all the paperwork to get the necessary permits and set up the inspection, so you don't have to. They also provide all the "Tax-Incentive" paperwork for the Federal Tax Credit and the Fairfax County Tax Credit, all of which is really just icing on the cake. They installed an 11.52 kW system on our roof, which was comprised of REC 360AA Alpha Black panels. These panels are not only highly rated and perhaps the best on the US market, but they are beautiful and will look great on your roof too! Even my wife, who was not expecting to like the look of the panels, was pleasantly surprised at how much she enjoyed the look of the panels on our roof. If my review has not sold you on Nova Solar, then do what I did. Research, research, research and talk to everyone you can. If at the end of your research and conversations you do not end up back at Nova Solar like I did, I will be super surprised.

NOVA Solar Is Excellent

Great team! Excellent customer service from start to finish. Extremely knowledgeable and honest. They answered all my questions and were very transparent. I had a 8.68 kWh system installed by them. They designed the system, acquired permits, and submitted the design to HOA for approval. They even help fill out the Fairfax County tax exemption forms. The installation was complete in one day, and the aesthetics are superb! The pricing is extremely competitive, if not the best out there. They don't play games and overpromise like some other solar companies. You can't go wrong with NOVA solar. I Highly recommend!

Excellent/knowledgeable people w/ competitive pricing

I had a great experience working with Nova Solar. Everyone I dealt with was very friendly and helpful. The project manager I worked with answered every question from start to finish and I truly felt like he was always listening/looking out for my best interests. He ended up being the installer too, which made the communication and trust that much much better throughout the entire process. I’ve had some really good experiences with contractors, but Nova Solar has been the best with their responsiveness to my incessant questions, thoroughness, professionalism, and genuine care for my best interests. With regards to cost, they are very competitive with other companies out there.

Excellent company in all ways

We pick Nova Solar after talking with 2 other solar companies in our region. We are thankful we did. The sales process was very professional and they were honest about what the could and couldn't do. They completed the actual installation in 1 day and we and our neighbors were impressed with the collegiality of the workers. The finish product looks great and the price was fair. We would pick them again in a heartbeat.

Nova Solar exceeds expectations!

We just finished having the great group of guys at Nova Solar install a system on the front of our house. At first, we were apprehensive to use the front of our house, but it faced the proper direction required for the panels. I met with a number of companies and received each of their quotes, and even though Nova was actually the lowest, they were also the most real and trustworthy business we talked to. I talked directly to one of the brothers who runs Nova, and he answered every question I had and even took questions about the character of the business because I wanted to make sure the warranties would be good for the life of the panels. As such a large investment, we wanted to ensure we got the best deal, but one that would last the full term. Also being on the front of our house, I wanted to make sure it wasn't going to look half-done in a way that would detract from the appeal of our home. I've worked in construction before and these guys were both very precise and accurate in their work and the layout, but they were also a really fun group. I would work on that crew any day. They busted it out in one day, but still managed to be happy about it. The post-install process has been easier than they described. I haven't had to do anything, and they have walked the steps along to get it up and running. All the paperwork including the tax rebate forms were already filled out for me, and the are prompt in communication. I'm really glad we went with Nova Solar, Trip and his crew earned this review, and we've shared our experience with the rest of our subdivision. Another happy Nova customer, thanks to their hard work and great attitude.

Excellent Company

Nova Solar recently installed a 46 PV panel system at our home. From the design to the proposal to permitting, installation, and interconnection, every step was handled professionally with a high level of customer service. Nova Solar patiently answered all our questions along the way, making us feel confident in our decisions. Our system has been live for 2 weeks and has exceeded the power output estimated in the proposal. We couldn't be more pleased.

What a great company!

What a great company! They offered the cheapest install price of anyone in the area, their entire crew is very friendly and helpful, and their work is meticulous (they even went out of the way to conceal all wiring to make it look better!). They even pre-filled out all the forms and got me a county tax rebate that other companies didn't even know about in their price estimates. I just wish they did more than solar so I could hire them for other jobs too!