If you haven’t discovered SolarMax yet, now is your chance. In an industry full of beginners, SolarMax Technology, Inc. has been breaking ground for 10 years running, offering some of the best deals on solar installations that we at CalFinder have ever seen. The company makes it a point to excel at every link of the solar chain, from panel manufacturing to turnkey service.

That excellence shows in the impressive list of SolarMax partnerships. SolarMax was the first company to be approved as a solar vendor for Home Depot, helping to found the store’s solar department and becoming their full sales and integration partner. “It’s all about relationship-building with Solarmax,” said Sales Director Guillermo Santomauro. “Working with industry leaders allows us to pass those advantages on to homeowners.” SolarMax has also been working with BP Solar for eight years now and is one of only 25 vendors of the acclaimed SunPower panels.

Partnerships such as these are earned through experience and expertise. In just 10 years, SolarMax has grown to a full-fledged industry competitor, with employees handling everything from manufacturing to installation. Everyone is well-rounded in solar and all engineers are NABCEP-certified, a must for reputable installers. SolarMax does residential, commercial, wholesale, government and non-profits, including a special relationship with tribal governments as they work to become self-sufficient.

While other companies are just getting their feet wet in the home solar business, SolarMax is well-seasoned and branching out. “We’re not limited to our footprint here in SoCal,” said Santomauro. “We go anywhere.” The company is now working on a 1.2 MW project in New Jersey and even a 5 MW deal in China.

In the end, however, any accolades and company growth stem from one key ingredient: customer service. There’s not too much maintenance involved in solar panels, but SolarMax has an entire department set up to deal with post-installation relations with clients. “I have clients who call me for holidays and to say hello,” noted Santomauro. “The solar installation with SolarMax is handled by your one person – your sales consultant. They’ll be with you throughout the entire process.” It’s important to note that price is not everything, it’s the level of service combined with a phenomenal price, that’s the winning combination.

In 2000, most Americans didn’t even know what a solar panel looked like, but thanks to enviro-active citizens and companies like SolarMax, solar is set to become a primary power source of the future.

Photo Credit: The Breakthrough

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The Sonoma County Energy Independence Program has brought a flood of solar companies into the area with an outstanding solar program. It works like this: Sonoma funds the initial installation, and from there, property owners pay off the system with property taxes. This format has been gaining popularity with municipalities throughout California, and for good reason. It saves the homeowner money up-front, helps meet renewable energy and carbon reduction goals, and is an excellent way to give the taxpayers what they really want: greener options.

Real Goods Solar of Hopland and San Rafael; Sequoia Solar of San Diego; and Solar Universe, California’s first solar installer franchise, are three newcomers to the Sonoma market. Sequoia Solar completed 15 projects in six weeks and is already looking to expand its presence in the area. Most Sonoma sales are residential and SCEIP-funded at an average of 5 kW of production per installation.

Solar Universe is based in Livermore and works just like a franchise, something heretofore unheard of in the solar installer business. The Sonoma branch of Solar Universe already has six employees, all local, and with solar installation experience among them.

Sonoma has even attracted start-ups like Westcoast Solar Electric, founded by two former project managers for Akeena Solar. Shortly after it was formed, Santa Rosa’s Akeena team jumped ship as well, and Westcoast Solar now has 14 employees. According to one of the founders, Westcoast Solar was profitable the minute it opened its doors, even though the Sonoma consumer base tends to research its purchases well before committing to an installer.

Perhaps the biggest advantage for Sonoma County, as a whole, are the jobs being created by the SCEIP. This is a big part of the dream for renewable energies – to provide a new and expanding job base for a job-starved economy.  Sonoma County and a few other California areas, are proving that it’s more than just a dream. I expect this type of program to continue gaining popularity nationwide and to make it easier than we anticipated for the country to overcome heavy investment in fossil fuels.

* It’s important to note that many current residential solar panel installers have prior roofing or electrical experience. In fact, many of these business are the ones making the switch to solar installation because they have many of the same skills under their belts.

Source: NorthBayBusinessJournal.com

Photo Credit: 1BOG & Daily Apple

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Competition is heating up on the PV solar system market. Everyone is racing to produce panels that save money immediately, provide reliable performance and look good on homes. A solar panel that is attractive and delivers more reliable power for everyday savings is every homeowner’s dream. With Andalay integrated solar power systems, it seems that somebody has finally figured it out.

That somebody is Akeena Solar, a California leader in commercial and home solar installations. Akeena has developed Andalay AC, a patented solar electric system that delivers decades of savings through reliable performance, and yet offers a sleeker and more attractive look. And unlike ordinary solar systems, Andalay’s design allows homeowners to easily add on more panels as electricity needs grow.

Andalay is a built-in solar panel. Connectors, grounding, racking system and the inverter are all built into the panel. Andalay panels require 80% fewer rooftop-assembled parts than standard systems and 25% fewer roof penetrations to install. Fewer parts signify a longer-lasting panel, while fewer roof penetrations inherently make the system more weatherproof. At the heart of Andalay solar panels are high-efficiency monocrystalline solar cells.

In fact, Akeena’s Andalay solar panels were recently named a breakthrough product of 2009 by Popular Mechanics Magazine alongside the Palm Pre and a new Ford engine.

Other benefits of Andalay Solar systems include:

• Attractive, all-black surface that complements your home
• Built-in racking, wiring and grounding improve reliability
• Award-winning technology that outperforms ordinary solar panels on cloudy days and shady areas
• Maximized performance from each panel for more everyday savings
• Web-based monitoring

Andalay panels have an output tolerance within 3% of specification and electricity production that is warranted for 25 years.

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Now, there’s plenty of “yelping” going on about solar energy across the greater blogosphere. But what do real Yelpers have to say about it? In an effort to find out, we canvassed Yelp reviews of solar contractors in cities across the country. For solar, when reviews are given, they are generally positive, with only a few negative exceptions. Furthermore, the highest density of reviews come out of the San Francisco Bay Area, which is not surprising for two reasons. One, the Bay Area is a national leader in home solar power installations and, two, Yelp.com was born there in 2004.

Photo Credit: Clean Energy Florida

Still, solar power is a global movement, and solar contractors are everywhere. Here are highlights from our nationwide Yelp search for the best gurus of solar. All of the following contractors received a four-star rating or better.

Solar Electric

Sungevity (Berkeley, 5 Stars) – Sungevity specializes in residential solar sales and installation in the Bay Area, including thorough short- and long-term cost estimates. Aaron M. of Berkeley enjoyed a “flawless experience” with Sungevity. “This is a company that cares and gets it right.”

Bobby J. of San Francisco saw Sungevity on NBC, so he gave them a call. “It took me 5 minutes to get a quote and they emailed me back within a day. It had a pic of my building [using Google Earth], and a breakdown of the financial savings.”

Buzz B. of San Francisco called Sungevity “an absolute pleasure to work with from beginning to end… Basically, if you live in SF, own your place, and can get the rebate, you’re making a huge mistake if you don’t get solar. Sungevity is the way to go.”

Katie X. of San Francisco writes, “So Sungevity provides homeowners with ‘Solar Estimates’ where they use a web 2.0-based technology to give homeowners estimates of what it would cost them to go solar. They take you through a really simple step-by-step process that is extremely helpful for someone like me who doesn’t even own a landline…”

Regrid Power (San Jose, 4 Stars) – Regrid Power handles all aspects of solar power panel installation, from sloped roofs to flat roofs to ground mounts and custom solutions. Regrid even handles solar pool heating. The company services homes and businesses throughout central and northern California.

Scoey W. of San Jose, who was hired at Regrid in 2007, yelps that, “After one year of eating and breathing solar, I have found the best company, Regrid Power. Having worked for two other well-established companies in the Bay Area…I know my words are valuable.”

Michael K. of Mountain View notes that “When looking for a photovoltaic solar installer, I interviewed 4 contractors…Regrid Power was the only contractor that gave me confidence during the sales visits that they actually know both how to run a company and install solar power systems…The high expectations I got from the sales process were fulfilled with the actual system installation.”

Jake O. of San Martin is the lone dissenter due to a poorly handled sales appointment, wherein no one from Regrid showed up. “Unfortunately, I will never know how this company does, but based on my experience, I have my doubts.”

Celestial Power (Austin, 5 Stars) – Celestial Power is proud to be a local solar energy contractor in Austin, Texas. “We live and work here,” they proclaim on the company website. Celestial Power is made up of electrical contractors who have embraced solar power. Apparently, they’ve embraced customer service as well:

Garreth W. of Austin calls Celestial Power “the solar bomb! They took care of everything from dealing with the HOA modification committee to setting up my web-based configuration so I can monitor my output remotely.”

Doryan R. adds that “these guys are great,” and Amanda K. admires the little steps Celestial Power took when installing her solar power panels: “They prepared a report for us to submit to our neighborhood association for approval…they kept a clean work site throughout the process and even tackled the detail-oriented work, such as painting the pipes to match the exterior of the house. The inspector said it was a perfect job!”

GRID Alternatives (California, 4.5 Stars) – GRID Alternatives is actually a nonprofit organization that installs solar power panels on low-income homes for free. At the same time, volunteers get a crash course in solar installation during each project…a very pleasant experience according to the following reviews.

Angie O. writes that “the best thing you’ll walk away learning is how easy it is to throw up some solar panels, connect the wires to an inverter, slap on a new electrical box and collect cash while the meter literally spins backwards on sunny days. Well, it’s not really that easy, but 2 days to do all that? Not bad.”

Jessica W. rejoices that “GRID Alternatives is what San Francisco is all about!…energy efficiency, sustainable development, community involvement…Anybody can volunteer with them and get up on a rooftop and get their hands dirty. Highly recommended!”

Joy S: “Wow! What a great volunteer op! Grid Alternatives is…one of the best-kept secrets of SF’s environmental movement for climate change. Only now that I let the cat out of the bag I’m going to have trouble booking my volunteer time slot again.” In speaking of the orientation prior to the volunteer solar installation, she writes that “…it was so packed I had to sit on the floor. Then you wait for the sign up email for the month…I had to wait a full month to get to volunteer.”

Solar Thermal

Alternate Energy Systems (Honolulu, 5 Stars) – Solar energy is big in Hawaii. It is the first state to require all new homes to install solar hot water systems, so it’s a good state for solar thermal installers, of which Alternate Energy Systems is one. Here’s what Edwin S. of Honolulu had to say:

“I’ve used Alternate Energy at 2 of my homes. Three years ago, they installed 80 and 120 gallon solar [hot] water systems…The installation was overall good…Service is fast if you call the right person. Both of my solar pumps have gone out already and both replaced for free.”

Radiant Plumbing Service (Austin, 4.5 Stars) – Radiant Plumbing Service will address anything from a dripping faucet to installing a solar water heater, and it helps that the City of Austin now offers up to $2,000 to install a solar thermal system. Radiant Plumbing gets good Yelp grades all around. While most of the Yelp reviews deal with general plumbing, which is expected given that they are a service-oriented plumbing company, Radiant is truly embracing solar power. So expect more thermal-Yelping in the future. In the meantime…

Chip A. of Austin writes that, “After Yelping for a quality Austin plumber, I contacted several to get quotes…Radiant Plumbing ended up being one of the friendliest and most reasonable on the phone, and was able to get a plumber out quite quickly.”

Liz J. of Redwood City, CA: “Radiant did go out of their way to understand the situation and offer much-needed help. Thank you Radiant Plumbing!”

310 Solar (Albuquerque, 5 Stars) – 310 Solar handles it all, from home construction to solar electric and thermal installations. Based in sunny New Mexico, 310 is happily riding the solar wave through the high desert. Heather B. of Albuquerque has this to say on Yelp:

“This place really is New Mexico’s leading provider of solar energy. If you are looking for a solar [electric] or thermal installation in your home, call them! They are very informed, educated and direct…They are the best, I am very happy with my system!!”

And the Yelps Grow Louder…

Yelp is a networking site that provides localized online search capabilities for consumers. Simply enter a keyword or phrase (i.e. “solar”) and a location (city, state, zip code, even neighborhood), and up pops a list of matching local businesses with a star rating (1-5) and written reviews by customers.

Yelp.com is a fast-growing network. More than 25 million people access Yelp reviews each month, which is especially notable considering that Yelp expanded beyond its San Francisco home only last year. And the more people that use Yelp, the better it gets. Such is the power of the Web 2.0 revolution; it puts power in the hands of the people, who are gladly using it. In that respect, Yelp is reminiscent of a certain renewable resource with a rather “bright” future. You may have heard someone yelping about it.

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Home solar power is an investment. An investment in clean energy, a clean environment and the satisfaction of low or no utility bills. Residential solar power is the driving force behind the solar movement in the United States. While large-scale solar power hovers in environmental controversy, small-scale solar systems continue to flourish.

So there’s no shortage of residential solar installers offering their professional services to homeowners across the country. Those of us in California, New Jersey, Massachusetts and the ever-growing number of solar states are well aware of that fact. But regardless of where we live, when we choose to make the solar leap, we want to find the right kind of residential solar installer.

Solar installers are much like any remodeling contractor but with a more specialized talent. Still, you want experience, quality and a robust knowledge of the several variables involved in solar power installations today. That includes technical as well as financial details. The latter varies widely by region.

Tax Incentives

There are some stark differences between tax incentives for commercial and residential systems. Many installers are well aware of both, but extensive and credible experience in handling residential systems can’t hurt. You’ll find that residential installers are happy to advertise their expertise in that field.

Are They Registered with the State?

Registration with state and/or federal entities is also important. To qualify for tax incentives and rebates, most states require that your contractor is registered with the state government as a qualified installer. This accomplishes a few things. Firstly, it assures the state that it isn’t handing out money for poorly handled installations. Secondly, it acts as security for homeowners. If your solar installer is registered with the state, you can feel confident that you have, in fact, found the right kind of solar contractor.

A Pro By Any Other Name…

As I mentioned earlier, a solar installer is a contractor like any other. References, honesty, expertise and a presence in the community all contribute to the right kind of residential solar installer. Fortunately, solar power is an exciting, fast-growing industry in a time when environment is a major concern for everyone. In other words, being a solar installer is something to be passionate about, which creates a large – not to mention competitive – pool of solar installers for homeowners to choose from.

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There are many ways to become a PV system installer, but some are certainly better than others. Regardless of the path you choose, you’ll eventually want to work towards National Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) certification.  The NABCEP is the highest level of certification available in the United States.

Benefits of NABCEP Certification for Installers and Consumers

For installers:

• Identifies installers as professionals, instilling consumer confidence in their work
• Validates extra resources spent on training and gaining experience
• Allows for installer mobility as the market moves from state to state
• Allows installers to distinguish their skills and experience in the field

For consumers:

• Provides a means to identify qualified installers, promoting confidence in the work performed
• Preserves consumer choice, maintaining access to both certified and uncertified installers

Solar Experience, Education or Both?

To meet NABCEP eligibility requirements, you’ll need a combination of experience and though it’s not required, you’ll likely need some education as well.  Paths towards certification vary.  For instance, you could get a job at a regional company that installs solar panels and work your way into a “responsible” position (click here for the NABCEP definition of responsible) in the installation process at that company.  Or, you can go to school, where during your training, you must install a few solar systems adequately to meet NABCEP eligibility requirements.  You can also receive certification from online courses. The NABCEP website states that it will accept online training toward certification, provided it meets the requirements.

Will Your Boss Cover the Costs?

There is one other way you can break into the solar industry and that is by obtaining a job at an established retailer, wholesaler or other like company.  Alternative Energy Engineering, a wholesaler based in Redway, CA, offers to pay for some, if not all, of its employees’ training, doubtless because that employee or retailer’s stock instantly skyrockets in the company.

There is also a group called the Institute for Sustainable Power Quality (ISPQ).  The ISPQ is a benchmarking organization which assures attendees at renewable energy schools that they are being taught what they need to know, as ISPQ deems fit for the energy career.  The guidelines for ISPQ certification seem strict. An overview of their process can be viewed here.  Just because a school or workshop is not ISPQ certified does not mean it’s invalid training or unrecognized by NABCEP, but it does mean you should research any organization you are considering paying to train you.

Solar Workshops, Seminars and Online Courses

Hands-On Workshops Across U.S.

Solar Energy International is one of the leading organizations to offer hands-on training in set locations, as well as online classes.  This group holds workshops in Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, New York, New Jersey, Utah, North Carolina, Hawaii and more. Check the course schedule here.  I have a friend who took this class and said it was extremely helpful for his job in the solar industry.  Book early – the classes fill up fast.

California

GCI is based in California. They have locations in both San Francisco and Southern California.  For CA residents, this is a school that may interest you.

The Solar Living Institute is a company based in Hopland, California (about two and half hours north of San Francisco, near Ukiah).  The website says that they are planning to offer online workshops this fall. They currently hold workshops in Ukiah, South San Francisco and a few Northern California locations.  These workshops do some hands-on training, which would likely qualify towards NABCEP certification eligibility.

Boots on the Roof’s mission is to train the next wave of Renewable Energy Contractors, Engineers, Architects, Sales Professionals and Business Entrepreneurs. For Contractors, our Solar PV & Solar Thermal Boot Camps cover design & installation topics for residential and small commercial solar electric and solar hot water projects. (Disclosure: CalFinder works with Boots on the Roof in educating new solar pros.)

New York, Philadelphia, Chicago

SolarTraining.com holds seminars that typically focus on Solar Thermal and PV Training.  They offer significant group discounts for reservations of four or more.

Colorado

Colorado residents can also check out the Solar Energy Industry Training Program at Arapahoe Community College Corporate Learning Division. They offer a Photovoltaic (PV) Program and Solar Thermal (Hot Water) Program.

Online Training

Training4Green.com is an online school accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC).  They offer online courses, which can be a serious boon to those already working and without time to dedicate towards training for a career change.  Plus, they have achieved accreditation as a school and at least some of their courses satisfy NABCEP requirements for education (you’ll still need hands-on installations to sit for the test).

Ontility.com provides online training in accordance with NABCEP and ISPQ standards.  This site also claims that some of its courses are eligible for continuing education credits as well.

Green Career Search

Once you reach certification, you may find you’re able to branch out from PV installations since there are so many options in this growing industry.  If that’s the case, you can check out Great Green Careers.  It’s a nationwide searchable database of green industry jobs.  And if you’re definitely becoming a PV installer, browse the website anyway.  You may find an area where your skills are in top-dollar demand.

Photo Credits: CSI West,

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Photo credit: juanpol

Solar energy installations require a skill set all their own or, more accurately, a unique combination of several skills. A solar contractor is at once an electrician, plumber, and carpenter. Not that these aren’t highly specialized occupations. Both require a license. But that’s not all there is to a solar contractor.

Behind every good contractor is a good set of tools, and in the case of a solar thermal installer, that is a wide set of tools. It seems little attention is paid to the solar installer’s toolbox. I suppose sometimes we tend to think that a solar installer already knows better, but that is ignoring a whole new generation growing up with solar energy on the mind, in the classroom, and quite possibly as their best bet for a successful future.

Perhaps that’s what our good friends at Sun Volt Solar had in mind when they posted their comprehensive list of tools for the solar thermal installer. The highlights include everything from a claw hammer to a pipe wrench to a volt meter. For the full list, see the Sun Volt article here. And here’s to solar installers past, present, and future.

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You know times are hard for the solar industry when big time players like SunPower Corp are reporting quarterly net losses. Yet that is exactly what happened in April as SunPower and other solar companies prepare for a bleak year. On the silicon side of things, major manufacturer MEMC posted a slight profit in the quarter, but sales slid 57 percent nonetheless.

Historical Growth Hits Rough Patch

What does all this mean for the solar contractors out there eagerly awaiting projects to come? That the solar industry is a part of the economy like every other industry and that hard times mean hard times, even for an industry that has been growing by an average of about 40% over the last several years. That is not to say that all is lost, however. Solar contractors, and their industry as a whole, is by all measures in a relatively good spot.

Photo Credit: greenforall.org

Lost Demand, Surplus Supply, and High Up-Front Costs

Lost demand affects everyone in the industry, from manufacturers to installers, but so do federal tax incentives and funding for renewable energy. Furthermore, the sudden surplus in supply of solar equipment is likely to have a beneficial impact on the industry in the long term. For contractors, one of the hardest parts of the job is convincing customers that $25,000 is a worthy up-front investment. At this point, even the banks need convincing of that.

Yet lower panel production costs, and therefore lower costs out of the box for homeowners, makes that job a little easier. Combine that with lucrative state and federal incentives, the invaluable pride of going green, and volatile energy costs. What you end up with is a winning hand, albeit one that may not be ready to play just yet.

Solar Set for Take-Off

Solar may have a down year this year, but I would expect it to play as well or better than other industries. The U.S. solar industry is finally poised for takeoff, awaiting eagerly a turn of the tide. The integral ingredients are almost all there (a national feed-in tariff might just blow the lid off this thing) and the industry is predicted to double or better in the next few years.

That may not help struggling contractors this year, but bear in mind that federal tax incentives are already in place — cap free — stimulus money should help states struggling with funding their own incentive programs and summer is on the way.

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Photo credit: Pure Energy Systems

Life in the desert is either paradise or some super-heated purgatory, depending on the time of year. One thing that deserts are consistent about is sunshine, making them the epitome of prime locations for solar energy. Many of the USA’s leading solar states, including California, Arizona, and New Mexico all contain large portions of desert landscape. That is no coincidence.

With so much sunlight going on in the Southwest it is of the utmost importance to know your local solar contractors. Solar power simply cannot make more sense anywhere else. So with that in mind, here are five Calfinder-certified solar contractors that make their home or thrive on work in the desert. Check out the links for more information and free estimates.

Photo credit: Pure Energy Systems
• Performance Solar Inc. While based in Escondido, Performance Solar is active throughout California’s Mojave Desert cities, from Palm Springs to Joshua Tree.
• Humbert Construction is your one-stop for home remodeling, whether it be a new bathroom or a solar energy system. Humbert, based near the Colorado-New Mexico border, ventures deep into the New Mexico’s deserts to deliver solar power.
• Smartworld Energy Inc. Residents of San Antonio and sunny west Texas enjoy a healthy portion of sunlight. Smartworld Energy is there to deliver that sunlight in the form of electricity.
• Helio Power. Yet another California solar contractor venturing into nature’s extreme deserts to harness solar energy.
• Pure Energy Systems calls Bakersfield, California its home. Bakersfield, being the third sunniest city in the United States, is an ideal location to branch into solar energy systems.

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As the solar industry grows, so CalFinder Solar grows, along with our pool of certified solar contractors. We are happy to provide homeowners with access to pre-screened solar contractors at all points of the compass. Here are links to just five of the many solar contractors that exemplify our vision of prosperous, coast-to-coast residential solar power.

EAST

Build America. This 23-year old Boston area company prides itself on an all-around, all-inclusive approach to building and solar installations, from attending zoning board meetings to designing, engineering, and constructing residential homes and solar power systems.

WEST

Light Energy Systems represents just one of many solar contractors in the greater Bay Area. Yet this Contra Costa company is unique by way of its relative old age. Nearly 30 years old, Light Energy Systems is a “one stop shop for solar,” providing just about any solar application you can think of, from solar electricity to solar pool heating.

NORTH

Solar Liberty Energy Systems. Headquartered in Niagara County, New York, Solar Liberty Energy Systems reaches far beyond that. Not only do they operate in every state but the company goes beyond just solar and into wind and fuel cell technology as well.

SOUTH

Florida Pool Heating is the oldest and largest pool heating company in the state of Florida. The Broward-based company, which handles all aspects of pool heating, including Florida’s burgeoning solar pool heating sector, is still family-owned and boasts a better than 98 percent customer satisfaction rating.

MIDWEST

SolSource, Inc. Just east of the Rocky Mountains in Denver, SolSource designs and installs solar electric systems across the state of Colorado. A company that prides itself on diversity, SolSource handles solar systems, energy efficiency and all other aspects of green building.

Need a solar contractor in your area? Contact CalFinder Solar today for free estimates from local, pre-screened professionals.

Photo features: SolSource Inc.

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