We are your local Charlottesville & Albemarle solar installer!
We specialize in installing solar on homes and small businesses. More and more solar panels are installed in Charlottesville & Albemarle each week, and now is your chance to join them! If you are looking for honest advice and assessment from a local Charlottesville solar company, let’s talk!
Get a free solar assessmentInterested in backup-power or solar storage?
Investing in solar lowers your electric bill and secures your energy needs. While most residential systems pay for themselves in 10 – 12 years, these solar systems can save you and your family money for decades to come.
In addition to all that, the environmental benefits of solar energy are substantial. An average residential system offsets more CO2 than 200 trees each year.
The Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) offers businesses a 30% credit on the cost of solar projects. Projects begun before 2032 are eligible for the full 30% tax credit.
Most homeowners spend $1000 – $2000 a year on electric bills. Solar can reduce this to almost nothing, in addition to powering your home with clean, renewable energy.
SRECs (Solar Renewable Energy Credits) are essentially carbon-credits, which can be sold automatically, generating 20 – 30% additional value from your solar!
The tax credit applies a portion of the total cost of the solar equipment as a credit on the real estate tax bill for 5 years
We love working close to home! Here are some of our projects from the area.
The national average cost per watt for residential solar systems is $3.16 per watt. However, the total cost of a solar system varies depending on factors like system size, installation complexity, and location. To calculate $/W, take the total out-of-pocket cost of the system you are considering and divide it by the number of watts of capacity in the system. For example, a 5kW solar system has 5000 watts. If that system costs $15,000, then the cost per watt is ($15,000 / 5000W =) $3/W. Read more about cost considerations and how many solar panels you might need.
Yes, financing options are commonly available for solar installations. Many homeowners and businesses choose to finance their solar energy systems rather than paying for them outright. Some common financing options include solar loans and home equity loans. Virtue Solar has partnered with two different financing institutions to offer loans for our customers.
As of 2023, the federal government offers a tax credit of 30% of the total cost of your solar installation.
The average payback period for solar is 6-10 years. There are many factors that influence the number of years it will take to recover your investment.
Once you have received your quote and we have completed a site visit, we will send you a contract for you to review and sign. Our payment terms are: 20% down payment upon contract signing; 30% upon permit approval; and 50% upon final
inspection with the county once the system has been installed.
We offer hassle-free quotes. There’s no pressure to buy from us. Our goal is to encourage you to learn more about renewable energy. Read more about comparing solar quotes.
Solar panels can be placed on your rooftop or backyard as a ground mount. Read more about choosing the right solar panel for your home.
Not necessarily, you may also choose a ground mount system but this depends on factors such as space availability, zoning restrictions and the presence of underground public and private utility lines.
For roof-top systems (the abbreviated version):
a. Install safety/fall protection
b. Install racking on the roof to hold the solar panels according to the approved design.
c. Attach the solar panels to the mounts, ensuring proper alignment and spacing.
d. Run conduit (protective tubes for electrical wiring) from the solar panels on the roof to the inverter and from the inverter to the electrical service panel (a similar process is used for micro-inverters).
e. Finalize all connections between the solar panels and the home.
For ground mount systems
a. Choose a suitable location after checking with private and public utility locator services.
b. Trench an underground conduit line to connect the ground mounted array to the house.
c. Dig and install ground screws to provide a stable foundation for the ground mount.
d. Assemble racking system that will hold the solar panels
e. Attach mounting hardware on rails of racking system.
f. Mount panels
g. Finalize all connections between the solar array and the home
The decision to purchase solar is a personal one, based on individual financial circumstances, considerations, and priorities. However, we believe that there is no better time than the present to make the shift to renewable energy. Here’s a few reasons why:
● Expected rise in electricity rates (solar allows you to lock in your utility rate for the lifespan of your system, which protects you from the general rate increases/exponential cost of usage)
● Current incentives and tax credits are subject to change. It may be advantageous to act now vs waiting. By going solar now, you can be sure to take advantage of current solar incentives
● Solar technology continues to advance, but the current pace of growth is not expected to yield significant short-term savings.
Our design software allows us to generate an accurate, customizable model of your home that includes metrics like the height, orientation, and pitch of every roof face, exposure to the sun and surrounding trees.
Solar panels draw their energy from the sun, a renewable clean source that does not diminish. Installing a solar energy system reduces your dependence on fossil fuels.
Solar panels contain photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electricity (direct current). An inverter then transforms this into a usable alternating current, which powers your home.
Length of installation depends on factors like the size of the size of your system and the pitch of your roof.
Local solar providers offer more personalized service by taking the time to understand your specific needs. They are well-versed in local regulations and have established relationships with permitting authorities. At Virtue Solar, we see every customer through the entire length of the solar installation process; from permitting/engineering to scheduling, installation, inspection, and activation of your system. We also believe that supporting local businesses contributes to community economic growth, creates local jobs, and reduces the environmental impact associated with transportation.
We’ll create a custom model of your home or business, and show you how solar looks, what it will cost, and what the incentives are. Your proposal will include:
2015
Year Established
3,500+
kW installed
We were extremely happy working with Virtue Solar. I started planning with them in early 2020. I lost some steam once the pandemic started, but finally we closed the deal. I looked at several solar providers but chose Virtue because they we low pressure, responsive, honest and local.
I recommend Virtue, without reservation, as the best of all the local solar companies I've dealt with, by far. Virtue's Matt Powers has the technical expertise to do custom work, and he has attracted a crew that makes installing the normal grid-tied system look not just easy, but fun.
This company is professional start to finish. We found them knowledgeable, honest, enjoyable and we didn’t have to clean up one thing at end of each day. They made this new experience easy as they took care of every detail.
I'm generally hard to impress. Virtue Solar exceeded my expectations every step of the way. If you live anywhere near Central Virginia, I'll be very surprised if you can find another Solar Installer as good as Matt Powers, Peter Malander, Deven Barkley, and the entire team.
