In 2012, going solar was out of reach for many households. The technology was fairly new, it could be hard to understand, and it was expensive. Duane Peterson and James Moore, SunCommon’s co-founders, met while working with the Vermont Public Interest Research Group (VPIRG) and decided to apply VPIRG’s successful community organizing model to a new business idea: making solar affordable and accessible to more home and business owners than ever before.
Innovation #1: Community organizing
Instead of relying on traditional forms of advertising to spread the word about solar, SunCommon community organizers spent time in cities and towns all over the state of Vermont — knocking on doors, hosting solar info sessions at the public library or a favorite community restaurant, attending local events like home shows and farmer’s markets — getting to know people and learning what they needed from a solar energy provider.
In this way, SunCommon wasn’t just selling people on solar: we were explaining the science behind net metering, the math that makes solar a good investment, and answering folks’ questions in real time, face to face. By getting out into communities (and meeting people literally where they’re at), we built trust, relationships, and a robust foundation of happy customers.
Innovation #2: Financing options
Another piece of the puzzle that enabled SunCommon’s early success was an innovative financing model. Because many home and business owners are unable to pay for their solar system in cash, SunCommon worked with local credit unions to create a loan program that allowed folks to go solar at no upfront cost, essentially swapping their electricity bill for a solar payment. To this day, our solar financing plans are hugely important for allowing most of our customers the privilege of going solar and taking control of their energy costs.
Innovation #3: Product Offerings
For those folks who didn’t own their own homes, we had yet another innovative idea up our sleeve: Community Solar Arrays. A CSA is a large-scale solar array, constructed in an unused lot or on the roof of a large building, that allows for dozens of households — including folks who live in condos or who rent their house or apartment — to participate by paying for a small share of the energy the CSA produces. With both ownership and subscription models, CSAs are one of the best ways to break down barriers to solar today, allowing folks of varying income levels and living arrangements the opportunity to support clean energy and lower their electricity costs.
Innovation #4: Collaboration
Hudson Solar, based out of Rhinebeck, New York, had been quietly building an extremely reputable solar installation business since 2002, led by Professional Engineer Jeff Irish. In 2018, SunCommon and Hudson Solar merged their two businesses under the name SunCommon, bringing the best of both organizations together under one roof. Moore, Peterson, and Irish exemplified the spirit of innovation and collaboration needed to knit together two different company cultures and cross state lines.
Innovation #5: Getting creative
Today, SunCommon’s community organizing roots are more foundation than current practice. Due to the pandemic and the cancellation of many in-person events, we had to rethink how to break down barriers to clean energy and meet customers where they’re at. In addition to shifting all of our face-to-face solar home visits to virtual consultations, we also pivoted by creating a digital tool for folks to get a solar quote online. With SunCommon’s Quick Quote Tool, all a customer needs to do is enter their address, utility, and current average electric bill, and the tool provides an estimated monthly solar payment. This tool is yet another way for folks to access solar, allowing those who prefer to do their own research and communicate over email to remain in their comfort zone while still providing accurate and timely information about what going solar with SunCommon could mean for them.
The climate crisis is a monumental challenge for humankind, and we’re going to have to tackle it from every angle. SunCommon’s mission has been, since the beginning, to tear down barriers to clean energy, and we’re continuing to innovate on that front every day by creating new products and financing options that bring even more people into the solar movement.
Learn how your business could benefit from solar. Visit suncommon.com/commercial-solar or get in touch: solar@suncommon.com; 845-516-7014.
SunCommon believes that everyone has the right to a healthy environment and brighter future, and renewable energy is where it starts. With over 10,000 happy customers across New York and Vermont, SunCommon has the experience to transform your home, farm, or business using the latest and greatest in solar tech, and products that are clean, efficient, and built to last.