THE SOLAR POWER INSTALLERS ASSOCIATION
The Solar Power Installers Association (SPIA) is a national non-profit trade and advocacy association whose purpose is to support education, training and market penetration and installation of off grid and gridtide solar technologies through appropriate information mechanisms. The Solar Power Installers Association, established in 2016, share a common understanding of and concern in the issues facing development of the solar industry in Trinidad & Tobago.
By joining The Solar Power Installers Association (SPIA®), you will become a member of an organization that is committed to the highest installation standards for the solar energy industry. All SPIA members and companies will have to agreed to adhere to SPIA’s Code of Ethics. Our members will consist of distributors, contractors, suppliers, installers, and professionals all of whom will see the benefit in joining SPIA and working collectively toward a clean energy future. Together, we hope to continue the already impressive growth of solar energy across Trinidad & Tobago and the wider Caribbean. The Basics of Solar Energy You’ve probably heard the term before and asked yourself, “What is solar energy?” Simply put, it’s a form of energy that uses the radiation and heat from the sun and turns it into a power source for a variety of purposes. In fact, solar power can be used to do anything that we use other types of power for. At this time, though, some things are more efficient by using alternate methods. For example, scientists and researchers have been working on creating a solar powered car for a couple of decades now. Unfortunately, their current creations can’t compare to the existing automobiles that run on fuel so they aren’t very popular yet. |
Renewable energy is a rapidly growing field with opportunities for Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Installers, Solar Water Heater Installers, Solar Air Conditioner Installers and Solar Sales Professionals. The need for trained professionals in the solar energy technology is the way forward for roofers, electricians, technicians, contractors, builders and professionals, and solar system marketing executive to expand their skill sets and grow their business.
www.facebook.com/groups/solarinstallerstt/
www.facebook.com/groups/solarinstallerstt/
So you want to get solar, but how do you select a company to give you a quote? Once you have a quote or two, how do you select the company? Well, here are some questions and concerns you should consider before you sign any installation contracts.
1. Your contractor should be a registered company with a license wireman. The Electrical Inspectorate Division , Ministry of Public Utilities will have information on any wireman’s license. Check it out and see how long they’ve been in the game. The solar Power Installers Association is also another source of information. 2. Are your installers trained for the job required. The solar Power Installers Association is one of the organizations offering workshops for license wiremen, installers, and other individuals involved in the installation of solar power systems. Installers should also have at least one year of hands-on experience in the related field. 3. If not, then go with experience. Especially in such a young industry not everyone can be considered a trained installer. If this is the case, the company should be proud to give you references of their installs. Ask the company how many homes they’ve done. Ideally, you should feel confortable with someone who installed panels on at least one roof. 4. Remember that the solar system marketing executive will usually not be certified. The license wireman or solar installer will know how to include safely with electricity. He will officially design and install your system and assist you with inspection if necessary. Marketing executives are more about pre-inspecting your roof orientation, your load detail, explaining the various ways to finance your system, and giving you an estimate. 5. Get quotes and don’t settle for the lowest price over experience. When you get multiple quotes, issues can come to the forefront which previously were unexamined: “Why didn’t other guy offer that?” Moreover, additional quotes will ensure cost competitiveness across installers. And don’t simply go with the cheaper one; Give them both a chance to explain where that extra value is. The more expensive quote could be advantageous if that contractor uses better installation procedures, higher quality parts, or extends greater warranty coverage. |
7. Does your contractor outsource their crew? This is a big deal. Many companies outsource their installations to other contractors. Consequently, the company quoting your project may not know anything about their installation crew or how they’re trained. If you have contractors installing solar power on your roof, they are going to be walking around up there, drilling holes in your roof… it’s serious stuff and you need to know they were trained properly.
8. Whose panels and inverters are used? Solar power requires four things: solar panels and inverters, controllers and batteries. Panels collect and transmit the energy, and Inverters turn the direct current (DC) your panels produce into usable alternating current (AC) to run your blender, microwave, TV, or whatever you want to run in your house. . 9. What about turnaround time? Different installers will have different backlogs… Ranging from a few weeks to months… get that up front so you can plan ahead and won’t be disappointed. 10. Do you offer warranties? Warranties for equipment and warranties for installation are entirely different things. Good solar installers warranty their work to protect you in the event of damage. What are the warranty specifics? Solar lasts a damn long time, the company installing this technology needs be able to outlive the systems they install. 11. Are the quoted prices for my solar system reasonable? This is the tricky part. Pricing should be close to the same across the country. The key to this part is that second (or third) quote. It will create price competition between installers to get the deal, at the same time bring to light issues you may not have thought of. Unfortunately, the things brought to light often confuse and frustrate you. DO NOT GIVE UP. 12. The last thing we would ever want is advice to stop you from getting solar. Hang in there, and ask for answers to questions you have. If they don’t give them to you, find someone who can, but don’t get frustrated and give up! |