New Bundle Announcement: Residential Solar Service Technician Training Package The need for experienced and knowledgeable solar service technicians is growing quickly to keep pace with residential solar deployment. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the residential solar market experienced its 6th consecutive record year in 2022, growing… Continue reading “New Bundle Announcement: Residential Solar Service Technician Training Package”
2023 NEC Article 706.15 – Clarifying ESS Emergency Shutdown In 2022, the National Fire Protection Administration (NFPA) released the 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC). Updating the code every 3 years allows for clarification and correction of unintended consequences or gaps in the regulations. Article 706.15 in the 2023 NEC… Continue reading “2023 NEC Article 706.15 – Clarifying ESS Emergency Shutdown”
Many Companies Already Meet the Requirements for NABCEP Company Accreditation – Here’s the Guide on How to Get It Done As the U.S. continues to install more solar than any other new generation source, the role of quality solar installation companies cannot be overstated. With the growing demand, the need for skilled and qualified professionals in the industry has become… Continue reading “Many Companies Already Meet the Requirements for NABCEP Company Accreditation – Here’s the Guide on How to Get It Done”
The Ultimate Guide to Launching your Solar Career with the NABCEP PV Associate Credential The PV Associate is the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners’ (also known as NABCEP – pronounced NAB-cəp – not with each letter spelled out) entry-level credential. It is intended for folks newer to the solar industry, students in… Continue reading “The Ultimate Guide to Launching your Solar Career with the NABCEP PV Associate Credential”
New NABCEP PV Technical Sales Prep Bundles are Live on HeatSpring to Meet Updated NABCEP Requirements In November 2022, NABCEP announced that they were updating the recertification and exam requirements for the PV Technical Sales (PVTS) Certification to align with changes in the industry. The old eligibility option is no longer available after August 31, 2023. … Continue reading “New NABCEP PV Technical Sales Prep Bundles are Live on HeatSpring to Meet Updated NABCEP Requirements”
New Free Webinar + NABCEP CEU: 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) Updates for the Solar Industry Every 3 years, the National Fire Protection Administration (NFPA) publishes the latest National Electrical Code (NEC). Like clockwork for each code cycle, HeatSpring instructors Sean White and Bill Brooks review the code changes, update their book on PV and the… Continue reading “New Free Webinar + NABCEP CEU: 2023 National Electrical Code (NEC) Updates for the Solar Industry”
The Importance of Quality Management on Utility Scale Solar Sites Early in my career, before I switched into Project Management, I had the opportunity to lead the Quality department for a leading US-based EPC company – DEPCOM Power. Prior to this, I’d not seen myself as a Quality guy –… Continue reading “The Importance of Quality Management on Utility Scale Solar Sites”
What’s It Take to Get the NABCEP PV Installation Professional Certification? The NABCEP PV Installation Professional Certification is considered the gold standard for PV certifications. It’s renowned for being challenging. Many skilled installers take more than one shot to successfully pass it. It carries weight and holding the esteemed PV Installation… Continue reading “What’s It Take to Get the NABCEP PV Installation Professional Certification?”
What is All This Water Doing in the Inverter? – What Can Happen When Rooftop Conduit Fittings Are Improperly Installed While it may seem like a minor detail to new solar installers, using the wrong conduit fittings, or installing the right ones incorrectly, can have disastrous consequences. Conduit fittings are used to connect sections of electrical conduit, which protect and… Continue reading “What is All This Water Doing in the Inverter? – What Can Happen When Rooftop Conduit Fittings Are Improperly Installed”
Time to Recertify Your NABCEP Professional Certification? – A Comprehensive Guide You met all the qualifications. You completed the application. You studied and – most importantly – you passed your NABCEP certification exam! Now that you’ve done the hardest part, it’s time to recertify and maintain your NABCEP professional certification. Here’s… Continue reading “Time to Recertify Your NABCEP Professional Certification? – A Comprehensive Guide “
Troubleshooting Isolation Faults Like a Pro Isolation faults happen on PV systems when DC current leaks to ground. It can be caused by a number of issues like damaged or pinched wires, defective optimizers, or an inverter fault. In the new Residential Field Operations & Maintenance… Continue reading “Troubleshooting Isolation Faults Like a Pro”
New Course Announcement: Residential Field Operations & Maintenance With a total of 5.9 GW of residential solar installed in the United States as of the end 2021, there is a huge growing (and glaring) need for well trained, experienced solar technicians to keep systems running smoothly and producing… Continue reading “New Course Announcement: Residential Field Operations & Maintenance”
America Sucks at Selling Solar – Why U.S. Resi Solar Prices are 2x-3x Australian Prices Before incentives and rebates, a typical 10kW residential solar system costs around $12,000 in Australia. In the U.S., pre-incentives, the same system costs almost $30,000. $18,000 difference. $1.20W vs $3.00/W. A $1.80/W problem, which I believe is almost entirely… Continue reading “America Sucks at Selling Solar – Why U.S. Resi Solar Prices are 2x-3x Australian Prices”
You Think You’re Selling Solar. You’re Actually Selling These Ten Steps Toward Solar. The tired sales phrase “always be closing” may have killed more solar deals than it ever landed. It’s not wrong, per se, but dramatically and widely, misunderstood. Early on in my solar sales career, I remember walking around believing that… Continue reading “You Think You’re Selling Solar. You’re Actually Selling These Ten Steps Toward Solar.”
OSHA 10 and Other Safety Courses Now Available with HeatSpring Safety training is often required – and arguably should always be required – to work on construction job sites. It’s also essential to qualify for most NABCEP professional certification exams. The HeatSpring community asks us all the time where to… Continue reading “OSHA 10 and Other Safety Courses Now Available with HeatSpring”
1 Free NABCEP CEU – Getting Solar for Non-Profits, Government, and Other Non-Taxpayers Join HeatSpring Solar MBA and Financial Modeling for Solar PV Projects instructor, Chris Lord, for an information packed, free course on getting solar for non-profits, government, and other non-taxpayers. Historically, federal clean energy incentives favored tax payers. Now with the… Continue reading “1 Free NABCEP CEU – Getting Solar for Non-Profits, Government, and Other Non-Taxpayers”
New Course – Selling & Developing Commercial-Industrial Solar More businesses than ever are seeking out solar energy. The reasons and benefits are seemingly endless. The Inflation Reduction Act is bolstering incentives. The rising cost of electricity is making onsite solar a more attractive investment. Consumers are preferring more… Continue reading “New Course – Selling & Developing Commercial-Industrial Solar”
Updates to NABCEP PV Technical Sales Certification – Qualification and Recertification NABCEP has recently announced changes to the PV Technical Sales (PVTS) exam qualification and recertification requirements to align with changes in the industry and the other NABCEP professional certifications. These changes will go into effect November 1st, 2022. The current… Continue reading “Updates to NABCEP PV Technical Sales Certification – Qualification and Recertification”
1 NABCEP CEU – New Free Course – Qualifying Commercial Solar Leads & Projects Anyone who’s made the leap from residential to commercial solar sales can tell you – it’s a different beast. With multiple decision makers and various motivating factors, the commercial and industrial (C&I) sales process takes longer and is more complex. … Continue reading “1 NABCEP CEU – New Free Course – Qualifying Commercial Solar Leads & Projects”
1 NABCEP CEU – New Free Course: Simplify Your System Design with Modern String Inverters by Fronius Like much of the equipment in the solar industry, technology found in string inverters has evolved over the past 10 years. Even just a few years ago, designers would be wary using string inverters on sites with challenging roof architecture… Continue reading “1 NABCEP CEU – New Free Course: Simplify Your System Design with Modern String Inverters by Fronius”