Clean Solar

Founded in 2007, Clean Solar was born from the vision of two friends who saw an opportunity to bring better business practices to the emerging residential solar market in San Jose. Randy Zechman, a serial entrepreneur with sales and marketing experience, and Jeff Ritchey, a San Jose native with a background in geology and enology, combined their diverse talents to address the energy crisis and climate change through professional solar installation. What started with a simple observation—that many solar contractors weren’t operating as sustainable businesses—has grown into one of the Bay Area’s most decorated solar installers. Zechman became a NABCEP-certified instructor and helped launch a solar installation program at a local vocational school, reflecting the company’s early commitment to growing the industry responsibly. Today, Clean Solar serves San Jose homeowners and communities throughout the Bay Area with residential solar panels, battery storage systems including Tesla Powerwall, and complete home energy solutions. The company partners with premium manufacturers like SunPower, REC, Panasonic, Tesla, SolarEdge, and Enphase to deliver customized solar installation that matches each home’s energy needs. What genuinely sets Clean Solar apart is the combination of industry-leading warranties and verified customer satisfaction. The company offers a 25-year workmanship warranty and 15-year production guarantee, backing every installation with confidence that systems will perform as promised. In 2015, Clean Solar achieved a milestone as the solar installer with the most 5-Star Yelp reviews in the country while maintaining a 5-Star average—25% higher than the second-highest rated installer. The recognition continues: the company has won Best Solar Installer of Silicon Valley since 2012 and is recognized in the Mercury News Hall of Fame, named Best Installer in Silicon Valley 10 times by Bay Area News Group Mercury News. Clean Solar holds BBB A+ rating and has been BBB Accredited, and maintains Certified B Corporation status, using business as a force to solve social and environmental problems. Giving back is embedded in the company’s DNA. With every residential installation, Clean Solar donates $150 to a local charity of the homeowner’s choice, and to date has donated over $200,000 to local charities and organizations. For Bay Area homeowners considering solar energy in California’s evolving utility landscape, Clean Solar brings nearly two decades of experience navigating permitting, grid interconnection, and the transition from design to Permission to Operate. The team handles every step—system design, city permits, PG&E coordination, and installation—allowing homeowners to focus on the benefits rather than the complexity of going solar.