[RE-wrenches] Problem with NABCEP ad

[Keith Cronin]

There is alot of debate in the air about NABCEP here locally.
Many folks would need to fly to CA to take the exam which is expensive and many 
here don't see alot of value and I'll tell you a few reasons why...

1. With 150 entities performing solar work in some capacity and probably 1500+ - 
installers, the work is really split into 2 camps:
a. Mechanical work- this work seems to be mounting, racking, lugging modules- 
atypical laborer work on jobs.
b. Electrical- grounding, conduit etc.

Most of these entities either have in house engineering or farm this out to 
other firms. Many integrators are fairly good at following drawings and the 
installations
seem to be getting more streamlined, as the industry "grows up".
Yes, there needs to be another set of eyes to ensure the systems are designed 
and deployed correctly, but I must say even the local inspectors are often
ill trained and unfamiliar with understanding what they're tasked to look at.

There are also many companied popping up across the country, diving into the 
gold rush. It is the typical general contractor- subcontractor (electrical 
company that does PV) relationship.
Most EC's don't have marketing and sales dept's and seem content to just do the 
installations only.

So, while I applaud the NABCEP idea, we first need the inspectors to know what 
they're inspecting, as anything kinda goes here. (Bill Brooks has been out here 
and the inspectors can't agree even to what the standards are from town to town, 
island to island). The fiefdoms run amok.....wild west.
Throw in the flight, hotel etc for the Hawaii contingency, and its a tough sell 
in our banana republic.

Within the next 5 years, I see AC panels for the residential market which will 
potentially minimize alot of the calcs we are used to doing.
This will make things like HVAC and will be relegated to appliances on the roof.
Like Jason suggests, the sales people will be able to convince the homeowners. 
On the commercial side, it won't matter as much, as the integration company or a 
3rd party financed project would be on the hook for installation deficiencies...



________________________________
From: Jason Szumlanski <Jason at fafcosolar.com>
To: RE-wrenches <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Sun, February 6, 2011 10:05:48 AM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Problem with NABCEP ad

We have one Entry Level NABCEP employee. I, myself, am not certified. In
our neck of the woods I have never heard of any prospective customer
asking our sales reps if we are NAPCEP certified. Not one. Even our most
inquisitive and well-read customers are not very concerned with
certifications. They want to know our *references* and *experience*.

All else being equal, would customers likely hire a recent NABCEP
certified installer with 5 years experience and 100kW under their belt
or a non-certified installer with 15 years of experience and 1mW? NABCEP
can advertise whatever they want (darned 1st amendment). But good solar
salespeople will always have a way to counter the certification
argument.

I know of at least one NABCEP certified installer in my area. In fact,
he's probably reading this right now. I've seen his work. He's a great
installer. He may be one of the most experienced and capable installers
in our area. But I don't think he's getting lots of jobs because of his
certification, per se, at least for now... I could be wrong; and if I
am, maybe I'll see you in NABCEP training soon!

Jason Szumlanski
Fafco Solar


-----Original Message-----
From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of
wirewiz at gmail.com
Sent: Sunday, February 06, 2011 8:13 AM
To: re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
Subject: [RE-wrenches] Problem with NABCEP ad

Hello Wrenches,

NABCEP has a full page ad in Home Power magazine that tells potential PV
buyers to "Insist on a NABCEP Certified Installer". That's a great ad if
you
are certified but not so good if you are not. I know many of you are but
lots of us are not yet certified. 

NABCEP is doing a great job to ensure that PV is installed by qualified
personal but is it their job to unintentionally cause non NABCEP
certified
installers who are otherwise very qualified to lose business. I don't
think
so. 

I contacted NABCEP about the consequences of this ad and actually asked
them
to stop running it or at least tone it down so it doesn't cause
installers
like to me to lose business. They disagreed with me.

Am I being too sensitive here?

Thank you.

Larry Liesner
Wirewiz
Westport, CT
Phone: 203-644-2404
Fax: 203-557-0556
wirewiz at gmail.com
www.wire-wiz.com
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