<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Rather than sharing individual presentation examples, I did a screen recording of preparing a model in Sketchup Pro and Layout from start to finish. This is me preparing a real presentation package that will be used tomorrow at an in-house presentation by a sales rep. I ignored roof obstructions in the interest of time, but you can see in the video that I completed a viable presentation package in 10 minutes showing the maximum PV possible on a roof. The magic happens at 2:25 when the Instant Roof script does it's work. Here is a link to the video:</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style><font face="verdana, sans-serif"><a href="http://youtu.be/vs3ypUOe2_c">http://youtu.be/vs3ypUOe2_c</a></font><br>
</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">This is not sped up. I did take some minor liberties in the interest of time - I would typically spend about 5 minutes extra making sure dimensions are as accurate as possible. This particular address didn't have the sharpest imagery from Google Earth, but it was passable. I'll be well within 1' on all roof dimensions based on my past experience, and a few measurements from the ground can confirm accuracy level. I used Bing Maps to estimate a roof pitch of 5:12, which is pretty typical of the neighborhood I know this house to be within. Google street view is not available in this gated community. I assumed an 18" eave, which I generally use as a generic dimension unless I know homes in a neighborhood to have different overhangs. This home had a raised entryway and a lower beam height for the garage, so it was not the easiest home to model, but far from the hardest. I took a few minutes to set up my rendering scenes and elevations because I am anticipating this actually being used eventually for construction and permitting docs in Layout, but that's totally optional. I skipped some minor steps in Layout, too, like changing the quantity of modules in the legend. I'll go back and clean things up before sending to the sales rep. I showed off some of the shading analysis capabilities, even though it wasn't necessary for this unshaded roof.</div>
<div><br></div><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">You can see the mouse clicks, but what you don't see is my keyboard presses - I have shortcuts set up for most tools and actions to speed my workflow.</div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Preparing models from PDF or DWF plans results in a mode every bit as accurate as AutoCAD. I use essentially the same techniques. That can really blow away a homeowner (and sometimes an architect). </div>
<div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Hopefully that answers your questions about the viability of Sketchup for doing solar energy presentations!</div>
<br></div><br><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Jason Szumlanski</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Fafco Solar</div><br><div id="WISESTAMP_SIG_gmail_session" href="http://WISESTAMP_SIG_gmail_session">
<img src="http://ws-stats.appspot.com/ga/pixel.png?yes__count=true&e=legacy_impression"></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Jun 17, 2014 at 4:07 PM, Jason Szumlanski <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:jason@fafcosolar.com" target="_blank">jason@fafcosolar.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">To answer August's question regarding plugins, and as a recommendation to Daniel - you MUST use the Instant Roof plugin by Chuck Vali. It went subscription based this year, but for $39/year you get the most incredible time saver you can ever imagine. Don't take this the wrong way, and not to brag, but with Instant Roof I can duplicate Daniel's model in well under 30 minutes (assuming the solar panel component is already done).</div>
<div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Other than that, I don't use any plugins for most models. I find Skelion takes longer than just copying and moving components around, especially if you have the component dimensions memorized. Like Daniel said, templates, components, and groups makes short work of these models.</div>
<div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><br></div><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">As for rendering, I've found most options frustrating and slow, but then again I haven't invested in any pro versions. Sketchup styles can produce very convincing graphics, and using Hybrid rendering in Layout give you terrific results.</div>
<div><br></div><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Jason Szumlanski</div><div style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif">Fafco Solar</div><br><br><div href="http://WISESTAMP_SIG_gmail_session">
<img src="http://ws-stats.appspot.com/ga/pixel.png?yes__count=true&e=legacy_impression"></div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Tue, Jun 17, 2014 at 3:52 PM, Daniel Young <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:dyoung@dovetailsolar.com" target="_blank">dyoung@dovetailsolar.com</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div lang="EN-US" link="blue" vlink="purple"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">We also use Sketchup pro. If you take some time and create highly detailed templates for your commonly used equipment, then putting together an array layout can take about 5 min longer than it takes to draw up the building itself. Learning to use the components and groups functionality really saves time and lets you do high quality work pretty quickly.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">For clients that want more “polish” we bought the Maxwell render plugin for Sketchup. It lets you render your sketches in a more photorealistic manner. Here is one that I took a good amount of time making (2+hrs) and the rendering can take an hour as well if you push the resolution way up, but you can do other things while the program renders the sketch.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">With Regards,<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Daniel Young, <u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional<sup>TM</sup>: Cert #031508-90<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">NABCEP Certified Solar Heating Installer<sup>TM</sup>: Cert #SH031409-13<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"> <u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Lead Systems Designer for:<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><img width="148" height="90" src="cid:image001.jpg@01CF8A43.7253A500" alt="Dovetail 2013 cmyk 300dpi.jpg"><u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#00b050"><a href="http://www.dovetailsolar.com" target="_blank"><span style="color:#00b050">www.dovetailsolar.com</span></a><u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">Ph: <a href="tel:740-274-0139" value="+17402740139" target="_blank">740-274-0139</a></span><b><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#00b050"><u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d">We’ve completed over 310 renewable energy projects! Check out a few in our photo gallery: </span><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><a href="http://www.dovetailsolar.com/Our-Work.aspx?path=commercial+-+solar+electric" target="_blank"><span style="color:#00b050">http://www.dovetailsolar.com/Our-Work.aspx?path=commercial+-+solar+electric</span></a></span></b><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#003399"><u></u><u></u></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#92d050">This email message and attachments are intended only for the addressee. It may contain information which is legally privileged, confidential and exempt from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, you may not disclose, print, copy or disseminate this message and/or the information contained in the message. If you have received this message in error, please reply and notify the sender (only) and delete this message along with any attachments. Unauthorized interception of this email is a violation of criminal laws and laws covering electronic communications privacy matters. <u></u><u></u></span></p>
</div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1f497d"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #b5c4df 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> RE-wrenches [mailto:<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>August Goers<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, June 17, 2014 3:33 PM</span></p><div><div><br><b>To:</b> RE-wrenches<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [RE-wrenches] Proposal Sketching Tool/Software<u></u><u></u></div></div><p></p></div></div><div>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546a">Hi Jason,</span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546a"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546a">These look nice, just what we’re looking for. Do you model the buildings to 3D yourself? Do you use any plugins or just Sketchup Pro?</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546a"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546a">Best, August</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#44546a"> </span><u></u><u></u></p><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #b5c4df 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in">
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif""> RE-wrenches [mailto:<a href="mailto:re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org" target="_blank">re-wrenches-bounces@lists.re-wrenches.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Jason Szumlanski<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Tuesday, June 17, 2014 12:19 PM<br><b>To:</b> RE-wrenches<br><b>Subject:</b> Re: [RE-wrenches] Proposal Sketching Tool/Software</span><u></u><u></u></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p><div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">It depends on what you call quick, and what you consider professional looking. I've found Sketchup to be perfect for our needs. I'm usually doing low-cost solar pool heating system presentations, so speed is critical. 15-20 minutes is usually enough time for a great 5-page presentation in Sketchup Pro with Layout. On more complex roofs and for higher value projects, an hour may be required for a stellar proposal that blows away the competition.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div><div><p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""></span><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">A few low res pics are at the link below.</span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""></span><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> I do literally almost 1000 presentation packets per year. If you want to see something hi-res, hit me up off list and I'll email you an actual presentation packet.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""> </span><u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><a href="https://drive.google.com/a/fafcosolar.com/file/d/0B-Kt4aH7U2BWOXJhRXRoSV82SFE/edit?usp=sharing" target="_blank">https://drive.google.com/a/fafcosolar.com/file/d/0B-Kt4aH7U2BWOXJhRXRoSV82SFE/edit?usp=sharing</a></span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <u></u><u></u></p><div><div><div style="margin-bottom:6.0pt"><p style="margin:0in;margin-bottom:.0001pt"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Jason Szumlanski</span><u></u><u></u></p>
<div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""></span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"">Fafco Solar</span><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""></span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><br> </span><u></u><u></u></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif""><img border="0" width="1" height="1" src="https://wisestamp.appspot.com/pixview.gif?p=chrome&v=3.42.0&t=1403032727473&u=dedcb4cd140ce271"></span><u></u><u></u></p>
</div><p class="MsoNormal"><img border="0" src="http://ws-stats.appspot.com/ga/pixel.png?yes__count=true%20&e=legacy_impression"><u></u><u></u></p></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt"> <u></u><u></u></p>
<div><p class="MsoNormal">On Tue, Jun 17, 2014 at 2:54 PM, August Goers <<a href="mailto:august@luminalt.com" target="_blank">august@luminalt.com</a>> wrote:<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:12.0pt">
Hi Wrenches,<br><br>We are finding that more and more of our competitors are giving<br>prospective clients a really nice array sketch along with their proposals.<br>We have been using Google Earth and Sketchup for this but our sales reps<br>
are wondering if there is anything better out there. I am aware of<br>Pictometry but haven't been wowed by it in the past. I've also seen the<br>Bright Harvest and Skelion plugins for Sketchup but I'm not completely<br>
sold. Sometimes we punt it over to the engineering department to do a full<br>Autocad drawing but that takes time.<br><br>Does anyone have software tools that they like to provide quick but<br>professional looking array sketches for their clients during the proposal<br>
phase?<br><br>Best, August<br>_______________________________________________<u></u><u></u></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"> <u></u><u></u></p></div></div></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center">
<hr size="1" width="100%" noshade style="color:#a0a0a0" align="center"></div><p class="MsoNormal">No virus found in this message.<br>Checked by AVG - <a href="http://www.avg.com" target="_blank">www.avg.com</a><br>Version: 2012.0.2247 / Virus Database: 3955/7169 - Release Date: 06/13/14<u></u><u></u></p>
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