Solar Energy in the United States has rapidly evolved since its introduction in 1954 when Bell Labs began producing the first modern solar cell. While this project pioneered solar energy technology as we know it today, it was inefficient. It used to cost $250 to generate a mere 1 watt of electricity, compared to $2-$3 per watt from coal plants. Fast forward to 2024, the solar industry continues unprecedented growth and innovation as the world increasingly turns toward sustainable solutions. Recent data shows that solar energy accounts for 26% of installations. For homeowners and businesses, turning towards solar energy has pros and cons. However, it has become more innovative in recent years and provided more environmentally friendly and cost-effective ways. If you are reading this, it’s the perfect time to take a step back and explore the endless possibilities solar energy can give you.
Who is Everlight Solar
Introducing Everlight Solar. They’ve been our partner at Abra Kadabra, and we’ve seen their best qualities. We hosted a discussion with their Solar Consultant, Graham Gunderson, a close colleague of our CEO, Matthew Eickman. During our lengthy discussion with Graham, we took a closer look at the benefits of solar energy for everyone. When we say everyone, we do mean it. One of Everlight Solar’s missions is to become more inclusive and allow people of different social statuses to have the ability to own solar panel equipment that’s best suited for them. That is, in the condition of passing the basic qualifications required to avail of their program. If you have a credit score of over 650, a house title, and no bankruptcies in the last five years, then you are ready and all set to schedule an appointment with their team.
The evolving industry of solar energy in Minnesota and the Midwest in general has also been catching up with the rest of the world. Everlight Solar, which is currently housed in Minnesota, has been serving the best customer experience that any interested client may have. Everlight uses panels that work off UV and non-visible light. So, even on cloudy days, their system can still produce energy for the rest of your property.
“You’re taking what you’re already spending for power and shifting it to pay for your panels. So it’s zero out of pocket. So there’s no upfront cost. Once you paid off your solar system, you’re done paying for electricity because now you have your green power plant on your roof, so it’s incredible how that works.” Graham said.
What’s excellent about Everlights’ offerings is that this year, there’s more room for opportunities to receive huge federal tax credits, 30% to be exact, just for getting a solar panel system on your roof. Graham emphasized and suggested going for an ownership program rather than a leasing one because having a sense of ownership is vital. For homeowners, everything your solar panel system produces goes to your home first. It keeps the same user experience and won’t change anything. According to Graham, your days will power your nights, and the power company will act as your battery, which is beneficial in terms of cost savings.
Moreover, Everlight has a program called the Net Metering program. All the solar energy your panels produce goes to your property first, and then the overconsumed power goes to the grid system. Like the rest of Everlight’s offerings, this program includes a 25-year warranty.
Providing Stellar Customer Service
In terms of quality of service, Everlight prides itself on doing everything from start to finish. It doesn’t use subcontractors and offers the longest workmanship guarantee in the industry, a 10-year guarantee. Its business is generated by 60% of referrals.
“We know that when we do a good job, people will talk about us, and our customers go first to their neighbors, friends, and family to share their experience. That’s our number one goal, which is to ensure we provide the best customer experience.”
In addition, Everlight also has a monitoring app that provides customers with a 24/7 access view of their warehouse. In the app, users can see how much energy they’re using throughout the day and easily reach the technicians whenever they encounter problems.
That said, Everlight Solar has several accolades above its name because of the great lengths it takes to provide an exceptional experience. It’s been voted for multiple years in a row as the best Solar Company in Minnesota and even in Wisconsin and Nebraska. According to Everlight’s website, it was also voted Gold in 2023 at Minnesota’s Best for its service.
They pride themselves on having 4.5 stars from Glassdoor reviews, 4.7 stars from Indeed, and top ratings in Home Advisor. They are NABCEP Certified for PV Installations and a Tesla Powerwall Certified Installer. Regarding partnerships, they’ve worked with Creighton Athletics, Wisconsin Athletics, Utah State Athletics, and Omaha Athletics and are proud sponsors of Gopher Athletics.
Part of owning Solar Panel equipment is the maintenance that it entails. For places like Minnesota, there will be immense possibilities that pests and wildlife can interfere with any solar panel equipment. But Everlight doesn’t leave that one important detail out. They’ve worked with Abra Kadabra for critter guards to keep the rodents and pests away from the solar panels. To mention a few, Everlight prides itself on keeping the experience more personalized in solar panel installations for property owners. Their packages have optional inclusions like critter guards, as previously mentioned, and cutting down tree branches that may interfere with the solar panel equipment.
“Since the 90s, the Amazon Rainforest has been cut into a third, and it’s where a lot of the oxygen comes from, so solar energy not only puts money back in your pocket, but it’s also clean energy.”
There is nothing to lose when you own a solar panel system on your property. It’s more of a win for you, financially and environmentally. “The sun is always gonna be there,” Graham said. It’s a lot easier since you don’t need to take from planet Earth anymore, and you’re doing your part in protecting it. In a larger scope, you no longer need to use energy from coal plants, which is where electricity comes from. As we know, coal plants damage the environment. Graham also shared with us how their app tracker can show how many trees you save from using solar energy.
Wrapping It Up
Feeling good about energy again is what Everlight Solar stands for by offering cleaner and safer alternatives. They enable households to own their power instead of renting it from the power company.
“Solar shouldn’t be a headache and hassle-free; that’s why we provide solar panels and take off all the installation with no upfront cost,” according to their mission statement.
Lastly, Everlight Solar awards students across the nation with a Clean Energy Scholarship as part of its advocacy for the education sector.
Finding a company like Everlight Solar can be difficult. Their reviews and accolades prove a lot about how good they are. Like us here in Abra Kadabra, Everlight Solar takes pride in nurturing lasting customer relationships. They care so much about their customers, and that is the most important aspect of running a business.
This article is part of our Vendor Spotlight series, where we feature businesses that champion customer experience and go beyond to provide the best service. Stay tuned for more.
To learn more about Everlight Solar, visit their website here. We want to thank Graham Gunderson for sharing his time, knowledge, and expertise, which made this article possible. If you have questions for Graham, you can reach him via email or at his LinkedIn account.
If you have any pest and wildlife-related concerns, feel free to call us at 763 – 363 – 4375 or schedule an appointment.
We appreciate your support for Abra Kadabra Environmental Services. We won Gold Minnesota’s Best under the Pest Control Category.
