Solarize Campaigns are all the rage. Solarize is put out by a local non-profit (NWSEED) to help communities leverage group buying power for bulk discounts. A&R Solar was just selected as the preferred contractor by the South (Snohomish) County community group for their Solarize efforts. The first workshop is coming up soon on July 16th from 6:30-8pm at the Lynnwood...
Gov. Jay Inslee today signed an executive order outlining a series of steps to cut carbon pollution in Washington and advance development and use of clean energy technologies. “This is the right time to act, the right place to act and we are the right people to act,” Inslee said in remarks delivered at Shoreline Community College’s Professional Automotive Training Center. “We will engage...
Today would have been my dad's 71st birthday. It's hard for me to believe that he passed away 3 years ago. My dad was an incredible influence in my life. He was an entrepreneur, and thinking back it was him that inspired me to be one too. He helped me and A&R Solar through difficult times. When we started I didn't know...
Today is another full day of electrical code. It's taught by Ryan Mayfield of Renewable Energy Associates. He taught the other code class I took recently up in Renton. Washington State is moving to the National Electrical Code (NEC) 2014 in July of this year. I'm sitting in the class again because the more often I see the material the better...
I don't imagine I'll have a chance to write much about today until the conference is over. I scored one of a limited number of seats in a session with Andy Black. Andy is CEO of OnGrid Solar. He is presenting on the complexities of financial analysis of solar across all various markets in the US. Presenting this information is no easy...
I'm a sucker for continuing education. I love learning. Always. Cooking, music, writing code, solar, yes...
I just came across a press release that reminded me I've been meaning to give a big shout out to the SBA and their Emerging Leaders Initiative for a while now. In 2013, the Small Business Administration invited me to take part in the Emerging Leaders Initiative. The program was outstanding. I had the pleasure of working with an excellent executive coach....
SustainableWorks selected A&R Solar an independent solar contractor for their SustainableSolar pilot program. SustainableWorks, is a local non-profit energy efficiency program and general contractor. Homeowners that take part in the SustainableSolar program have access to low interest loans. SustainableWorks offers the loans in partnership with Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union. The SustainableSolar loan product makes it easy to finance a solar project....
I got started in my solar career back in 2005. There wasn't much of a solar industry at all, it was just getting started. Solar provided some homes in Washington “alternative energy” because there was no grid for them to connect to. For these few people hauling fuel to their cabin or island home was too difficult or expensive. Even back...
I had the privilege of spending my Friday in a code update con-ed class designed for code officials. Now you don’t know joy like sitting in a class for 8 hours dedicated to electrical code. If you can’t feel my sarcasm let me give you an example, “When the sum, without consideration of polarity, of the PV system voltages of the...