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Highlight Solar vs Modern Air
Santa Clara Electrical Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
You're comparing two veteran contractors in completely different trades—Highlight Solar installs solar systems while Modern Air handles heating and cooling.
| Highlight Solar | Modern Air | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.8 | ★ 5.0 |
| Years Licensed | 15 years | 17 years |
| License # | 960376 | 935704 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | San Jose, CA | Morgan Hill, CA |
| Website | www.highlightsolar.com | modernairco.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Highlight Solar
Customers emphasize Highlight Solar's detailed consultation process, competitive pricing after comparing multiple solar bids, and smooth coordination through permitting and utility approval stages.
Modern Air
Customers highlight Modern Air's same-day emergency availability, honest diagnostic approach without unnecessary upselling, and clear explanations of technical HVAC problems.
Key Takeaway: Highlight Solar customers focus on the deliberative design and quoting phase of solar projects, while Modern Air customers emphasize rapid response times for urgent heating and cooling failures.
Customer Reviews
Highlight Solar
We met with multiple solar companies and settled on Highlight due to both the great recommendations as well as our experience during the initial process. We asked a LOT of questions, then we asked mor...
Highly recommend
I can't say enough about the outstanding service we get from Highlight Solar. The team is incredible. Organized, responsive, skillful, reliable and nice! Every communication was clear from the start. ...
Modern Air
We replaced all of our asbestos-wrapped ductwork and installed a new heat pump system in late October. The entire Modern Air team did a great job with this relatively large project. Andrew, the owner...
Outstanding! Professional! Efficient! Great communications! Same day service. Texts and emails confirming all communications. Installation several days later. A special thanks to Billy, Alfredo and hi...
Alfredo was professional and courteous, and so was the previous person who came out for quote. Modern Air does a great job with their client communications, and their cost is reasonable.
Consider Highlight Solar if...
- ✓ Consider Highlight Solar if you're installing a solar panel system, adding battery backup for power outages, or expanding an existing solar installation in the San Jose or Santa Clara County area.
- ✓ Consider them if you value detailed consultation on system sizing and energy offset calculations, as customers consistently mention thorough explanations during the design process.
- ✓ Consider them if you're comparing multiple solar quotes and want a contractor with a no-pressure sales approach and transparent pricing structure.
- ✓ Consider them if your project involves complex permitting or utility coordination, as customers report smooth handling of inspection and approval processes.
Consider Modern Air if...
- ✓ Consider Modern Air if you need furnace or air conditioning repair, full HVAC system replacement, heat pump installation, or ductwork services in the Morgan Hill or broader Santa Clara County area.
- ✓ Consider them if you have an urgent heating or cooling failure and need same-day service availability, as customers frequently mention responsive scheduling for emergency situations.
- ✓ Consider them if you're concerned about being oversold on HVAC services, as their reviews emphasize honest diagnostics and multiple repair options rather than pushing expensive replacements.
- ✓ Consider them if you own an older home requiring specialized work like asbestos-wrapped duct removal, where their 17 years of experience with legacy systems provides relevant expertise.
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → If contacting Highlight Solar for solar work, ask for a detailed breakdown of equipment specifications, expected energy production, and total project timeline including utility interconnection.
- → If contacting Modern Air for HVAC work, ask about their diagnostic fee structure, whether it's applied to repair costs, and what their maintenance membership includes for long-term system care.
- → For either company, request references from projects completed in the past year that match your specific scope of work and home characteristics.
The Bottom Line
This comparison only makes sense if you have two unrelated projects planned. For solar panel installation, battery backup, or electrical work related to energy generation, contact Highlight Solar—their 15 years of solar-specific experience and consultation approach serve that need well. For furnace repair, air conditioning issues, system replacements, or ductwork problems, contact Modern Air—their 17 years of HVAC expertise and same-day service availability address those concerns. Both are properly licensed, insured veteran contractors in Santa Clara County, but they operate in completely different trades. If you're trying to decide between solar and HVAC as competing budget priorities, that's a different decision about home improvement ROI rather than contractor selection.
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Frequently Asked Questions
You likely shouldn't be unless you're planning two separate projects. These companies serve entirely different needs—one installs energy generation systems while the other maintains climate control equipment. If you received both names from a general contractor recommendation or directory search, clarify which specific project you're prioritizing this week and focus your comparison on contractors within that trade.
No. Highlight Solar specializes exclusively in solar installations and doesn't perform HVAC work. Modern Air focuses on heating and cooling systems and doesn't install solar panels. If you're considering solar and need HVAC upgrades to accommodate increased electrical load or want to coordinate both projects, you'll need to hire both companies separately or find contractors who can recommend qualified partners in the other trade.
No. While both are veteran contractors with comparable licensing, bonding, and insurance, their 15-17 years of experience apply to completely different skill sets. Highlight Solar's expertise in solar permitting, electrical panel upgrades, and battery integration doesn't translate to diagnosing furnace problems. Modern Air's knowledge of heat pump sizing and ductwork design doesn't qualify them to design photovoltaic systems. Experience length matters, but trade-specific experience matters more.
Yes, coordination is important because solar installations can affect your home's electrical capacity and HVAC systems impact your overall energy consumption calculations. Ask each contractor if they're willing to communicate with the other about load requirements and electrical panel capacity. Highlight Solar will need to know your HVAC system's electrical draw for proper solar system sizing, while Modern Air should understand if you're planning solar when recommending high-efficiency equipment.
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See our ranked list of top electrical contractors in Santa Clara.
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How We Compare Contractors
License Verification
All license data is sourced from official California CSLB records and verified regularly.
Review Analysis
Customer reviews are aggregated from Google and analyzed to identify patterns in service quality.
Detailed Comparison
We analyze credentials, insurance, experience, and feedback to highlight meaningful differences.
Not all licensed contractors are created equal. While a valid license is the baseline requirement in California, contractors can vary significantly in experience, insurance coverage, and customer satisfaction.
- Experience matters: A contractor with 15+ years of experience has likely encountered and solved problems that newer contractors haven't faced yet.
- Workers' compensation protects you: If a contractor without workers' comp insurance has an employee injured on your property, you could be held liable.
- Reviews reveal patterns: Individual reviews can be misleading, but patterns across many reviews often reveal a contractor's true strengths and weaknesses.
- Bond amounts vary: A contractor's bond provides financial protection if they fail to complete work as agreed. Higher bonds offer more protection.
Taking time to compare contractors on these factors can save you from costly mistakes and help ensure your project is completed by a qualified professional.
Data Sources: License information from California CSLB. Ratings and reviews from Google. Last verified March 12, 2026.
This comparison is based on publicly available information. We recommend getting multiple quotes and verifying all credentials directly before hiring.
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