Shaw Solar & Energy Conservation

What Shaw Solar & Energy Conservation does

Shaw Solar & Energy Conservation is a privately held, founder-owned solar and energy contractor headquartered in Durango, Colorado, serving Southwest Colorado since 2006 (its founder John Shaw installed the first grid-tied PV system in La Plata County in 2001). The company designs, installs, and services grid-tied and off-grid photovoltaic systems, battery storage (Tesla Powerwall 3, Enphase IQ, Franklin WholeHome, SPAN Smart Panels), mini-split heat pumps, EV chargers (ChargePoint and Tesla certified), and community solar gardens for residential, commercial, government, nonprofit, and lower-income workforce customers in the Durango–Mancos–Cortez–Pagosa Springs corridor.

The business operates as a unified design-build-service contractor with in-house Master Electricians, NABCEP-certified PV installers, an Energy Systems Engineer (PHIUS Passive House Consultant credential), and EPA Section 608 certified refrigerant technicians, eliminating the need for separate electrical subcontracting. Hardware is sourced via Amicus Solar membership (Tier 1 purchasing power), and the technical moat rests on integrated electrical contracting plus grants/incentives fluency — including USDA REAP grant facilitation (100+ applications submitted), Colorado C-PACE (up to 100% commercial project financing), RENU loans, LPEA On-Bill Financing, and HEAR/IRA-related incentives.

Revenue streams include one-time residential and commercial installation projects (over 1,700 kW installed cumulatively, with commercial systems up to 204 kW), ongoing service and maintenance (5-year workmanship warranty on grid-tied installations), financing referral commissions through credit union and C-PACE partnerships, and community-program partnerships such as Project SunShare (with 4CORE) for lower-income households. Pricing is quote-based with battery units starting at approximately $13,000 and $0-down financing available. The go-to-market is sales-led via free on-site evaluations, supplemented by inside-sales phone/email/web capture, referral/word-of-mouth momentum, and community sponsorships. Customer-count signals indicate "hundreds" of businesses served and various named logos spanning restaurants, healthcare, agriculture, libraries, and nonprofits (e.g., Boys and Girls Club, James Ranch, Pine River Library, Dalton Ranch Golf Club). The company is Durango's first Certified B Corporation (Fall 2018) and has held consecutive "Best of Durango" recognition (2023-2025). The business is self-funded with no disclosed venture or private-equity backing.

Name

Shaw Solar & Energy Conservation

Legal name

Shaw Solar

Website

https://shawsolar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Shaw Solar & Energy Conservation is a privately held, founder-owned solar and energy contractor in Durango, Colorado, serving Southwest Colorado since 2006. It designs, installs, and services photovoltaic solar, battery storage, EV chargers, and mini-split heat pumps for residential, commercial, government, nonprofit, and lower-income workforce customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Solar Installation Services

NAICS

Solar Electric Power Generation (221114)

SIC

Electrical Work (1731)

akta.pro primary industry

Solar EPC & Construction (Utility-Scale, Rooftop, Balance of System) (EUAMABAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Distributed Storage (Behind-the-Meter Batteries) (EUAMAJAE), Solar Panel Cleaning (HSAEAJAL)

Keywords

• Residential solar installation
• Commercial solar installation
• Battery storage systems
• Heat pump installation
• EV charging installation

Headquarters

HQ city

Durango

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Solar & Energy System Installation: One-time installation of solar PV systems, battery storage, heat pumps, and EV chargers. Revenue is generated from equipment sales (panels, inverters, batteries, etc.) and professional installation labor. Project costs range widely based on system size and scope.
2. Service & Maintenance: Ongoing service contracts and maintenance visits for solar arrays and battery systems. Includes 5-year workmanship warranty on grid-tied installations with free service visits during warranty period. Also offers routine inspections, performance monitoring, troubleshooting, cleaning, and system optimization.
3. Financing Referral Partnerships: Shaw Solar guides customers through loan options (RENU, Elevations CU, Westerra CU, LPEA On-Bill Financing, C-PACE, USDA REAP) and likely earns referral fees or commissions through these financing partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Shaw Solar & Energy Conservation designs, installs, and services grid-tied and off-grid photovoltaic (PV) solar systems, battery storage solutions (Tesla Powerwall, Enphase, Franklin WholeHome), high-efficiency mini-split heat pumps, and Level 2 EV charging stations for residential and commercial customers in Southwest Colorado. The company also provides ongoing maintenance, community solar gardens, repowering of older arrays, and turnkey financing/rebates navigation.

Product overview

Shaw Solar is a full-service solar, energy storage, and heating & cooling contractor serving Southwest Colorado. The company operates as a unified service business with interconnected offerings: its core products are Residential Solar and Commercial Solar installations, which customers can supplement with Battery Storage (Tesla Powerwall, Enphase, Franklin WholeHome), Mini-Split Heat Pumps, and EV Chargers. Service & Maintenance provides ongoing support for all installed systems. The company also offers specialized programs including Solar Gardens for community solar access, the RePower Initiative for panel upgrades, and Project Sunshare for income-qualified households. Financing is facilitated through Solar Loans (RENU, LPEA On-Bill, C-PACE, USDA REAP), while Rebates & Incentives Management helps customers access available federal, state, and local incentives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Residential Solar Grid-tied and off-grid photovoltaic (PV) solar panel installations for homeowners, including free on-site site assessment, custom system design, full installation, permitting, inspections, and activation. Includes a 5-year workmanship warranty.
• Commercial Solar Solar PV installations for businesses, commercial properties, government buildings, libraries, and nonprofits, with project sizes up to 204 kW. Includes USDA REAP grant application assistance, C-PACE financing guidance, and dedicated project managers.
• Battery Storage (Energy Storage Systems) Home and commercial battery storage solutions including Tesla Powerwall 3, Enphase IQ 5P, Franklin WholeHome, and SPAN Smart Panel integration. Stores excess solar or grid energy for use during outages or peak demand periods, enabling whole-home backup and circuit-level control.
• Mini-Split Heat Pumps High-efficiency ductless mini-split heat pump systems for heating and cooling residential and light commercial spaces, with EPA Section 608 certified technicians handling installation, refrigerant, and commissioning.
• EV Chargers Certified installation of Level 2 EV charging stations for residential and commercial properties, including standalone installations and solar-integrated solutions. Certified ChargePoint and Tesla Charging installer.
• Service & Maintenance Ongoing maintenance, troubleshooting, and repair services for solar arrays and battery systems, including routine inspections, performance monitoring, cleaning, and system optimization. Includes 5-year workmanship warranty on grid-tied installations.
• Solar Gardens (Community Solar) Community solar power garden programs allowing community members to buy or lease shares in large solar arrays, providing solar access to renters and households without suitable roof access via virtual net metering.
• RePower Initiative
• Project SunShare Community solar access initiative in partnership with 4CORE that provides solar installations for lower-income households. Shaw Solar donates installation services; homeowners contribute a sliding-scale portion based on income, and community donors cover the remainder.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average residential solar payback period of 7–8 years in the Durango area
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers22 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• 4COREcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 August 2025Shaw Solar partnered with 4CORE to create Project SunShare — an innovative program that installs solar for lower-income workforce households in Southwest Colorado. Shaw Solar donates all installation labor, homeowners contribute a sliding-scale portion based on income, and local community donations cover the remainder. As of August 2025, three projects were installed and energized, and seven households were fully funded. The program addresses energy independence, reliability, and local resilience for working homeowners who may not otherwise access solar.
• RENU (Colorado Clean Energy Fund)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerRENU is a statewide loan program sponsored by the Colorado Clean Energy Fund, working with Colorado-based credit unions (Elevations Credit Union and Westerra Credit Union). Offers low fixed interest rates, no pre-payment penalties, and no dealer fees. Shaw Solar guides customers through RENU loan application as a registered contractor. Elevations CU offers terms up to 20 years financing up to $75,000; Westerra CU offers terms up to 20 years financing up to $50,000.
• LPEA (La Plata Electric Association)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal utility partnership. LPEA offers On-Bill Financing via 1st SW Bank for energy efficiency and solar/battery projects (loans up to $60,000, 10 or 15-year terms). LPEA also offers net metering for solar users, heat pump rebates ($250-$500/ton), EV charger rebates (50-100% off up to $250-$500 depending on income), and battery incentive program ($1,000-$3,000 starting Jan 2025). Shaw Solar is recommended by LPEA as a trusted source for solar and storage. LPEA is also a rate-setting partner whose rate changes significantly impact solar customer economics.
• Amicus SolarminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAmicus Solar is a national buying group of quality solar companies. Membership enables Shaw Solar to pool purchasing power and offer Tier 1 equipment at lower prices to customers. Also provides access to national industry intelligence and best practices.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Sunrun: Largest U.S. residential solar, battery, and EV charging installer with a subscription/lease model. Comparable product bundle (solar + storage + EV) at vastly greater scale; exerts pricing pressure on Shaw Solar's markets when it expands geographically. A former Shaw Solar employee previously sold for Sunrun.
• Blue Raven Solar: Large regional residential solar EPC installer operating across multiple Mountain West and Midwest states. Comparable in service offering (residential solar + storage + finance) but with national scale; a credible indirect competitor should Blue Raven expand into Southwest Colorado.
• Tesla Energy: Tesla's solar roof and Powerwall business offering solar PV and battery storage with vertical integration on hardware (Tesla Powerwall 3 is also sold by Shaw Solar). Comparable in product stack but operates a direct/installer-network model at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Photon Brothers: Colorado-based residential and commercial solar, battery, and EV charger installer serving multiple markets. Closely comparable as a regional full-service solar EPC contractor with similar customer types and product bundle (PV + storage + EV).
• Sundance Solar & Electric: Western Colorado solar and electrical contractor serving residential and commercial customers. Comparable as a regional solar plus licensed electrical contracting operation with similar community-anchored positioning.
• Lighthouse Solar: Colorado solar EPC installer focused on residential and commercial customers with an emphasis on quality and customer education. Comparable regional competitor with overlapping service model and customer base.
• Namaste Solar: B-Corp-certified Colorado solar installer serving residential, commercial, and nonprofit customers. Highly comparable as a values-led, employee-owned regional EPC firm that competes for the same Southwest Colorado-adjacent customer demographics.

Regional players

• Trinity Solar: East Coast-focused residential and commercial solar installer. Comparable as a long-established regional solar EPC with similar service breadth, but its geography does not overlap with Southwest Colorado.

Others

• 4CORE: Nonprofit community-energy partner organization that Shaw Solar partnered with to launch Project SunShare for lower-income households. Adjacent peer through a joint program delivering solar access, sharing program-design know-how and community-solar expertise.
• Amicus Solar: National buying cooperative of independent solar installers. Shaw Solar is a member; comparable as a peer through the cooperative membership model that provides pooled purchasing, training, and best-practice sharing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shaw Solar & Energy Conservation