Which Solar Lead Company Can Get You Through the Slowest Winter Yet?

Summer has drawn to a close. Normally, this would mean that the average solar contractor would have full coffers, thanks to a busy season full of installations. But this is the year of COVID-19.

Many contractors have struggled to make it this far, as the economic collapse caused by massive job losses dried up the usually-plentiful pool of summer customers. So now that the routine slow season is beginning, most contractors are expecting it to be one of the worst.

Tough Times are Ahead for the Solar Industry

Cooler weather and school reopenings are coinciding with a rise in coronavirus infections. Experts are predicting that the cold season will bring about a second wave of cases that is significantly larger than when the virus first took hold.

This, coupled with the fact that the Trump administration has just cancelled any plans for a new relief package, is setting the stage for even more economic instability.

It’s bad news for solar contractors. They will be seeing their customer base shrink further as homeowners deal with increased health risk and financial hardship.

Contractors Need a Reliable Income of Leads to Survive the Slowest of Slow Seasons

Finding homeowners who can afford to go solar this season is going to be more difficult than ever. It will require more work and resources put into advertising and screening. But if you’re already struggling, you don’t have the ability to spread yourself thinner. You’ll need outside help from a partner who can secure you the highest possible number of solid, profitable leads.

So, who to pick?

The best choice for a solar lead company depends on their practices. With a smart process that weeds out all weak leads, the right agency can dependably deliver serious customers to solar contractors.

Grid Freedom has Been a Top Source of Leads Throughout the Pandemic

Grid Freedom has earned its reputation thanks to results-driven practices. Our leads are always:

●     Generated via inbound marketing

●     Pre-screened by personal phone call

●     Pre-scheduled for consultation appointments

●     Sold exclusively

This ensures that our contractors are only connected with homeowners who are ready and capable of buying a solar system. It’s the certainty contractors need to get through one of the toughest times in the industry’s history.

Get Your Fall and Winter Sales at www.Gridfreedom.com

Can Commercial Solar's Popularity Boost the Residential Market?

America is working toward getting greener energy for all of its sectors. The national renewable energy standard (RES) for 2020 is 20%, and a bill currently being considered by the Senate will push for a 50% RES by 2035. Many individual states have also launched their own equally (or more) ambitious RES goals.

But when it comes to the commercial sector, the lofty targets don’t stop there. The U.S. Building Technologies Office (a subset of the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy) is aiming for a 20% energy reduction in commercial buildings by 2020, and even more by 2030. It’s a part of their Commercial Buildings Integration Program.

A Boom in Commercial Solar

Commercial businesses are trying to update their facilities quickly in order to prepare for the requirements being imposed by federal and state governments. This has spurred many to install solar systems on site, creating a clean and compliant energy source. The fact that prices for commercial solar systems dropped in 2018 has only made them more popular.

All of this is evidenced by the frequency of new commercial solar projects. Just this summer, 19 commercial projects were announced in Colorado, a 7MW endeavor was planned for the Northeast, and Michigan opened up its farmlands to commercial installations.

Commercial’s demand for more responsible power sourcing is certainly creating a boom in the solar market. But could it also have an effect on the residential sector?

The Opportunity for Influence

Solar’s expansion in the commercial domain has the potential to make waves in the residential sphere too. Most of the impact stands to come from mere exposure.

Today’s homeowners are more eco-conscious than ever. And as consumers, they place an increasingly high priority on doing business with brands that care about the environment.

A recent survey by Nielsen reports that 81% of global respondents strongly feel “that companies should help improve the environment”. Further, 85% of Millennial say that it is “extremely” or “very” important to them that companies implement programs that will have environmental benefits.

So when commercial businesses adopt solar, they aren’t just complying with regulations, they’re also seizing an opportunity to signal to consumers that they share their green values. Companies who do this can win over customers by showing that they are the type of brand people can feel good about patronizing.

When this quality is marketed to the public, the importance of green energy is again placed at the forefront of people’s minds. Consumers who hear about their favorite store’s new solar installation will be reminded of environmental issues, putting them in a mindset where they’re more likely to consider doing their part by getting solar for their own homes.

Partner with a Solar Marketing Company to Find More Opportunities

As commercial solar surges, so too will demand in the residential market. You can maximize your intake of these promising residential leads by working with a reputable solar marketing company, like Grid Freedom. Our process selects only the best leads available, setting you up with homeowners who are confirmed to be serious about going solar.

Get Your Solar Leads at Gridfreedom.com

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

Why the Modern Design Trend is great for Solar

Modern design motifs first started appearing about a century ago. Homes built in this style began featuring clean lines, geometric shapes, and a minimalist aesthetic. Their indoor spaces started to be left wide and sweeping, leaving a clear view for the eye.

In the past decade, these design characteristics have become especially popular. And for solar installers, this is fantastic news. Let’s take a look at the reasons why.

Sleek Solar Panels Match Modern Exteriors
There’s no doubt that the typical solar installation has a very contemporary look. Between the gleaming glass and striking metal frames, the streamlined appearance can be difficult to integrate with traditional home exteriors.

But now, more homes than ever are being built in a modern fashion. Their exteriors are polished and unfussy, often with bold shapes and angles that perfectly complement the natural geometry of a solar panel installation.

This makes it so that rooftop panels can in fact look like an intentional part of the home’s architecture, not a mishitting add-on. Modern home owners will be more open to getting an installation, since they won’t have worries over the system looking out of place.

Modern Design can Actually Demand More Energy
Because modern homes are typically built with open floor plans, they can actually require more energy to heat or cool. It takes more work to control the temperature in large spaces than throughout several smaller rooms, which have the benefit of insulating walls surrounding their perimeters.

Owners of modern homes thus often have higher energy bills. To compensate for the extra energy costs, many look for alternative solutions like solar panels. Contractors can more effectively appeal to these customers with the benefits of savings, both in terms of monetary costs and sustainability.

Modernize Your Lead Generation Process with a Solar Marketing Company
Finding modern homeowners who are ready and motivated to go solar can be a difficult task on your own. That’s why many contractors are starting to upgrade their lead generation process by outsourcing most of it to solar marketing companies.

When you partner with the right agency, you can get a steady income of leads that have high sales potential: homeowners who are serious solar buyers.

                                  Find High Quality Solar Leads at Gridfreedom.com

How to Appeal to Homeowners Concerned About the Look of Solar Panels

Many homeowners love the idea of going solar: it can help them save money and protect the environment too. But despite all those great benefits, quite a few residents balk at going solar for one particular reason: solar panels will make their home ugly - or at least that’s what they believe.

Unfortunately, this is a common misconception that is holding countless homeowners back from making the solar switch. They worry about becoming the neighborhood eyesore, and even have concerns over their home’s value lowering because of lost curb appeal.

There are a few things solar contractors can do to combat this mindset. We’ve given a brief overview of them below.

Give Them a Beautiful Preview
One of the reasons many homeowners fear installing solar panels is because they imagine a certain look: clunky panels that look out of place, sometimes assembled in an irregular pattern. The only way to get rid of this image is to replace it with something nicer.

Keep a few photos of beautiful installations on hand to show customers just how great solar panels can look. The picture below is a great example showing how panels can be seamlessly integrated in a home’s exterior design.

To go the extra mile, you can use image editing software programs to show exactly how an installation will look on the customer’s own home. Giving them a preview of the final result can go a long way toward alleviating their concerns.


 
Counter Value Worries
Having seen photos of sleek installations may already erase worry over lost curb appeal - and thus, home value. But it’s best to double down and counter this myth with hard stats.

One survey showed that buyers were willing to pay as much as $15,000 extra for houses featuring solar installations. In another study, it was found that solar homes sold for an average of $40,000 more than comparable non-solar homes. So customers who go solar can actually look forward to their home’s value increasing significantly.

Market More Effectively with Leads for Solar Installation Businesses
It’s toughest to sell to customers who aren’t entirely enthusiastic about going solar in the first place. By only working with leads that have been curated for their sales potential, you can make it much easier for your sales team to strike successful deals.

Here at Grid Freedom, we connect contractors to homeowners who are already serious about going solar. These ready and willing buyers are personally contacted by us and set up with a home consultation. All your reps need to do is show up at the appointment.

                                 Get Connected with Better Solar Leads Today at Gridfreedom.com