Urban Design is your one-stop shop

for all your energy efficient upgrades!

Urban Design is your one-stop shop for all your energy efficient upgrades!

Established in 2006

Urban Design is a family-owned Company located in Paradise CA.  We offer Plumbing, Solar, Electrical Service & install, including Whole House Generators with Automatic Transfer Switches.  We are proud to serve Northern California including Butte County, Glenn County, Tehama County, Shasta County, Siskiyou County, Yuba County, Sutter County, Chico, Oroville, Corning, Redding, Red Bluff, Orland, Yuba City, Marysville, Sacramento and other areas upon request.

Kitchens – Faucet repairs and new installations, blocked sinks and floor drains, installation of new sinks and laundry tubs, dishwasher and garbage disposals.

Plumbing – Free camera inspection!

Drain Cleaning – Experts in sewer and drain clean outs.

Solar – Full service installation, repair, and more.

Bathrooms – Repairs and installations of faucets, showers, sinks, tubs & toilets. Clear blocked sinks, toilets, and floor drains, common valve upgrades and shower leaks.

Pipe Plumbing – Leak detection, water pressure issues, and re-piping with copper or PEX.

Water Heaters – Repair and Replace water heaters including upgrading to the latest tankless water heaters.

Commercial – We can assist with all your facility plumbing needs.

The Process Of Getting Solar

Consultation – The first step is to speak with our Energy Specialist to see if solar is right for you. Call us or fill out our online free quote form.

Site Visit – An on-site visit is necessary to ensure every variable is accounted for prior to your solar installation’s design. A thorough site evaluation is critical for successful design.

Design – Our engineers will analyze the data collected from the site visit and drawings to design a solar system that maximizes energy output and efficiency.

Installation – Once we obtain the necessary permits, our highly-trained solar technicians will install your system. We’re not done until you are absolutely satisfied.

Considering Solar?

Making the decision to invest in solar is more than just committing to making the world a better place; you’re also making an economically smart decision for you and your family. We will work with you to not only get the most energy efficient system for your home but also to find the best financing as well as State and Federal refunds for you! When you go solar you reduce your bills from the second it is installed, and savings will continue to grow as the years flow.

About Urban Design

Established in 2006

Urban Design is a family-owned Company located in Paradise CA. Our clients continue to utilize our services because we have built our business on the belief of hard work, quality customer service, promoting energy efficient systems, and helping find the most cost-effective solution for their construction, plumbing and solar needs. Your home is more than an investment, it’s a sanctuary.

Our dedication to providing customers with simple, affordable energy solutions combined with a focus on customer service, has propelled us to the forefront as an industry leader. We handle the whole process from initial evaluation, to custom engineering, permitting, system installation and activation. We are here for you to ensure your transition to renewable energy is seamless and enjoyable.

Sean McCreary, owner of Urban Design, attributes his success to the lessons he learned while growing up in the industry that spawned the hit TV show “Alaska’s Deadliest Catch.” He started King Crab fishing in the Bering Sea as a teen, and retired as a Captain 16 years later, before coming to Chico to start a family and general construction company. Sean is proud to call Chico his hometown. “Raising children and doing business in a small community like Chico is very rewarding!” Sean has gained a reputation for doing business with a “Golden Rule” sense of integrity and for completing quality work for his clients. He runs his business by educating and counseling instead of focusing on selling.

Show Off Your Green Power Advantage

Using solar energy shows your commitment to a cleaner environment and sustainable production. Positive publicity for your solar energy system attracts environmentally conscious customers and end users. Whatever your type of operation from raw materials production, to retail storefronts, our commercial solar energy solutions provide a marketing opportunity for your operation.

Share your commitment to clean energy and greenhouse gas emission reduction by sharing your monitoring portal with customers in a user-friendly format. Pictures and data help people understand the value of solar power and how renewable energy contributes to reducing your carbon footprint.

In today’s tough, competitive business climate, energy rates forecast to keep rising at a historical 6-7% rate per year. Anything you can do to lower your fixed costs puts your business ahead of the game. Producing your own power means one less cost to worry about. You’ll notice significant savings to your monthly bill immediately.

Generous Rebates and Tax Incentives

Utilities such as PG&E offer additional rebates, depending on your location and circumstances. Ask your Urban Design experts what’s available in your area. In California, even some county and city tax incentives, rebates and the total initial cost of lowering your energy bills may be discounted as much as 45%.

There are a number of ways to lower your initial solar energy system costs. A federal income tax credit equal to 30% of eligible installed cost for solar energy systems with no maximum allowable limit is available for commercial installations. Solar energy systems qualify for an accelerated depreciation schedule under the federal Modified Accelerated Cost-Recovery System (MACRS). Many renewable energy technologies are eligible for a 5 year rapid depreciation deduction on federal tax return.

For more information on tax credits refer to IRS Form 4562 and Form 3468 for information on depreciation.

Why Choose Urban Design?

Simple and Easy – We are with you every step of the way, from the initial plans to the permits and paperwork.

Save Money – Solar often cost less than energy from your average utilities, so you can save money.

Installation – Our crew has the experience and expertise to make sure your system is installed right.

The Going Green Advantage

Solar energy makes sense. It’s clean energy and it’s a premium sustainable power source. From the smallest culinary greens grower, to large crop processing or ranching operations; taking advantage of this renewable energy source allows your operation to promote the use of green technology methods. This enhances the reasons environmentally conscious buyers choose your products.

Net Metering

A solar energy system produces the most electrical power during the day. During “peak” hours when the utility rates are at their highest, you are replacing the high energy cost with your own generated solar energy. The credit you generate is then used to offset your power needs at night or when the weather prevents you from generating as much solar power.

At night, your solar system does not generate electricity. So when you need power at night, you receive energy from your utility company, and consume your credit. Your electric meter measures and tracks the difference between the amount of power you receive from the utility company and the amount of electricity you generate from your solar energy system. Your monthly statements show the net amount of electricity consumed or produced during the month. Credits and usage vary monthly and you may generate more credits during sunny months and use up the credits during other months.

Credits accumulate for up to twelve (12) months. However, most utilities are not required to pay you for excess electricity or any unused credits. Therefore, make sure to get an appropriately sized solar system to cover the energy needs of your home.

At Urban Design, we offer several high-quality generators from which to choose. While we understand that not every budget can cover a whole-house system, we offer load management solutions that are tailored to your needs.

Service for all of your plumbing installation, repair and replacement needs including: sewers and drains, Service for all your faucets, sinks, toilets, showers & tubs, waterlines, pipework, disposers, dishwashers, water heaters and septic tanks. We can do it all and no job is too small.

Urban Design specializes in home standby generators with automatic transfer switches. As PG&E outages become more common place and are estimated to last several days in certain areas, having a way to power your home becomes that much more important. Urban Design is proud to offer complete packages for home standby generators that will allow you to power and run your home as if the power never went out. This includes not just critical loads, but also your A/C and heat. Contact us today to discuss your needs and for a custom estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions And Answers

Solar is the fastest growing energy source in the world, and for good reason. Solar power offers a limitless supply of clean, safe, renewable energy for heat and power. Solar energy is more affordable, more efficient, and more reliable than ever.

Absolutely yes! A solar energy system is an investment that adds both immediate and long-term value to your home or business.

Studies have estimated that there are about $1,000 a year in energy savings, which translates to $20,000 increase in the value of a home. If you ever decide to sell your home, research shows that buyers are willing to pay a premium for a home with a solar energy system installed. With a customized renewable energy system in place from Urban Design Solar, the Return on Investment (ROI) ranges from 10-30% depending on system size, building structure and available incentives.

You can dramatically reduce your utility energy bills from the very first day your solar energy system is installed and for years to come. Solar users still draw some power from the utility grid, but at a much lower-priced rate. When you switch to solar power, you are hedging against rising utility energy rates. You can lock in low, predictable energy costs for years into the future with solar energy.

Now is really the best time to invest in a solar energy system. You can receive 30% of your solar energy system cost off your federal income taxes credit; these credits can carry forward for five years. Urban Design Solar identifies all of the qualifying programs for your solar energy system and files the required paperwork for you. Utility incentives are being rapidly allocated and federal incentives are set to expire soon. So now is the time to install a solar energy system and take advantage of current subsidies for the best immediate and long-term savings.

No. Even though your property increases in value, there is legislation that prevents your property taxes from increasing. In California, the specific legislation is Section 73 of the California Revenue and Taxation Code, which provides property tax exclusion on most types of solar energy systems, including solar power for the home.
Not in California. In California specifically, the California Solar Rights Act says that homeowners associations, governments, and other organizations can’t stop you from installing a home solar energy system. However, they may ask you to modify the design and/or location for aesthetic reasons as long as the changes don’t significantly impact solar power production (a decrease greater than 10%) or cost more than $2000.
In general, the more sun your solar energy system receives, the better return you’ll get on your money. The best roofs get several hours of sun each day, face south or southwest and don’t have too much shade. Urban Design Solar personally checks your roof and shading to make solar power cost-effective and a good investment. Urban Design Solar does this during our FREE site evaluation.
No. Solar energy systems fit seamlessly onto your building. You won’t have to buy new appliances or change your electrical outlets. Everything works just the same as it did before. When your solar energy system generates more power than your building can immediately use, your excess power flows back to the utility grid, where your meter literally spins backward! You should experience no practical changes except for one: you pay little or nothing to the utility company.
Your solar energy system requires very little maintenance. All your solar energy system requires is occasional cleaning and inspection. Urban Design Solar offers monitoring systems to ensure that your solar energy system’s array is operating at an optimal output. Solar energy monitoring systems help guarantee the best return on your investment and alert you if any part of your solar energy system is not working properly.
No. Battery systems are expensive and are not yet recommended. Most solar energy systems are connected to the utility grid, so you always have access to a power source. You never have to worry about “running out” of power. However, for properties which are located in a remote area, placing it off the grid, battery back-up systems are available if you wish to have one.
Solar energy users won’t experience any power interruptions as the two power systems (solar and the grid) automatically switch back and forth, allowing you  to draw power from the grid whenever you need it. The amount of power your solar energy system generates is a result of direct sunlight, and produces slightly less energy when the weather is cloudy. Your solar system does not produce any energy at night.
Every home and business is different. The size of your system depends on your energy needs, roof space and solar power goals. Residential solar energy systems are typically 3-10 kW, and commercial solar energy systems range from 50-500 kW for a medium sized business. Urban Design Solar works to customize the design and meet your specific needs to offset as much of your utility energy bill as you desire.
A typical solar energy system installation for a residential roof takes about 3-7 days, and a typical commercial solar energy system installation takes about 1-3 weeks from the day Urban Design Solar begins the installation. However, the length of time of the actual installation depends on the complexity of your roof and the number of solar panels that need to be installed.
Your solar energy system produces the most power during the day. During “peak” hours when the utility energy rates are at their highest, you are replacing the high cost power with your own generated solar energy. This is to your advantage because when your solar energy system generates more power than your house can use, your excess power flows back to the utility grid. The utility company credits you at the exact high rates that you would have been paying. This is referred to as net metering and can generate revenue; most utility companies pay or credit you for this power.
The location of your solar energy system has an impact on how frequently they need to be cleaned. In dusty locations it is recommended to clean your solar energy system at least twice a year. Urban Design Solar offers solar panel cleaning services for a small extra cost.
Most of the parts on your solar energy system, such as solar panels, carry manufacturer’s warranties of 25 years for performance. Other parts, such as inverters, carry 10-year warranties. Most solar energy systems can far outlast their warranties; many of the first solar energy systems installed more than 30 years ago are still going strong.
Solar energy systems are very safe. Solar energy systems are generally mounted in a low or no-traffic area, have no moving parts and are virtually maintenance free.
A building permit and inspections are required. Urban Design Solar creates a solar panel design, handles the permit process from start to finish, and creates a custom plan for your energy requirements.
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