Thoughts on Solar by Run on Sun's Founder & CEO, Jim Jenal

Last December we were pleased to announce that Run on Sun had been chosen by the Westridge School for Girls to install a solar power system on the school’s Performing Arts Center. At the time we proclaimed, “Come the Spring, Solar Panels will bloom here!” as the caption to this photo of the building’s roof:

Well here it is, Easter Sunday, and we are pleased to report that the promise has been fulfilled.  Here’s the view from roughly that same spot today:

Needless to say, a project of this size does not happen overnight, nor is it the effort of any one individual.  So, over the next couple of weeks, we will be bringing you a multi-part series documenting how this project came together.  The series will culminate in another Run on Sun video featuring client interviews and even some observations from the students of Westridge about what this means to them.

Spring is indeed a time for new beginnings - and some successful endings!  We look forward to sharing this adventure with you and we welcome your comments.

We are very pleased to report that one of the premier schools in Pasadena - or pretty much anywhere for that matter - the Westridge School for Girls has just selected Run on Sun to design and install a 54 kW solar power system on the Fran Norris Scoble Performing Arts Center.

Come the Spring, Solar Panels will bloom here!

It is very gratifying to have been chosen over some tough competition for this project, particularly given the School’s well-established commitment to sustainability.  Indeed, just last year Westridge dedicated a new science building which has received the coveted, but very rare, LEED Platinum designation.  Now as part of Westridge’s plan to “green” all of the campus, the 54 kW solar power system will be another dramatic step in that direction.

Even better, since the project will use Enphase micro-inverters, the students from grades 4-12 will be able to study the performance of the system right down to the individual panel level.  We look forward to working with the Westridge faculty and administration as they teach their students about the difference that solar power can make in their lives.

At Run on Sun we have a special place in our hearts for working with non-profits and we would love to help your non-profit add solar too!

Our press release announcing Westridge’s selection of Run on Sun for this solar power project is available here.

As part of its campaign to publicize the truth about the solar industry, the Solar Energy Industry Association (SEIA) has created a Solar Works for America website that contains great information about how solar is working for homes and businesses all across the country.  Part of that website is a collection of profiles about the people who make up this industry, telling their stories in their own words about why the got into solar and the positive influence they see solar having in their lives and communities.

We are pleased to announce that Run on Sun Founder & CEO Jim Jenal is now the subject of one of the Solar Works for America profiles.

The profile - which includes a quite youthful image of Jenal, recounts his involvement in the solar industry and his prior career (one of many) as an attorney.  Reinventing oneself from high-stakes litigator to solar integrator and installer might not be the most obvious career path, but according to Jenal, it works: “Now my clients are thrilled to work with me and they really value what we have done together.  Making that transition has been a wonderful improvement in my life.”

For potential Run on Sun clients, however, the money quote is at the end:

“At Run on Sun we take great pride in our work and it shows.  We never forget that we are building systems for the long run and that all of our work must exceed our clients’ expectations.”

Adam Rossi (left) prepares to compete with Dusty Psaila

UPDATE: The Great Enphase Install-O-Rama wrapped up on Thursday in fine fashion - ultimately showcasing two  installer Top Guns who prove that the future of our industry is on a sound footing.

Overall winner Adam Rossi - a/k/a “The Solar Ninja” - was one of the six installers invited to SPI by the folks at Enphase.  Adam, who runs Adam Solar Resources in Bridgeville, PA, is everything you might want in a solar installer - he’s smart, he’s devoted to the industry, and he has more than a bit of that competitive spirit that can help you push through tough times.  He was also blindingly fast, turning in a crazy quick time of just 1:34!

But scarcely to be outdone was Adam’s chief rival, sixteen-year-old Dusty Psaila from Hawaii.  Dusty stepped out of the audience to compete and he has been installing solar with his dad for two years.  Judging by his enthusiasm for the competition and for the solar exhibit overall, he will undoubtedly be a major force in the Hawaiian solar industry in the years to come.

It was a real pleasure to spend some time with these great young people and we wish them the best of success in their future careers. 
Go get ‘em, guys!

Today was the first day of the Solar Power International Exhibits here in Dallas and that could only mean one thing – it was time for the great Enphase Install-O-Rama!  Featuring your humble reporter going head-to-head with the toughest competition SPI could provide.  For this first go, that was none other than Mark Santos, Director of Business Development at Premier Power out of El Dorado Hills in NoCal.

Suffice it to say that Mark is a very fast study.  Some might even say too fast, but we won’t quibble about such things.  However, wisdom and experience defeats youth and treachery – at least for awhile and I’ve got the proof, check this out:

To be fair - eventually, after repeatedly going to school on (and being schooled by) me, Mark broke through on the last match-up to take the overall morning lead - and he did it in fine fashion, beating my previous best by more than 10 seconds.

Ah, but the competition is just beginning and there are more match-ups to come (including with some very - shall we say, self-confident? competitors).  So we shall see how this all turns out!

I can say, that for never having touched an M215 until yesterday, the system really is quite easy to use.  Nice job, Enphase!  Now on to Gilly’s!!!

Normally we avoid the blatant sales pitch in this blog, but September
marks Run on Sun’s Fifth Anniversary - no mean feat in this economy, thank you very much! - and we are celebrating with our best sale ever!

When you combine our Special Anniversary Discount with the lowest equipment prices of all time and add in the recently lowered sales tax rate throughout L.A. County - you are looking at some serious savings!

Here’s all there is to it: for every contract that we sign during the month of September, we will take a full 5% off our already affordable prices.  This offer is good throughout the Run on Sun service area and applies to all systems 5 kW or larger.  All you have to do is mention that you saw this blog post and the savings are yours!

So what are you waiting for - September won’t last forever!  Pick up the phone and give us a call (626-793-6025) or better yet, click on the Sun over there on the right and fill out our easy online form to get the process started.

Happy Anniversary from all of us at Run on Sun!