A formed earlier this year to drive down the cost of home solar installation selected two providers to install the panels.
The 83-member group chose Ashburn-based and of Charlottesville earlier this month from 10 firms after an open and competitive bidding process.
A spokesman for the co-op said the two firms were selected because of their competitive pricing, quality components and warranties available.
According to , a firm that provides guidance on solar power for all 50 states and D.C., installing a 5-kW solar panel system on a house in Virginia can cost homeowners just over $18,000. Over the course of 25 years, the firm estimates it will have produced $16,000 in income from energy savings. Co-op members can save up to 20 percent on installation costs as they buy as a group in bulk.
The chosen installers will now develop personalized proposals for each co-op member, who will then review that proposal and decide if the panels are suitable for them. Being a co-op member does not mean a commitment to buying panels. New members are being accepted until October 1 from Arlington, Alexandria and Fairfax County.
鈥淲e鈥檙e are excited to be working with Greater Arlington residents to help them go solar at a great price鈥� Niko Eckart, owner of Independent Solar Solutions, said in a statement.
鈥淲e鈥檙e incredibly honored to be part of this co-op and are excited to see the solar momentum build in Northern Virginia,鈥� Jonathan Gellings, a solar analyst at Sigora Solar, added.
The group is partnered聽with聽, the聽听补苍诲听聽to help educate and聽recruit members about going solar. Co-op members can save up to 20 percent off the cost of going solar by doing so in a group.
people have already gone solar in similar schemes, and the current cohort said the process of finding providers was helped by working as a group.
鈥淎s someone who has considered installing [solar panels] several times over the past few years, I can say with certitude that working through the co-op was far easier than interviewing installers on my own,鈥� said co-op member Jessica Olson in a statement. 鈥淭he co-op is a great way to make an informed decision on a significant investment. We鈥檙e really excited to work with our installer and see how much I can save with my system.鈥�
