In Conversation…

How did you end up at SunCommon?
I got an opportunity from a company I was working for to go to Minnesota and launch the first ever community solar program. Meanwhile, New York was considering the same thing. So that’s what brought me here. At a SunCarnival event, I met Jake [from SunCommon] and he was like, “Hey, do you know anything about solar? We’re hiring.” I saw your videos online, and I was like, “Yeah, there’s something different about SunCommon.” Three years later, here I am. With the experience that I had, I could have chosen where I wanted to go and who I wanted to work with. And I chose SunCommon very specifically. I’ve never been around a company that does business the way that we do it. I think the B Corp certification has a lot to do with that.

Why does solar make sense to you?
Ultimately, this is just a smarter way to buy energy. If we think about the relationship we have with the utility companies, it’s not a good purchase agreement that we’re all locked into. So financially speaking, whether I work for a solar company or not, this is a cheaper and smarter way to purchase electricity for my home. Once I understood how solar worked, and I understood how it compared to buying power from the utility, it made sense to me. And so what I do is try to help that make sense for other people. I feel like once people get that, it makes the decision for the customer, which is always fun.

And then you went solar yourself!
Every house is different. Every farm is different. You know, every need is different. Part of what I love doing is helping home and business owners find the most efficient way to go solar. And I did the same thing for my house. For me, it made more sense to use a higher wattage panel to maximize the power produced per square foot.

What does your solar mean for you?
The goal here is net-zero. All of the energy consumed here I want to come from the [solar array], and it’s sized accordingly. So I’ve got a geothermal system, and all my yard equipment is battery operated. No gasoline, just battery powered, charged from solar panels. That sunlight is falling from the sky and energy is being put into my car as we speak. Every morning when I come out now, I go, “Yep, I’m harvesting sunlight!” How cool is that?!

By the Numbers

Solar Type
Rooftop

System Size
19.00 kW

Estimated Annual Production
15,390 kWh