The Run on Sun Difference…
Our commitment to you, our Potential Client
Our difference begins with our personal commitment to you, our potential client:
- We will answer your questions—all of them. If you don't understand something, we haven't done our job.
- We will give you our candid appraisal of your site. Unfortunately, not all sites are good candidates for a solar power system. If that is the case with your site, we will tell you. We will also provide you with suggestions for any possible improvements to your site.
- We will never pressure you to buy more than you need. Installing a system that will completely zero-out your electric bill often does not make economic sense, but that is what some companies will try to sell you. We will make sure that you have enough information to make an economically sound decision.
- The quality of our work will be second to none. We do not take shortcuts with your system. We understand that you are making a major investment, and we want you to be happy with your Run on Sun solar power system for the next twenty-five years.
- Unique Technical, Business, and Legal Expertise. We differ from many others in the solar industry in
that the founders of Run on Sun were entrepreneurs, businessmen,
and engineers who seized the opportunity to leverage their business, legal, and technical expertise to create a better solar company.
We saw others who were either roofing or electrical contractors trying to do engineering of sophisticated systems or
larger solar companies undermined by unknowledgeable salespeople and the questionable work of poorly managed sub-contractors.
The experience of one of our friends was also compelling for us. For him, it took one full year to get a solar system completely installed by one of the best known solar companies in the U.S., and even then it did not work properly. Another had a salesperson who said that volts, watts, and amps were all the same. This convinced us that there had to be a better way to do business.
Mission Statement
Run on Sun is committed to promoting renewable energy use by providing the highest quality, properly engineered photovoltaic solar power systems. We do this by communicating honestly with our clients and ensuring them properly engineered systems, quality installations, and ongoing service and maintenance after the sale.
Run on Sun—Certified Better!
Not all solar installation companies are mission driven. Sadly, some are more interested in generating a sale than they are in your ability
to generate solar energy with a reasonable return on your investment. As a result, some companies sell solar power systems that are
oversized or poorly designed. Other solar companies simply lack the experience and expertise to provide a proper solar installation
that will perform trouble free for years.
At Run on Sun we believe a different approach is needed.
NABCEP Certified Solar Installation Professionals™
A key difference lies in Certification by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). What does that mean to you? As NABCEP notes:
When you hire a contractor with NABCEP Certified Installers leading the crew, you can be confident that you are getting the job done by solar professionals who have the “know-how” that you need.
They are part of a select group of professionals who have distinguished themselves by being awarded
NABCEP Certified Installer credentials.
Run on Sun Founder and CEO, Jim Jenal, has been a NABCEP Certified Solar Installation Professional since 2010!
REC Certified Solar Professionals
We are proud to announce that we have achieved the conveted REC Solar Professional Certification as well! Here's what that means for you:
The REC Certified Solar Professional Program was created to provide many advantages to both installers and end-customers. Not every installer can call themselves an ‘REC Certified Solar Professional’: members of the Program are carefully selected to undergo a unique installer certification program. Through this, REC ensures that solar installers are equipped with the know-how and best practices to install REC panels and can assure you that, in addition to high-quality REC solar panels, you will receive a high-quality solar installation.
Meet the Team…
With backgrounds in science, contracting, public health, engineering, consulting, business and law, our team members embody every expertise needed to work with clients, suppliers, regulators and government officials to get you the specific solution to meet your needs.
Jim Jenal: Chief Executive Officer, Founder
Jim Jenal founded Run on Sun in 2006. As its CEO, he has authored the company's blog, Thoughts on Solar, since 2009, and he has been quoted on solar policy and the state of the solar industry in media such as the Los Angeles Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the Guardian, as well as in numerous trade publications.
A NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional™ since 2010, Jim also holds degrees in Mathematics, Computer Science, and Law.
He is the author of the book, Commercial Solar: Step-by-Step, which lays out in detail the process of implementing a commercial solar power system from selecting a contractor all the way through to going live.
Jim lives in Pasadena, in happy walking distance to Old Town.
Amanda Watson: Projects Coordinator
Before hearing her calling to the west coast, or finding her niche in the solar industry as Run on Sun’s Projects Coordinator, Amanda’s interests in energy and nonproliferation policy led her from college in NYC to DC. After dabbling in the political arena, she found herself arranging transportation logistics for radioactive materials – primarily U3O8 and UF6 within the nuclear fuel cycle.
Her love of adventure and exploring new environments – particularly on 2 wheels – led Amanda into a life of cycling, both competitive and now, purely for the love of it. Shortly after hanging up her racing wheels, she departed her desk-bound career, and moved to southern California, where she fell in love with the San Gabriel Mountains. Although she is happiest while climbing on the rocks and dirt, she is thoroughly smitten working on a new roof. And when it’s time to relax, she enjoys making amazing, adult-strength pinatas and tending to her many succulents and cacti.
Velvet Dallesandro: Consulting Electrician
Velvet earned her certification as a NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional™ in 2010, and is a C-10 licensed electrician with nearly 30 years of experience in the electrical trades and two decades of experience in solar power installations, dating back to the LADWP solar carport project in 1999.
Velvet worked with Run on Sun for ten years and helped establish our reputation for work of the highest quality, a tradition that we carry on to this day. Now Velvet makes her knowledge and expertise available as needed.
When not working, Velvet travels the world, drawn to distant locales often overlooked by most tourists, particularly in the former Soviet republics or anywhere that ends in 'stan'.
Team trivia…
Everyone knows that the Run on Sun Team is comprised of true Solar Pros.
But do you know…
- Run on Sun was incorporated as Nopec, Inc. What does Nopec signify?
- What member of the team taught High School for six years?
- What member of the team was born in Ohio?
- What member of the team is a Cat 1 cyclist?
- What member of the team regularly is caring for one or more rescue dogs?
- What utility hired Run on Sun to evaluate the performance of older solar power systems in their service area?
Here are the answers to the trivia questions…
- Nopec signifies “No OPEC”—a name we loved until a colleague convinced us we were asking people to work way too hard!
- Jim taught Math and Computer Science at Mayfield Senior School for six years.
- Velvet was born and raised—and began work as an electrician—in Ohio. She prefers the California weather.
- Amanda - a hard-core cyclist to this day - spent years as a Category 1 racer. And she has the scars to prove it!
- That would also be Velvet, whose care and compassion for animals inspires us all.
- Pasadena Water & Power contracted with Run on Sun to look at these systems.
Trivia question answers…
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