We feel you. Ever since Elon Musk announced that Tesla would unveil a new solar roof, we’ve been all a-tingle. After all, who doesn’t love a big advancement in the solar industry? But, like you, we’re still waiting on the details, including how much these shingles will cost and when they will be available in Washington and Oregon (heck, we’re still...
Ten years ago, two guys (Andy and Reeves, hence the A&R) founded a company that was based on the crazy notion that people would want to install solar on their homes and businesses in the Pacific Northwest. It turns out that solar works really well here, just ask any of our 1,000+ customers. Like any emerging industry, solar has been through a lot of...
Washington's largest solar project is now complete. The 1.27 megawatt project sits atop the new IKEA store in Renton, which opened Wednesday. Here is the project by the numbers: 1.27 MW 3,250 solar panels 4,770 ballast trays (they hold the panels) 22 inverters 16-25 crew members, including electricians, roof techs, and general laborers 244,000-square-feet Will produce 1,261,000 kWh of electricity, the equivalent...
KidsQuest Children's Museum's new downtown Bellevue location opened to the public after more than a year of renovations. A&R Solar installed a solar energy system on the steep-pitched roof of the museum. And our installation team did it decked out in spandex superhero costumes. A&R Solar donated the system--valued at $25,000--to the museum as part of the Solarize Bellevue campaign. We must admit: It...
We get asked this question a lot, given that solar panels (aka “modules”) require intensive energy and other resources to manufacture. A subset of environmentalists question how clean and green solar actually is. In fact, Rep. Matt Manweller (R-Ellensburg) asked this question during recent testimony over the proposed solar bill HB 1048 that is working its way through the Washington...
At the end of each year, employee owners of A&R Solar make cash donations to charities that are important to them. A&R Solar now has 13 employee owners (employees are eligible for ownership after three years with the company), up from six in 2015. The organizations receiving cash donations this year are: Rainier Valley Food Bank (two owners chose this nonprofit) ...
We love talking about solar. We get to do it every day. But it’s pretty hard to stay “little picture” when discussing solar with a homeowner or a corporate sustainability executive. Eventually, conversations about renewable energy in Washington and Oregon hit a “big-picture moment,” and we end up talking about the Pacific Northwest’s favorite energy superstar: hydroelectricity. The good news is...
LEED stands for “Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.” It is a third-party rating system created by the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) to verify green buildings and encourage sustainable construction, maintenance, and operation. It’s one of the most prestigious, sought-after, and rigorous certifications in the building industry. A LEED certification signals a commitment to the sustainability, health, and well-being of...
A&R Solar has been named one of Washington's fastest growing private companies by the Puget Sound Business Journal. A&R's revenues totaled more than $12.5 million in 2015, up from $5.7 million in 2014, and just $2.8 million in 2013. The company had 41 full-time employees in January 2016, compared with 27 in 2015, 19 in 2014, and 12 in 2013. A&R specializes...
Conscious Company magazine interviewed A&R Solar CEO Reeves Clippard about the company's philosophy and growth and his vision for the future. What motivated you to make A&R an employee-owned company? RC: I worked for very small companies where I had zero ownership stake, and I worked for mega-national companies where I had zero percent stake, and in both places, there’s this trend...