At Net Zero Solar, we make the process of going solar simple! From answering your initial questions, to a remote proposal, to an on-site consultation, installation, and ongoing support, we strive to provide friendly and excellent service.
A good first option in your solar journey is to request a remote proposal on our online portal. The site will guide you through the information we need to be able to provide you with an accurate remote preliminary proposal. We’ll ask you for information about your goals, your energy use, as well as some photos of your electric service panel. After you submit the form, we’ll confirm we’ve received your request. We will send you a remote proposal within ten business days (often more quickly). You’ll be in direct contact with one of our sales representatives.
If you would prefer to start with an in-person meeting, we are happy to schedule time for one of our salespeople to come to your home. Just call us at 520-207-4053, or request an estimate.
If you are thinking of installing solar for a home that's not built yet, it’s best to contact us to schedule a time to either meet at our office or via video conference. We will want to see any available building plans.
After you’ve received your proposal, discussed any initial questions with one of our sales representatives via email or phone, and are interested in moving forward with a solar installation, we’ll schedule a time to come out to your home.
We’ll double-check your roof and electrical panel and make sure our preliminary plan will work well, and make any adjustments as needed. We’ll also sit down with you to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
When you're happy with the details of your solar electric system proposal, we will supply you with a contract electronically via DocuSign. The contract includes the relevant information from the proposal, including system cost, payment terms, specific equipment, and information on our warranties.
After you've signed and initiated the contract via DocuSign, we'll do the same. Once you send us the required deposit, you'll be on your way to a solar home! We will also provide you with a planned installation date at this point.
At least 4-6 weeks before your installation, we or the utility will send you the appropriate utility interconnection paperwork via DocuSign. Completion of these documents allows you to connect to your utility grid and enroll in net billing once your solar installation is complete.
Our design and permitting team will carefully review all information regarding your home, and solidify all design details. We prepare a complete building permit package, including a “site plan" to show location of all solar modules, inverters, and other equipment. The permit package also includes electrical drawings, structural drawings, and information sheets for all equipment.
Once the permit packet is complete, we will email you an electronic copy of the site plan showing where each component will be located. We'll apply for a building permit for your project with your local building department. When the building department issues your permit, we'll let you know.
If you have a homeowners association, we will complete and submit all required paperwork, which usually includes an application and a copy of the building permit drawings, as long as the HOA permits us to do so on your behalf. If we are not able to submit paperwork on your behalf, we will provide you a complete packet for you to submit to your HOA.
During this time, we order all equipment needed for your system, so everything is ready for your installation date.
Here's the fun part! On your scheduled installation date, our technicians will arrive. Because it's usually hot on the roof, our technicians typically arrive on-site early, between 6:00am and 7:00am. We'll discuss arrival time when we schedule your installation, and will send you a reminder email the week before your installation.
Installation time can be as short as one day, or up to a week, depending on system size and complexity. We'll let you know what to expect.
If your system is installed on the ground, the process takes longer. We will complete trenching, any excavation, and installation of forms for any concrete. After an inspection by the building department, we'll pour concrete. Once the concrete has sufficiently cured, we'll return to complete the installation.
Immediately after we've installed the system, we carefully commission it. We check all mechanical and electrical work, making sure it not only meets building and electrical codes, but also meets or exceeds industry best practices. Our technicians energize the system for about 30 minutes, confirming that system performance meets expectations, and record detailed performance information.
During this process, our technicians complete a detailed installation checklist and take photographs of the work. These materials are reviewed by our engineers or field operations manager. In many cases, our field operations manager will complete another inspection to ensure quality. After commissioning, the system is turned off and safely secured to wait for building department and utility inspections.
If you’re available when the installation is complete, our lead technician will provide you with a detailed walkthrough of the system, explaining system operation and any required maintenance. If you’re not available, our field operations manager will coordinate a walkthrough at another time.
The building department final inspection is normally scheduled for the next business day after installation is complete. For some jurisdictions, we are able to complete a remote inspection on the final day of our installation–we are currently able to do remote inspections for Pima County and the City of Tucson.
For other building departments, we may need to leave the original building permit, construction drawings, and a ladder on-site for the inspector. The inspector will need access to your electrical load center, as well as any other equipment associated with the solar. Inspections usually occur between 7:00am and 4:00pm, but building departments don't provide us with a specific time.
Once the building department inspection is complete, we will notify your utility so they can schedule and complete their inspection. Depending on the utility, it may take up to four weeks or longer before their inspection is completed, though most utilities take one to two weeks.
A comprehensive 12-month inspection is included for every system we install. Our field operations manager will contact you to schedule this inspection. If you prefer, we can complete the inspection while you are home, but we are also able to take care of it without you home.
During the inspection, we meticulously check the condition of the system after it's been through one full year of energy production. We tighten all the hardware, take photos, and review system production. If you're home, we'll discuss the results with you. If you're not home, we'll leave a card with inspection results.
945 W Silverlake Road Tucson, AZ 85713 520-207-4053
ROC# 248710, 259756