I Am Planning to Install Solar Pane… AI recommendations | Parse
I am planning to install solar panels. Who offers independent shade analysis?
Data as of Sep 26, 2026 · Based on 295 AI responses from ChatGPT Search and Google AI Mode · See how Parse measures this
To get an independent shade analysis, you can choose between highly accurate on-site hardware tools or third-party remote reporting services. For professional, field-verified results, tools like Solmetric SunEye are the industry standard. If you prefer a remote, unbiased assessment without an on-site visit, services like EagleView provide detailed reports using high-resolution aerial imagery and LiDAR data.
Complete Shade Analysis Guide 2025: Tools, Methods & Best Practiceshttps://solartechonline.com/blog/shade-analysis-guide/
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Solar Shading Analysis | Commercial & Residencial Propertieshttps://honeydewadvisors.com/solar-shading-analysis/
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Shading analysis: How to pick a sunny spot for solar panels - A1 SolarStorehttps://a1solarstore.com/blog/shading-analysis-how-to-pick-a-sunny-spot-for-solar-panels.html
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The Effects of Shade on Your Home Solar Panelshttps://palmetto.com/solar/effect-of-shade-on-solar-panels
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Complete Guide To Solar Assessment: What To Expect, Costs & How To Choose (2025)https://solartechonline.com/blog/solar-assessment-guide/
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Shading Analysis: Do It And Get It Righthttps://www.eagleview.com/solar/shading-analysis-how-to-do-it-and-get-it-right/
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What Is a Solar Site Assessment?https://greenwavesolar.com/what-is-solar-site-assessment/
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Solar Shading Analysis: Complete Guide To Tools, Methods & Best Practices [2025]https://solartechonline.com/blog/solar-shading-analysis-guide/
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Question: I am planning to install solar panels. Who offers independent shade analysis?
Independent solar shade analysis can be obtained from specialized third-party roof inspection companies, independent solar consultants, or digital 3D modeling tools that have no affiliation with your specific equipment vendor or installation contractor.
Question: I am planning to install solar panels. Who offers independent shade analysis?
The Solar Detective — explicitly describes itself as an independent, third-party solar evaluation company. However, its focus appears to be inspecting existing systems rather than doing a pre-installation shade study.
Sun Synergy Consulting — an Irvine-area solar consultant that helps homeowners evaluate solar and compare providers. It is more of a consultant/broker than a dedicated shade-analysis firm.
Solargy Inc. — this is the most directly relevant specialist I found. It specifically offers “Shade & Shadow Studies” and “Solar Access Reports” for homeowners and other clients, and says it has performed solar studies for more than 25 years.
Green Spectrum Energy Consulting — an Orange County engineering/energy consultant offering technical analysis and feasibility studies; I'd ask specifically whether they will perform a residential PV shade study independently of an installation contract.
What I'd ask for
Tell the consultant you want a pre-purchase, independent solar shade/solar-access analysis, including:
Annual and monthly shading losses
Tree/building/roof-obstruction effects
Solar access by roof plane
Recommended panel placement
Estimated production with and without shading
Ideally, a report or data file that you can give to competing installers
This is particularly useful because an installer's own shade analysis is part of the sales/design process. Getting an independent number gives you something to compare their production estimates against.
If you're in Garden Grove, I can also look specifically for 3–5 independent solar consultants/engineers within about 25 miles who will do a residential shade study without selling you the installation, including approximate pricing and contact information.
When looking for an independent shade analysis (unaffiliated with a specific installation company trying to sell you hardware), you have a few reliable avenues depending on whether you want to hire a professional consultant, use DIY software, or hire a neutral third-party engineering firm.
Independent analysis is smart because it gives you an objective Total Solar Resource Fraction (TSRF) and production estimate before you talk to salespeople.
1. Independent Solar Consultants & Engineering Firms
Local/Regional Independent Solar Consultants: Many certified NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) professionals or independent energy auditors offer consulting-only services. They will visit your site or pull high-res LiDAR data to draft an unbiased solar access report. Look for "independent energy advisors" or local engineering consultants who charge a flat consulting fee rather than taking a commission on sales.
Specialized Advisory Firms: Firms like Honeydew Energy Advisors provide dedicated solar shading and obstruction analyses for residential and commercial properties, evaluating 20-year impacts and building shadow constraints without selling panels.
2. DIY Tools and Self-Service Platforms
If you want to run the numbers yourself to verify a quote from an installer, you can use industry-standard remote assessment software or mobile tools:
Solargraf Shade Reports: Solargraf and similar remote design platforms pull high-resolution aerial imagery and LiDAR data to generate independent shadow heatmaps, Solar Access Values (SAV), and TSRF metrics without needing an installer on your roof.
Dedicated Design Software: Platforms like Aurora Solar or HelioScope are typically used by professionals, but some third-party reports can be commissioned via independent designers found on freelance marketplaces (like Upwork or Fiverr) who specialize in building 3D shadow models using these exact programs.
Smartphone Apps: Tools like Solar Pathfinder or apps that use your phone's camera and augmented reality to map out horizon and tree obstructions can give you a quick, rough-and-ready personal site audit.
3. Utility or State-Sponsored Energy Advisors
Depending on your state, local clean energy programs or state-backed energy offices (such as NYSERDA in New York or Energy Trust-backed advisors in Oregon) offer free or subsidized neutral evaluations, technical assistance, or lists of vetted, non-biased technical assessors.
To help narrow down the best path, could you share:
Your general location (state or metro area) so I can check for local independent resources?
Are you looking for a full professional site audit or a DIY software tool to check an installer's claims?
Earth Wind & Solar Energy LLC - 4831 W Wilson Ave, Chicago, IL 60630, United States
Earth Wind and Solar Energy - 2350 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60612
Stoneside Blinds & Shades Chicago - 875 N Michigan Ave 31st floor, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
The Solar Soldier - 444 W Lake St STE 1700, Chicago, IL 60606, United States
RxSun - 2211 N Elston Ave Ste 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States
WindSoleil - 401 N Trumbull Ave # D, Chicago, IL 60624, United States
Ailey Solar - 1965 W Pershing Rd, Chicago, IL 60609, United States
Quality Solar, LLC - 2532 W Warren Blvd, Chicago, IL 60612, United States
All Bright Solar - Chicago, IL 60613
Gotcha Covered of Chicago - 4601 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60625, United States
Glover Shade Company - 507 N LaSalle St, Chicago, IL 60654
Yes. If by independent shade analysis you mean someone who will assess your roof’s sun exposure without also being the company trying to sell you the panels, that’s a sensible step.
Assuming you’re in the Chicago area, I found a few relevant options:
Advanced Solar Consulting LLC — Their listed services specifically include sun/shade analysis and savings review, along with a site survey. This is the closest match I found to what you're asking for.
Earth Wind & Solar Energy LLC — Chicago-based solar contractor that performs on-site assessments and accounts for real-world shading; however, they also install solar, so I would consider them less independent in the strict sense.
Elevate / Elevate Energy — A Chicago nonprofit with solar assessment resources and a Chicago Solar Map developed with NREL. Its map explicitly cautions that its estimates do not replace an onsite assessment by a qualified professional.
What I'd ask for
When contacting a consultant, ask specifically for:
A site visit, rather than satellite imagery alone.
A solar access/shade analysis showing obstruction from trees, neighboring buildings, chimneys, dormers, etc.
Hourly or monthly shading losses, ideally for each roof plane.
An estimate of annual kWh production with and without shading.
Identification of whether particular panels should be omitted or whether microinverters/optimizers would materially help.
A written report that you can give to multiple installers.
That's particularly useful because installers can have an incentive to design a system that includes as many panels as possible. Chicago's own solar guidance notes that site-viability analysis and design can be offered by different types of providers, and that some contractors have relationships with particular equipment manufacturers.
If you tell me your ZIP code or suburb, I can look specifically for independent solar consultants within, say, 25–50 miles and give you 3–5 options, including what they charge and whether they actually do onsite shade measurements.
S&R Solar Design - 124-15 Metropolitan Ave 2nd floor, Kew Gardens, NY 11415, United States
Brooklyn SolarWorks - 200 6th St Ste 3G, Brooklyn, NY 11215, United States
Innovation Shades - 48 Laight St, New York, NY 10013, United States
NY City Blinds - 498 Broome St, New York, NY 10012, United States
Solar Pro - 139 Stuyvesant Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11221, United States
Window Horizons corp - 610 Columbus Ave, New York, NY 10024, United States
Organic Light - 157-11 Rockaway Blvd Ste 203, Jamaica, NY 11434, United States
Empire Window Treatment Center - 750 Lexington Ave Ste 7-117, New York, NY 10022, United States
The Best Shades - 447 Broadway 2nd floor, New York, NY 10013, United States
Brooklyn Solarworks - 232 6th St, Brooklyn, NY 11215, United States
Crauderueff Solar - 244 5th Ave Ste E170, New York, NY 10001, United States
Yes. If you want a truly independent shade analysis, I’d look for someone who does the analysis before you choose an installer and who does not make money from selling the panels.
For the NYC area, a few possibilities stand out:
S&R Solar Design — Queens-based solar engineering/design firm. They specifically produce shading reports; one documented NYC project includes an Aurora shade report with annual solar access and total solar resource fraction calculations.
Rick G. Energy — describes itself as an independent NYC solar consultant rather than a national installer. Its service begins with an energy assessment and savings analysis, with advice intended to be independent of an installer.
Crauderueff Solar — NYC solar advisory/owner's-representation firm. This is more oriented toward multifamily and commercial projects, but could be useful if your property is larger or complicated.
Solar One / Solar One Energy — NYC-based nonprofit/solar organization that provides solar feasibility assistance. NYC HPD specifically points to Solar One for solar feasibility analysis and technical assistance.
What I'd ask for
Don't just ask for a generic "solar assessment." Ask for a standalone shade/solar-access report that includes:
Roof-by-roof or array-by-array shading
Trees and neighboring buildings/structures
Hourly/monthly solar access, ideally for the whole year
Annual production estimate in kWh
Proposed panel locations and alternative layouts
Impact of potential tree growth, if applicable
The software/model used (e.g. Aurora, HelioScope, PVsyst)
A PDF report that you can give to multiple installers
An independent report can be particularly valuable because an installer has an incentive to make its proposed system look attractive. NYC itself recognizes the importance of solar feasibility analysis and provides a New York Solar Map for preliminary evaluation.
If you tell me whether this is a house, townhouse, or multifamily building and which NYC borough (or nearby suburb), I can narrow this down to 2–3 independent shade-analysis providers, including approximate pricing and contact information.
Getting an independent analysis ensures you get an unbiased calculation of your true Total Solar Resource Fraction (TSRF) and annual energy production potential before signing a contract.
Types of Independent Shade Analysis Providers
Independent Solar Consultants / Engineers: Local or national freelance solar engineering firms and NABCEP-certified (North American Board of Certified Practitioners) professionals who charge a flat consulting fee to review or design your layout without selling hardware.
Third-Party Roof & Property Inspectors: Specialized property inspection companies (such as regional roof certification or home inspection networks) that increasingly offer drone-based or physical site assessments including sunlight availability.
Self-Service 3D Digital Tools: Software like Shadowmap allows you to model your exact address, terrain, neighboring trees, and structures in 3D to scrub through shadow lengths across solstices and equinoxes.
Professional On-Site Software Platforms: Installers or independent auditors using tech like Scanifly can generate granular, certified 3D solar access viewsheds and PDF reports accurate to within 1%.
Comparison of Analysis Options
Analysis Type
Cost Range
Accuracy Level
Best For
Digital 3D Tools (e.g., Shadowmap)
Free / Low Cost
Moderate to High
Initial self-vetting and seasonal shadow visualization
Independent Solar Consultant
Hourly / Flat Fee ($150–$500)
High
Verifying contractor bids and complex tree/obstruction layouts
Third-Party Drone / On-Site Audit
$300–$600
Very High (Within 1%)
Precise pre-installation design and financing/lender approval
If you'd like, tell me:
Your general location or region (to see if local independent engineering firms are common)
Whether you have heavy tree cover or neighboring buildings causing shade
I can recommend the most practical type of report for your property.
One Planet Solar & Wind - 2731 Mansfield Rd, Shreveport, LA 71103
Solar Alternatives, Inc. - 4120 Metro Dr #500, Shreveport, LA 71109, United States
Sunergy Solar - 6969 Fern Loop, Shreveport, LA 71105, United States
Solar Pathfinder - 3953 Marsh Creek Rd, Linden, TN 37096
Solar Energy Supply - 119 Wallace Rd, West Monroe, LA 71291, United States
Bannister Solar & Energy Solutions - 3966 LA-15, Calhoun, LA 71225, United States
Jaime Crouse Solar Energy Consultant - 19735 TX-110, Whitehouse, TX 75791, United States
JEH Solar LLC - 105 Henderson Rd, Lafayette, LA 70508, United States
Gunn Solar Energy Systems - 2201 Shreveport Hwy, Pineville, LA 71360, United States
Agent Solar - 901 Nutt St, Wilmington, NC 28401, United States
Solar Energy Solutions Co - West Monroe, LA 71291, United States
Yes. If by independent shade analysis you mean someone who evaluates your property’s solar access without also being the company trying to sell you the panels, that’s a smart step.
Since you’re in the Mansfield, Louisiana area, I found a few possibilities:
One Planet Solar & Wind — Shreveport: They specifically advertise on-site solar shade analysis using a Solar Pathfinder, including year-round shading evaluation. However, they are also a solar installer, so I would consider them an installer-based second opinion, not fully independent.
Advanced Solar Consulting LLC: Their services include sun/shade analysis and savings reviews, and they present themselves as a consulting business rather than simply an installer. They're farther away, so you'd want to confirm whether they will travel to Mansfield.
SYMPHYSIS: This is a true solar-access/shading-analysis consulting firm that works with property owners and PV systems. It appears geared more toward detailed professional analysis and is not a local Mansfield provider.
What I'd ask for
For a residential installation, I'd specifically request a year-round solar access/shading report, preferably using a Solar Pathfinder or equivalent 3D/solar-path modeling. Ask for:
Solar access percentage by roof plane
Shading broken down by month/time of day
Effects of existing trees and nearby structures
Recommended panel locations
Estimated annual production with and without shading
A written report that you can give to competing installers
The key is to have the analysis done before choosing an installer, so the installer isn't effectively grading its own homework.
If you'd like, I can also look specifically for independent solar consultants/engineers within about 50–100 miles of Mansfield and give you their contact information and whether they actually perform residential shade studies.
When you want an unbiased assessment of your roof's sun exposure—free from a specific installer's sales quotas—you can turn to truly independent third-party entities . An independent shade and solar access analysis helps verify Total Solar Resource Fraction (TSRF) so you know your true generation potential.
The primary options for obtaining an independent shade and solar feasibility analysis include:
Independent Solar Energy Consultants / Advisors: Specialized firms like Honeydew Energy Advisors offer dedicated residential and commercial solar shading services to model obstructions, trees, or neighboring structures. Other consumer-advocate groups like Independent Solar Advisors provide unbiased remote evaluations of your roof layout and shading without pushing a specific brand or contractor.
Local Certified Energy Auditors & Home Inspectors: Many independent, certified home energy raters (such as RESNET-certified Home Energy Rating System or HERS raters) or local independent solar consultants carry professional tools—like Solar Pathfinder or Solmetric SunEye devices—to conduct physical on-site shade audits.
Engineering & Design Service Bureaus: Independent engineering firms that specialize in photovoltaic (PV) design can process drone or 3D site data (utilizing software platforms like Scanifly or Aurora) to generate a completely objective shade report.
To help narrow down the best path forward, tell me:
Are you looking for a remote desk review (using satellite/drone data) or an on-site physical audit?
Do you suspect a complex shading issue (like nearby mature trees or complex neighboring builds)?
I can help you decide which type of report will give you the most leverage when talking to installers.
Pav Solar - 6308 7 Seas Ave STE B, Bakersfield, CA 93308, United States
Green Energy Services - 5640 District Blvd #104, Bakersfield, CA 93313, United States
Ilum Solar - 3748 Renfro Rd Unit B, Bakersfield, CA 93314, United States
Creative Solar Installation - 11407 Lindalee Ln, Bakersfield, CA 93312, United States
Cal Contractor Services Inc - 3980 Saco Rd K, Bakersfield, CA 93308, United States
Reliance Electrical Solutions - 3108 Fairhaven Dr, Bakersfield, CA 93308, United States
MSI Solar - 5630 District Blvd Ste 126, Bakersfield, CA 93313, United States
Solar Negotiators - 19456 Colombo St, Bakersfield, CA 93308, United States
Sunrun - 2501 Union Ave C-D, Bakersfield, CA 93305, United States
SXC Construction - 4900 California Ave Ste 305A, Bakersfield, CA 93309, United States
Yes. If you’re in the Bakersfield area, I’d separate the shade analysis from the company that sells/installs the panels. That gives you a much less biased answer about how much usable sunlight your roof actually gets.
A promising local option
Solar Consulting Bakersfield is listed locally as a solar consulting business, but it has very little public information about its services. I would call and specifically ask whether they provide a stand-alone shade analysis for a homeowner who is not hiring them to install the system.
A stronger option for independent property analysis is Kern Skies. They explicitly describe themselves as 100% independent, saying they don't sell roofs or solar panels and therefore have no incentive to push a particular installation.
Don't just ask for a "solar estimate." Ask for a written solar shade/site analysis that includes:
Roof orientation and tilt
Trees, chimneys, neighboring structures and other obstructions
Hour-by-hour/month-by-month shading
Estimated annual solar access or production loss from shade
Recommended panel areas
Whether microinverters or optimizers would materially help
A report you can give to multiple installers
Then give that same report to 2–3 installers and see whether their proposed production numbers are consistent with it.
There are also independent solar-advisory firms in California. For example, Integrity Solar Advisors says it operates independently of installers and evaluates properties and energy use before recommending an installation.
If you tell me your ZIP code (or just your Bakersfield neighborhood), I can look specifically for independent shade-analysis companies within driving distance, rather than installers who do shade analysis as part of their sales process.
When you want an independent shade analysis (rather than relying strictly on a quote or a sales pitch from a solar installation company), you have a few ways to get an unbiased assessment. Independent shade analysis is usually performed by specialized third-party engineering firms, local independent energy consultants, or via self-service software tools used by independent auditors.
Options for obtaining an independent shade analysis include:
Independent Solar/Energy Consultants & Engineering Firms: Local or regional renewable energy consulting firms (such as Honeydew Energy Advisors for commercial or residential evaluations) do not sell hardware or installation services. They provide unbiased, third-party shading projections, financial impact modeling, and system optimization reviews.
Independent Third-Party Inspectors / Solar Auditors: Many certified home inspectors or NABCEP-certified (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners) independent professionals offer design-review or audit services. They can visit your site or independently review proposals using specialized modeling software.
Self-Service Tools & Independent Software Providers: If you want to do it yourself or hire an auditor who uses independent tech, platforms like Scanifly provide 3D drone-based solar design and shade-viewshed analysis that generate lender- and regulator-approved PDF shade reports independent of any specific installer. Other traditional tools like Solmetric SunEye or Solar Pathfinder have historically been used by independent assessors to map the horizon on-site.
Local Utility or State Energy Programs: Some municipal utilities, state-sponsored clean energy offices, or university extension programs offer unbiased solar resource assessments or can point you toward certified local neutral advisors.
If you'd like, let me know:
Your general location (city/state)
Whether you are looking for an on-site professional audit or a software tool to check it yourself
If you already have installer quotes you want a second opinion on
Puget Sound Solar - 805 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144, United States
Sunergy Systems - 4546 NW Leary Wy, Seattle, WA 98107, United States
Stoneside Blinds & Shades Seattle - 1420 5th Ave #2200, Seattle, WA 98101, United States
Sustainable By Design - 1917 N 37th St, Seattle, WA 98103, United States
Amazing Blinds by Armi - 2226 Eastlake Ave E #80, Seattle, WA 98102, United States
Clean Energy Innovators - 600 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98104, United States
Wessco Blinds Seattle - 210 Nickerson St, Seattle, WA 98109, United States
A&R Solar - 9700 Martin Luther King Jr Way S, Seattle, WA 98118, United States
Northwest Awning & Fabric - 4448 27th Ave W, Seattle, WA 98199, United States
Sun Path Electric - 309 S Cloverdale St Bldg C, unit 26, Seattle, WA 98108, United States
Stoneside Blinds & Shades Ballard - 1455 NW Leary Wy Suite 400, Seattle, WA 98107, United States
A&R Solar - 9700 Martin Luther King Jr Way S, Seattle, WA 98118
If you mean an independent shade analysis for a solar PV installation (a third party who evaluates roof shading, trees, nearby buildings, sun path, and expected production before you commit to panels), look for a solar consultant, PV engineer, or building/solar design consultant rather than only asking a solar installer. Independent analysis can help you compare installer proposals.
Since you appear to be in the Seattle area, a few options to consider:
Sustainable By Design — A Seattle-based consulting practice that focuses on solar design, solar geometry, and shading analysis tools/services. This is the type of firm that may be suitable when you want analysis separate from a panel sale.
Puget Sound Solar — A local solar contractor; while not “independent” from installation, they are an experienced regional solar provider you could ask specifically whether they provide paid site-only analysis or consulting without installation.
Sunergy Systems — Another established Seattle-area solar company that can perform site evaluations; ask whether they offer a standalone shade study.
When contacting someone, ask for:
A shade study / solar access analysis (not just a sales estimate)
Annual shading percentage or solar access percentage
Sun-path modeling (often using tools such as Solar Pathfinder, Solmetric SunEye, or PV design software)
Hour-by-hour or seasonal shading impacts
A written report you can give to multiple installers
If you want a truly neutral review, you can also hire a licensed electrical engineer or solar design consultant to review bids after you receive them.
If you tell me your city/neighborhood and whether you want a paid independent report before choosing an installer or just a second opinion on an existing quote, I can narrow the list.
Solarific Energy Consultants — an independent-style residential solar consulting option on Long Island, although I'd confirm exactly what they charge for a standalone shade report and whether they receive installer compensation.
Follow how AI answers questions like this in Solar PV Design & Modeling Software.
The Solar Detective - 1049 Camino Del Mar #4d, Del Mar, CA 92014, United States
