How Solar Contractors can Appeal to Conservative Homeowners

Many may believe that solar and other renewable energy sources are things that interest only those who vote liberal. After all, support for pro-solar policies has traditionally come from the progressive side of the political spectrum, and conservatives aren’t typically vocal about sustainability issues. However, there is actually a great deal of interest in solar among conservative homeowners.

Solar contractors who want to tap into this customer base just need to know how to appeal to their concerns. Conservative homeowners differ from liberals in what their priorities are with solar, and as such, will respond more positively to a sales pitch that addresses them.

What Not to Do: Play Up Environmental Benefits

Historically, conservatives have been more supportive of traditional energy sources, like coal and oil. And studies show that they tend to disagree with liberals on many matters relating to the environment and the importance of sustainability. However, Republicans actually don’t have strong associations between environmental effects and solar energy.

This was revealed when a number of Republican homeowners were recently surveyed about solar:

“For instance, Ted, a conservative interviewed in the study, said he thinks very highly of people who have solar panels on their home and assumes they are smart, frugal and self-sufficient. When asked if he thinks these people may be concerned about the environment, Ted responded, ‘I think if people thought to put solar panels on their roof, they would not think that was helping the environment at all. They would think that was helping them financially, because they're not paying a power bill.’”

So if contractors want to court conservative solar customers, it’s best to leave environmental benefits out of the pitch. They not only hold little persuasive power, they also don’t seem to even be strongly linked with solar in the minds of conservatives.

What to Do Instead: Emphasize Investment Value and Cost Savings

The study mentioned above uncovered what does appeal to Republicans about solar: financial wisdom. These fiscally-minded homeowners are attracted to solar for its ability to cut down on household energy costs and improve their home’s value.

Therefore, when speaking with conservatives, contractors should get straight to the economic benefits. Calculate savings estimates per month and year. Project the time it would take for the system to generate a return on their investment. Inform the customer of how much their property value could increase with an installation, and how much it could speed up the sales process once the house is put on the market. When presented with these numbers, conservatives will be easily persuaded of solar’s worth.

Connect with Conservative Customers via Lead Generation Services for Solar Installers

Reach more conservative homeowners by widening your customer base. When you partner with Grid Freedom, you’ll be able to source high quality leads that have been handpicked for their sales potential. Affordable rates 100% exclusivity, and terms that are all in your best interest.

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Innovative Products Changing the Solar Installation Game

The solar industry is growing at an exponential rate, and governments across the world are prioritizing renewable energy, driving demand for innovation. Thus, more and more scientists and engineers are devoting their efforts to improving and creating new solar technologies.

So how is this affecting the ones with their boots on the ground - the solar installers? Many will be getting the opportunity to work with cutting-edge products. Let’s take a look at a few below.

Solar Shingles

Photovoltaic shingles are what many homeowners view as an aesthetically superior alternative to traditional solar panels. This is because they are made to look and function quite similarly to classic roofing shingles. Instead of having only a section of panels, the entire roof can serve as a source of solar energy.

One of the companies leading the way in the creation of solar shingles is Tesla. Called the Tesla Solar Roof, this product uses PV glass shingles that mimic the look of conventional roofing material. While it has yet to launch nationally, a small number of installations have already been done in California. Elon Musk was quoted saying “We’re now on version three of the solar tile roof, and we expect to spool up production of the solar tile roof significantly later this year.”

 Solar Windows

Researchers at multiple institutions are in the process of developing, or have already created, solar windows. This innovation would make a window’s entire glass surface capable of generating solar energy. A team at Michigan State estimates that it could potentially meet 40% of the country’s energy needs, given the staggering amount of glass surfaces already present throughout the nation.

Clear and Frameless Solar Panels

Fresh on the market are panel designs that are breaking the mold. Many homeowners dislike the look of traditional panel systems, which has spurred development of products that can blend in more effectively with a home’s roof.

Clear solar panels feature no opaque backing, making them transparent. This gives them an unobtrusive look, which can be layered on top of skylights or even windows. In the case of frameless solar panels, these products remove the element that most people find visually offensive. The main challenge these sleek panels present is one of compatibility: because many mounting systems rely on the presence of frames, manufacturers of these products need to create compatible mounting equipment themselves.

Pre-Generated Solar Leads

Another thing changing the game for solar installers isn’t in the realm of products, but actually in sales leads. Solar lead generation companies like Grid Freedom offer contractors an excellent shortcut to obtaining leads with a high likelihood of buying. By doing all the marketing legwork themselves, these agencies spare contractors the hassle - and expense - of trying to attract and screen leads them.

Grid Freedom in particular has become one of the most trusted names in the industry. With installer-friendly terms like no purchase minimums, membership fees, or long-term contracts, we have earned a reputation as an agency that looks out for contractors’ best interests.

Get Quality Leads for Solar Contractors at Gridfreedom.com