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. (more…)

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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. (more…)

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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. (more…)

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