Five years ago, Uprise Solar was founded with one simple belief: homeowners deserve a better energy experience. Since then, Uprise Solar has grown from a single customer into one of the Washington region’s leading providers of residential solar, roofing, batteries, EV chargers, and home electrification solutions.
There wasn’t a master plan to become the biggest installer in the region. There wasn’t a goal to chase rapid growth or become another national solar brand. Instead, the vision was to build a company that homeowners could trust, employees would be proud to work for, and communities could rely on.
As Uprise Solar celebrates its fifth anniversary, founder Chris Sewell reflects on where the company started, what it’s learned along the way, and where it’s headed next.
It Started with a Simple Question
After years working in the renewable energy industry, Chris believed there was an opportunity to do things differently.
“I wanted to build a company that simply did things better, one that treated customers well, supported its employees, and raised the standard for what homeowners should expect from a solar company… I wanted to build the kind of solar company I’d always wished existed.”
For him, the goal wasn’t simply installing solar panels. It was building a company that put homeowners first.
“At the end of the day, we are currently a contractor. We work for homeowners. We can always do a better job taking care of our customers.”
That philosophy became the foundation of Uprise Solar and continues to guide every project today.
Built on Nearly Two Decades of Experience
Although Uprise Solar was founded in 2021, Chris‘s journey toward building the company began much earlier.
His career in clean technology started in 2008, helping organizations develop sustainability programs and reduce their environmental impact. By 2011, he had transitioned fully into renewable energy, working in energy policy, international development, solar finance, software, and grid modernization.
Over the next decade, Chris helped manage renewable energy initiatives across Latin America, worked with organizations including the U.S. Department of Energy and the Inter-American Development Bank, built financial models for solar projects, advised governments and renewable energy organizations, and helped grow multiple clean energy companies before founding Uprise Solar.
That experience shaped the company’s mission from day one.
“I excel at organizing, analysis, and strategy. And I am passionate about electrifying all aspects of our lives and making sure it’s supplied by clean, renewable power.”
For Chris, solar has never been just about installing equipment.
It’s about changing the way electricity is produced, delivered, and managed.
“The time is now to be part of the solution.”
Why the Uprise Solar Team Is Different
While Uprise Solar is celebrating five years as a company, the experience behind the team spans decades.
Founder Chris has worked in clean technology since 2008 and renewable energy since 2011.
Phil, one of Uprise’s most experienced team members, has worked in the solar industry since the late 1980s, giving the company firsthand knowledge from nearly the beginning of the modern solar industry.
Patrick, Uprise’s Director of Business Development, has worked in residential solar since 2014, helping hundreds of homeowners and businesses navigate the transition to clean energy while building partnerships throughout the Washington region.
Together, the Uprise team brings decades of experience in engineering, installation, roofing, permitting, financing, customer education, and renewable energy strategy.
For Chris, the company’s greatest strength has never been one individual.
It’s the people who choose to build it together.
A Bigger Vision
While improving the customer experience was the immediate goal, Chris always believed solar was part of something much bigger.
He saw an energy industry built around infrastructure that had changed very little over the last century, while new technologies were giving homeowners more control over how they generated and used electricity.
“It’s not like we knew exactly how to do it in 2021. I just knew if we kept moving in that direction, we’d eventually get there.”
Today, Uprise installs solar panels, battery storage, EV chargers, roofing, and smart home energy systems.
Tomorrow, Chris believes companies like Uprise will help homeowners generate, store, manage, and even share electricity in ways that simply weren’t possible a generation ago.
His vision has always been bigger than installing solar panels.
It’s about helping build a smarter, cleaner electric grid where homeowners play a central role.
One Customer Became Hundreds
Every business starts somewhere.
For Uprise Solar, it started with one homeowner who sought Chris out after learning he had started his own company.
That first installation led to another.
Friends referred friends.
Then another.
Neighbors referred neighbors.
Customers became advocates.
By the end of the company’s first year, Uprise had completed just 32 projects.
Five years later, the company has become one of the Washington region’s leading locally owned solar companies.
The Impact Uprise Solar Has Made
What began with one customer has become a team making a meaningful impact throughout the region.
Since 2021, Uprise Solar has:
- Helped more than 700 homeowners make the switch to solar.
- Installed more than 7 megawatts of solar capacity across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
- Grown to a team of 35 employees.
- Earned 5-star ratings on Google, EnergySage, and Yelp.
- Continued to grow largely through referrals from satisfied homeowners.
Those seven megawatts of solar will generate nearly 9 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity every year, preventing approximately 3,200 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually. According to EPA greenhouse gas equivalencies, that’s comparable to the carbon captured by more than 50,000 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.
Behind every number is something even more important.
A family lowering their electric bill.
A homeowner gaining peace of mind.
A cleaner future for the communities we serve.
Success Isn’t Measured Only by Installations
Ask Chris what he’s most proud of after five years, and he doesn’t mention revenue or megawatts.
He talks about people.
“It’s the people that have joined alongside me that have made this what it is. I just was the first one.”
One of those people is Leandro.
Leandro joined Uprise with no previous experience in the solar industry, beginning in an office support role while learning every part of the business. Over time, he took on greater responsibility, eventually becoming a project manager whose work earned the attention of national solar engineering firms.
When he accepted a new opportunity, everyone at Uprise was sad to see him go. But Chris saw something else.
He saw success.
The company had helped someone build a career they never imagined.
Today, Leandro is continuing that journey with a national engineering firm, and everyone at Uprise couldn’t be prouder.
That same philosophy shapes how the company develops its team.
Uprise believes in promoting from within whenever possible and giving employees the tools, mentorship, and opportunities to build lasting careers in the skilled trades.
Whether someone starts as an installer, warehouse associate, office coordinator, or apprentice electrician, the goal is to help them grow.
Employees are encouraged to earn general contractor licenses, electrician licenses, engineering degrees, project management experience, and other professional certifications that strengthen both their careers and the industry as a whole.
Investing in people has become part of Uprise’s identity.
The company doesn’t just build solar systems.
It helps build careers.
Chris is also quick to recognize the people who don’t often receive the spotlight.
“The installers are the production house. They’re the reason we get paid. They’re the reason we get our next customer.”
Every successful project depends on installers, electricians, roofers, project managers, warehouse staff, designers, permit coordinators, and office employees working together.
Their craftsmanship is what homeowners remember long after an installation is complete.
Navigating a Changing Industry
The last five years haven’t just transformed Uprise Solar. They’ve transformed the solar industry itself.
Changing interest rates, evolving federal incentives, supply chain disruptions, and shifting market conditions have forced solar companies across the country to rethink how they do business. Many respected companies have downsized, merged, or closed their doors altogether.
Chris believes one of Uprise’s biggest strengths has been its willingness to adapt.
“We’ve never wanted to be just a solar company.”
Over the last several years, Uprise has expanded beyond rooftop solar to become a more complete home energy company.
Today, the team offers roofing, battery storage, EV charging, electrical upgrades, and smart home energy solutions alongside residential solar.
That evolution wasn’t about chasing the latest trend. It was about giving homeowners the services they need as their energy needs continue to change.
It also helped make Uprise more resilient.
Rather than depending on a single product or financing model, the company built a business that could continue serving customers through changing market conditions while investing in its employees and maintaining the quality homeowners expect.
Chris is quick to point out that many friends and colleagues across the industry have faced incredibly difficult decisions over the last few years.
“This industry has gone through a lot.”
Instead of celebrating those challenges, he sees them as a reminder that the companies willing to learn, adapt, and keep putting customers first will be the ones best positioned to serve homeowners for years to come.
The Biggest Lesson
Running a business over five years means navigating changing technology, shifting policies, and an evolving marketplace.
One of the biggest lessons has been the importance of adapting.
Rather than relying on a single product or financing model, Uprise expanded into roofing, battery storage, EV charging, and multiple financing options.
That flexibility has allowed the company to continue serving homeowners while many competitors have struggled through changing market conditions.
Chris also believes in looking inward whenever challenges arise.
Instead of asking who is to blame, the team asks what they can do better.
That mindset of continuous improvement has helped Uprise earn something more valuable than rapid growth.
Trust.
What’s Next for Uprise Solar
Although this anniversary celebrates the first five years, Chris believes the most exciting chapter is still ahead.
As electricity prices continue to rise and homeowners look for greater energy independence, he sees tremendous opportunity for local energy generation, battery storage, virtual power plants, and smarter ways to deliver electricity.
What excites him most is replacing fossil fuel generation with clean electricity while helping families, particularly in communities that have historically carried a greater energy burden, lower and stabilize their utility bills.
His long-term vision is for Uprise to evolve beyond being a contractor.
He hopes the company becomes part of a new generation of local electric companies that help homeowners generate, store, and manage their own electricity.
What motivates him isn’t becoming the biggest company.
It’s building one that lasts.
“The goal has never been growth for growth’s sake. It’s about creating stability for our employees, our customers, and the quality of our work.”
Thank You
Five years ago, Uprise Solar started with one customer and one simple belief:
Homeowners deserve a better experience.
Today, that belief has grown into more than 700 installations, a team of 35 dedicated professionals, and thousands of conversations with families exploring a better way to power their homes.
None of it would have been possible without the trust of our customers, the dedication of our employees, and the support of our partners, friends, and community.
To everyone who has been part of our first five years, thank you.
We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve built together.
And if the last five years have taught us anything, it’s that the future of energy is just getting started. We can’t wait to build it together.
Frequently Asked Questions About Uprise Solar
How long has Uprise Solar been in business?
Uprise Solar was founded in 2021 with a simple mission: build a better energy company. Since then, we’ve helped more than 700 homeowners across Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia transition to clean, renewable energy while expanding our services to meet homeowners’ evolving needs.
What services does Uprise Solar offer?
We provide complete home energy solutions, including:
- Residential solar installation
- Battery storage systems
- EV charger installation
- Roofing
- Electrical upgrades
- Home electrification solutions
Our goal is to help homeowners generate, store, and manage their energy with one trusted local team.
Where does Uprise Solar operate?
Uprise Solar proudly serves homeowners throughout Washington, DC, Maryland, and Northern Virginia. Our team specializes in the unique permitting, utility requirements, and incentive programs available throughout the DMV region.
What makes Uprise Solar different?
We believe going solar should feel straightforward, honest, and stress-free.
Our team brings decades of combined renewable energy experience, invests in employee development, and focuses on long-term relationships rather than one-time sales. That’s one reason we’ve earned 5-star ratings on Google, EnergySage, and Yelp, with many of our new customers coming from referrals by previous homeowners.
How experienced is the Uprise Solar team?
While Uprise Solar has been serving homeowners since 2021, our team brings decades of experience to every project. Founder Chris Sewell has worked in clean technology since 2008 and renewable energy since 2011, Phil has worked in solar since the late 1980s, and members of our leadership team have spent years helping homeowners throughout the Washington region transition to clean energy.
Does Uprise Solar only install solar panels?
No. While solar remains at the heart of what we do, we’ve evolved into a full-service home energy company. In addition to solar, we install battery backup systems, EV chargers, provide roofing services, and help homeowners electrify their homes for a cleaner, more resilient future.
Why did Uprise Solar expand beyond solar?
The energy industry has changed dramatically over the last five years. Homeowners increasingly want complete energy solutions rather than individual products. By expanding into roofing, battery storage, EV charging, and home electrification, we’re able to provide more value, adapt to a changing industry, and continue serving homeowners for years to come.
Ready to Learn More?
Whether you’re interested in solar, battery storage, roofing, or home electrification, our team is here to help you understand your options with no pressure and no obligation.
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