Solar consumers have become accustomed to the 30% tax incentive the federal government. The initial bill, known as the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), allows homeowners and business owners to deduct 30% of the cost of installing a solar energy system from their federal taxes. Even better, with the tax incentives for solar, there is no cap on the … [Read more...]
Solar Scam: HVAC and Solar Tax Credit
Last week, I answered the phone to an upset customer. Upset because a solar representative from a competing solar installation company informed them that we were not offering all the benefits from the Solar Tax Incentive. They were upset because they were sure we were not helping them save all the money we should be. We sat down with the … [Read more...]
Environmental Health: Save the World With Solar
Growing up in the 80s, the idea of saving the world was robust. There was talk of saving the whales, talk of protecting endangered species and a lot of talk about recycling. Very infrequently was there talk of solar. Why? The technology was out of reach for the average consumer. It was expensive, and it was difficult to find any sort of local … [Read more...]
Full Service Office: The Bottom Line
In this second article discussing the “bottom line” of a solar quote, we are addressing the impact of having a full-service office and store-front location. As introduced in previous articles, many customers look for the bottom line in every quote they are presented with. The final dollar amount they are committing to pay is frequently what … [Read more...]
Climate Disaster: A Global Urgency for Clean Energy
Headlines this week read, “Climate change Catastrophe” and “Dire Climate Warning” – begging the question, “Should we be concerned?” Early October came with an eye-opening report from the United Nations that the world must confront the threats of climate change to avoid looming disaster. Climate Disaster and The United Nations Report The United … [Read more...]
Solar Installer Insurance: It’s a Big Deal
In a continued discussion of how solar quotes can vary widely between companies, today the focus will be on insurance. Insurance has the reputation of being a costly expenditure for homeowners and for businesses alike. Having appropriate solar installer insurance is critical for a healthy business. Many people maintain the ideology that insurance … [Read more...]
Pet Peeve Among Solar Professionals
Solar is, admittedly, a really fun industry to work in. Solar professionals have knowledge that can be vital for making the right decisions for someone's or a business's solar energy needs. Like many industries, there is a really steep learning curve. However, once you get past it, there are opportunities to meet with like-minded people, work with … [Read more...]
Go Solar! Don’t Wait
A typical ebb and flow of business in the solar industry reflects that of the ebb and flow of excruciatingly high utility bills in the summer months. The hotter the sun beats down, the higher the utility bill – the more calls most solar shops throughout the United States will ring. Yet, as the warm summer days fade into cool afternoons and chilly … [Read more...]
Solar System Maintenance: Low Doesn’t Mean NO
One aspect of solar that most homeowners and business owners appreciate is how low-maintenance their solar PV systems really are. Solar system maintenance is minimal, but what is required can't be skipped! After the short installation process, the day-to-day functioning of a household or business returns to normal. However, to ensure longevity of … [Read more...]
Solar Powered HVAC
Before becoming a card-carrying member of the solar community, I truly did not think of the solar industry as one that was saturated with gimmicks. However, the longer I have been immersed into the world of green energy, the more I have become acquainted with the many tactics people use to make their company stand out, or to make their sales … [Read more...]
