Solar Energy Labs is an established company in Jacksonville Florida. We have 5 employees and operate out of offices that have power provided by solar electric (photovoltaic) panels. Our market brand identity for systems is "Sun HoM". We offer several different financing options and we are licensed by the State of Florida to install solar systems and to offer retail sales financing in the home.
Business highlights
13 years of trusted experience
Services we offer
Solar Energy Labs sells, installs and services all types of solar energy systems that employ photovoltaic solar panels. The systems include solar electric, ventilation, lighting and water heating systems for both residential and commercial customers. We subcontract service for swimming pool solar heating systems and domestic hot water systems through another local company that is qualified and equipped to work with hydronic and plumbing installations required for those types of systems.
Services we don't offer
The company does not offer for sale any residential or commercial solar water heating systems that employ flat plate or concentrating solar collectors with pumps and controls.
We decided to go with this company after reading the great reviews. BIGGEST REGRET we have! The set up and installation process was smooth and wonderful, it started off great! Since installation, our bills have TRIPLED and we even purchased the solar water heater. We have only seen a $3 to 4$ credit on our bills. When we called to speak about what our production was and why we weren't seeing credits or the power production we were told would occur, we were told someone was coming to look at our system. The owner said he would be speaking with the rep to see what was said at our sales meeting, but his wife was sick so it would be a few days (it has been MONTHS). We have called multiple times and sent emails-and over 7 months later we still have not had anyone from the company come out. In fact, we have been given excuse after excuse as to why it was taking so long to get back to us. Last week we set up an appointment once again when our sales rep--- only to have another No Call No show. To say we are disappointed is an understatement. The owner and his wife are sweet, but at this point, sweetness isn't helping pay for panels that aren't producing what we were promised. (I will say that it wasn't the owner or his wife that pitched us, perhaps that is the problem). A conversation and explantation would have gone a long way, but at this point, we might have to start looking to have that conversation elsewhere. I am writing this review because we have given a fair amount of time for the business to do what's right, or at least show up to explain what is happening. I do not want anyone else to have to be paying for panels that are just "looking pretty".
Description of Work: Solar panel installation
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
2.0
responsiveness
2.0
punctuality
1.0
$13,000
Response from Solar Energy Labs Inc
Before we respond, we would like to thank [Member Name Removed] and [Member Name Removed] for choosing Solar Energy Labs for their solar power system. They are good people and we are sorry for this situation. At the time of our presentation in January of this year, the home had just been built. Only one historical electric bill was available. Solar power system sizing depends on knowing the annual home power consumption. With only one month of history we could only estimate annual consumption. The total estimated annual utility power consumption was set at 14,357 kWh. Both [Member Name Removed] and [Member Name Removed] agreed with that assessment. An additional energy saving option was offered and installed. This reduced the total estimated annual consumption to 11,357 kWh. After presenting options, [Member Name Removed] and [Member Name Removed] decided to go with a small system at 47% of annual consumption. This is due to the unfairness of the local utility company's net metering program. Net metering is where energy generated by solar, not used by the home during the day is sent fed into the grid. This reduces net measured kWh consumed from the grid. The unfairness is due to the utility company only paying back 26% of the cost the homeowner is charged. In a fractional contribution system, the home consumes most or all the power generated from solar during the day. Very little is sent back to the grid. This means there will likely be no credits during summer months. All solar power systems are sized based on annual kwh consumption. The claim, "Since installation, our bills have TRIPLED" is likely a misperception. The Purchase Contract for the system is dated February 6th, 2019. The solar power system was installed and activated on March 27, 2019. Since then, outside daily temperatures have reached a record setting range. We haven't seen recent electric bills, but they are likely much higher than the one from January. A recent review of the system power production shows it is performing as projected. Note: A 47% percent system means that only 47% of the total Annual Household Energy Consumed can be generated buy the solar power system, not 100% every month. Regarding the claims about communication: The first phone call to our office we show was received from [Member Name Removed] on July 8th, seven weeks ago not 7 months ago. [Member Name Removed] contacted the salesman regarding the system on July 2nd by email. A series of emails followed. There was one phone call with [Member Name Removed] that we can verify about the issue of their concern about the system operation. There may have been others. Main communications were emails between [Member Name Removed] and the salesman. On Aug. 17 our salesman set an appointment to meet with [Member Name Removed] and [Member Name Removed]. He asked them to use the Enlighten website to check system operation prior to the meeting. Enlighten is an internet monitoring system homeowner's can use to view system performance. [Member Name Removed] said he didn't know how to do that. The salesman told him how to set it up. [Member Name Removed]'s question at the time was if the system was working. It was confirmed that the system is working. Since we thought their questions had been answered, the scheduled appointment was canceled. It was not a "No Show with No Call". We realize now they probably needed further assistance getting Enlighten activated. We would have done that had they asked. Instead a negative review was posted. Enphase Enlighten does not allow us to communicate for customers so we have asked them to communicate directly with Enphase. In Summary: 1. The home's power consumption increased dramatically since the system was sold in February 2. We only have a record of two phone calls, but there are multiple emails in the file. 3. Since the negative review was posted we have confirmed the system is producing as represented 4. Only 7 weeks have passed since the first inquiry, not 7 months 5. Our Sales Presentation was accurate and truthful 6. Our salesman met with [Member Name Removed] on August 29th, 2019.
Helen Z.
08/2019
5.0
solar panels
 + -1 more
It was great. I've been dealing with them for 5-6 years. All the their employees are good.
Description of Work: They investigated and got me a replacement of an inverter from a manufacturer.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
4.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
Bill G.
08/2019
5.0
solar panels
 + -1 more
They were great. Very good. No bad things to say about them.
Description of Work: They installed 30 solar panels and a hybrid water heater.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$28,000
Diane R.
08/2019
5.0
solar panels
 + -1 more
Their work was outstanding. No complaints. We love them.
Description of Work: They installed solar energy panel on my roof.
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
David S.
05/2017
5.0
water heater repair, solar panels
 + 0 more
Excellent all around. Very credible and accurate in the analysis by the sales consultant and professional in the installation. Nicely cleaned up after themselves.
Description of Work: New Solar Energy System for my new house to cut my energy bill
Rating Category
Rating out of 5
quality
5.0
value
5.0
professionalism
5.0
responsiveness
5.0
punctuality
5.0
Yes, I recommend this pro
$19,000
Pamela B.
04/2017
5.0
heating & air conditioning/hvac, water heater repair, solar panels
 + 1 more
We were having problems with $400 electric bills which was killing me. When he did the audit of our house, he told me that most of your electricity goes to your water heater tank and the air conditioning unit. The company that built this house used this house as a model home. It was built 6 years before we bought it. Of course when they build model homes, I don't think they don't put the top quality stuff into the house as they do in a house that somebody is buying and paying for it. And then when they are finished in the location then they sell the model home for the price they can get for it. It was a package deal. I didn't realize that the air conditioning unit wasn't even big enough for the house. They just put a unit in that they had and it really wasn't meant for the house size that was here. But keeping the model home cool when you're only going to show it for a few hours a day is a lot easier to set the thermostat than it is when you're trying to stay cool when you're living in the house. When they came to do the audit, the guy said you're air conditioner is not big enough for the house that you have. I told him that we did discover after we moved in that the air conditioner was air conditioning the garage. The guy came and worked on it and he said I would close the vents going to the garage and that would help cool the house. It did help but it didn't make it comfortable. The price was phenomenal and the guys that did the work were phenomenal. The guy who put in the air conditioning, the boss came out to inspect it. He didn't like the way it was fitting in the closet. So he made his guys come back and take the whole unit out and put a different unit in after it was all installed. Because he was not happy with the quality of the work that was done. I mean I can't say enough good things about them. Personally I don't think you could ask for a better group of people. It's a family run business. The owners name is Mike Newman. We got 27 solar panels. My electric bill was $400 a month when they started and my last electric bill was $51. I really didn't know a lot about it until their sales guy Ken came out to talk to us to start with. He went thru the paperwork and everything to get us the financial part of it approved and everything. He worked really hard to make sure that was all going to come together. He checked on me every week until the work was completed. And Mr Newman was fantastic. We had a problem with an alarm was going off in the garage on the hot water tank. I called them and the guy that installed it was here that same afternoon to find out what was the matter with it and why the alarm was going off. There must have been a bad sensor inside of it and he stood here with me and we called Ge. He helped me with the serial numbers and model numbers. He stood here and made sure they had every bit of information that they needed. They sent the part and he installed it because it was going to take a couple weeks for GE to get here. He said that is unacceptable because they don't have any hot water. I'll do it myself and he did. He called me the morning that it came in and he was here that afternoon to install it. So instead of going 2 weeks without hot water it was only 4 days.
Description of Work: I just had solar panels put on my home. When they came to do the work on my house, I had an energy audit done.We got a brand new air conditioning unit and we got a new water heater. We also got 2 solar fans in our attic to keep the temperature in the attic down.
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Service Categories
Solar Panels,
Water Heaters,
Heating and Air Conditioning,
Skylights
FAQ
Solar Energy Labs Inc is currently rated 4.5 overall out of 5.
Sunday: Closed
Monday: 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday: 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday: 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday: 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Saturday: Closed
Solar Energy Labs Inc accepts the following forms of payment: American Express,Check,Discover,MasterCard,Visa
No, Solar Energy Labs Inc does not offer free project estimates.
Yes, Solar Energy Labs Inc offers eco-friendly accreditations.
No, Solar Energy Labs Inc does not offer a senior discount.
No, Solar Energy Labs Inc does not offer emergency services.
No, Solar Energy Labs Inc does not offer warranties.
Solar Energy Labs Inc offers the following services: Solar Energy Labs sells, installs and services all types of solar energy systems that employ photovoltaic solar panels. The systems include solar electric, ventilation, lighting and water heating systems for both residential and commercial customers. We subcontract service for swimming pool solar heating systems and domestic hot water systems through another local company that is qualified and equipped to work with hydronic and plumbing installations required for those types of systems.
The company does not offer for sale any residential or commercial solar water heating systems that employ flat plate or concentrating solar collectors with pumps and controls.