A comprehensive national rollout often requires construction related permits from a variety of jurisdictions, departments and agencies. Our Nationwide division, working with our local circles of support, is now able to provide retailers, architects, engineers, contractors, building owners, property managers, and construction managers with expert permitting and code consulting solutions geared to their specific needs.

Through our Nationwide division we’ve helped companies such as Chase Bank, T-Mobile, Walgreens, Marriott, Starbucks and many others with their multiple location construction agendas. Our permit technicians have helped normalize the disparate permit processes for thousands of unique municipal authorities and construction projects throughout the country!

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by Greg Sellers

A new study  released by the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CalSEIA) and Westinghouse Solar confirms that solar energy combined with the right energy efficiency measures can reduce and, in many cases, effectively eliminate residential energy bills. The study shows that the key is to find the exact combination of efficiency and solar energy for your particular home.

The study is comprehensive and goes a long way towards proving what those of us in the solar power industry have already known; solar energy is a great investment that has a long-term payback and a better investment for homes in temperate climates than most energy efficiency measures.

Conversely, the study also emphasizes that homeowners in different parts of the country can have widely varying circumstances that must be evaluated individually before installing a solar system.

Our firm inspects hundreds of solar installations, and occasionally we come across systems that are over sized or installed in locations that will not enable the system to perform at peak efficiency. These installations create problems for the entire solar industry, as they diminish payback and make solar appear less viable than it really is.

It is generally acknowledged that in order to gain widespread adoption solar must achieve grid parity (that is, it must cost the same or less than other forms of electricity). Installing systems in less than ideal circumstances makes grid parity harder to achieve, and perpetuates the perception that solar is too expensive. And that, in the end, is bad for us all.

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by Greg Sellers

Football announcers can’t figure out why the Dallas Cowboys are so bad.

Now, there are  many bad football teams (my team has been awful for the past 10 years straight!), but what has the pundits perplexed is that the Cowboys, on paper, are an awesome team. They’re loaded with talent, their owner has a lot of money and just built them the world’s most expensive football stadium, so by any measure they ought to be great. But their performance  since game one, has never matched their potential.

Using this football analogy, a solar installation’s actual performance should closely match its expected performance. Since solar installations require expected performance calculations early in the design phase, it is relatively easy to compare expected and actual performance. Accounting for weather variations, solar installations should ideally perform no more than 10% above or below their expected power output. Unfortunately, our inspections have uncovered wide variance in real world performance in some systems we have inspected – both higher and lower than expected- that significantly impact the financial viability of a solar installation and thus impact the entire industry.

The biggest variable football players face is injury, but football players that are in top physical condition face fewer injuries and recover faster than those who have done a poor job of preparing themselves. Similarly, solar systems that are well installed are likely to perform as expected for longer than systems that are poorly installed. When we inspect these systems we often see exposed wires, vulnerable connections, unsecured panels, improperly installed roof flashing and other signs of a poor installation. While most of these shortcuts don’t immediately impact system performance, they significantly increase the likelihood that the system will not last as long or function as well as expected.

After weeks of failure, the Cowboys recently took the dramatic and unprecedented step of  firing their coach mid-season, in hopes of reversing their fortunes, and that seems to have put them back in the win column. So, for a solar panel touchdown, take the time to plan, install, and implement efficiently and correctly or you might, just might, end up like the ’76 Buccaneers.

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By Saul Inda, Senior Inspector

Currently, California is experiencing a solar “gold rush.”  Everyone wants and craves solar energy.  Contractors from various fields are adding solar PV to their portfolios, and thus, solar training has become abundant.  For these reasons, there are new solar contractors all over the state- but a common misconception differentiates between the good and the great.  The basics of solar installation can be taught in a week, and with that, many individuals feel as though they are experts.  But installing a solar system that will stand the test of time takes an entirely different level of experience.  Now we ask ourselves, how can solar installers stand out from the growing competition?  The answer lies within this basic principle of virtue: “quality installation.”

A properly installed residential PhotoVoltaic system should do two things: (1) produce electricity, and (2) not cause any damage to the structure which it is installed on.  Pretty simple, not much to it.  Burnham Energy has inspected all types of residential solar electric systems from a wide variety of installers.  Although most are installed professionally, one would be surprised as to how many systems fall through the cracks.  This ultimately results in costly repairs to the homeowner.

After climbing an infinite number of ladders and walking on hundreds of roofs, I am pleased to present my “dirty dozen” list for residential PV solar systems.  The list below will provide assistance in what to look for, and what not to do.

1.  Install all equipment following the manufacturer’s specifications:  Do not mix and match hardware.  If you are missing an item, acquire the appropriate part.  Do not use whatever is in the truck that seems to make it work.  Odds are that a brand X stand-off will work with brand Y rails, but make sure they are listed as compatible before finalizing the installation.

2. Cable management:  Properly support all conductors under an array with approved materials.  The wires under an array should never come in contact with the roof or any abrasive surface that can cause damage.  In time, one will notice that it does not take much to damage the insulation on the conductors.

3. UV damage:  the sun’s UV radiation can rapidly decay and damage most plastics.  Make sure all cable ties, exposed conductors, and junction boxes are UV and outdoor rated.

4.  Roof penetrations:  A great practice, when possible, is to minimize the amount of penetration to the roofing surface – find alternative routes for cabling and conduit.  Remember, less is more.

5.  Module and array grounding:  This is one of the most important safety issues in a PV installation.  Make sure all PV modules and metallic support structures are grounded to an Equipment Grounding Conductor (EGC) with approved grounding lugs or clips.  EGCs must be irreversibly connected to main service Grounding Electrode Conductors (GEC) when possible.

6.  Electrical boxes and conduit bodies on roof should be accessible:  Placing all electrical boxes and conduit bodies under the array makes for a very clean looking installation.  However, this is not always a good practice.  Access to these items for repairs or service would require temporary removal of solar modules.  Generally speaking, it is best that boxes or conduit bodies be adjacent to, rather than under, the PV array.  If aesthetics is a factor, simply mounting these devices at or near the top of the solar array will provide adequate access and conceal these devices from viewers below.

7.  Raceways (conduit) on rooftops: Support all conduit spans every 3 to 4 feet and within 12 inches of any coupling or fittings.  Avoid penetrating any roof surface when possible.

8.  Flashing installation on roof: Any attachments to roof must be properly sealed to prevent leakage.  Use the recommended sealing method for the existing roof type.  Urethane caulks such as Sikaflex 1a are both temperature and UC resistant.  Silicones and roofing tars are less durable.

9.  Expose array conductors: Don’t do it!  Protect all conductors in conduit or secure them under or close to the solar array.  Also, make sure exposed conductors are USE-2 90C rated or listed as “PV wire.”

10.  Overcurrent protection: Make sure all over current protection devices are consistent with PV system voltages.  Check that all fuses in combiners, switches, and inverters are DC rated (DC side of system.)  Check if breakers are properly sized to PV system (AC side.)

11.  Solar warning signage:  All solar warning signage should be durable enough to survive the outdoors.  Install warning or identification labels on conduit carrying DC voltage, AC & DC disconnect switches, main electrical services, and any other locations that would warn of a secondary source of power.  This is primarily for the safety of all those that may come in contact or work with the main electrical service.

12.  Check for damage on the roof: After completing an installation, the last thing you want is a leaky roof.  Take care while walking on the roof and survey the area for damage.  The last guys on the roof are usually the first to get blamed if there is a leak!

Ultimately, what is conveyed above is the importance of a quality installation.  In order for everyone to take part in and benefit from this technology, it is crucial that simple measures be taken in order to perfect a PV solar installation.  If the installer produces a quality product, then a chain of happy homeowners will continue to unravel.  It is these small details that make a big difference in the long-term of the PV system and the homeowner’s appreciation with the product they invested.  This new era of solar installations has the ability to bring great positive change to current lifestyles.  Let us continue to be assets to the community by creating a product that undeniably supersedes others by following the basic principle of quality.

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Burnham Energy is a wholly owned subsidiary of Burnham Nationwide, Inc., but it didn’t start out that way.  Here’s how BE came to be.

In 2007, Greg Sellers was working as an independent consultant advising private and public sector clients.  He had a strong interest in renewable energy and was encouraged by several friends to get involved in Silicon Valley’s emerging solar energy industry.

A group of Seller’s colleagues and friends in the solar industry were interested in addressing the industry-wide challenges that were constricting the development of solar energy, and they partnered to found SolarTech, an organization modeled after Semitech, the industry consortium that spurred the development of the semiconductor industry.

SolarTech identified six areas within the solar energy industry that needed to be addressed and subsequently created committees for each subset.  Because of his strong background in public/private sector collaboration, Sellers served and ultimately chaired the SolarTech Permitting Committee.

It quickly became obvious to Sellers that there were two permitting challenges: the time and challenges associated with the issuance of a building permit, and the time and challenges associated with the building inspection process.  As Sellers worked on solutions to these challenges, he realized that some of these solutions might best be met in the private sector.  In July 2007, Sellers founded StablSolar and sought to develop a better way of processing permits and providing inspections.

The first solution was to provide building inspection services for rapidly growing solar companies that couldn’t spare a senior staff person to wait for a building inspector to sign off on a project.  While Sellers was familiar with the public sector approval process, he felt that he needed a partner who was more familiar with private section inspections, and thus teamed with Saul Inda to round out StablSolar.

Because the solar industry was new, finding training was a challenge.  They signed up for every solar installation or inspection oriented class they could find.  When they thought they were ready, they approached a respected solar power installer and asked if they could start providing building inspection services.  They negotiated an agreement, learned about their process, and in December 2008 began providing their first inspection services.

That same month, Sellers spoke with the head of the California Solar Energy Industries Association and learned that Grid Alternatives , an Oakland-based non-profit, had just been awarded a statewide contract to install solar projects on affordable homes throughout California, but needed to hire a company to independently verify that the projects had met state requirements.  Sellers contacted them and soon negotiated an agreement to provide compliance inspections throughout the Pacific Gas and Electric and Southern California Edison territories, roughly 80 percent of the state.

With signed contracts in hand, Sellers realized that there was a great need for inspection services.  He also realized that he needed additional capital in order to grow.  But after months of seeking capital in the middle of the worst recession in 80 years, his prospects were not bright.

In May 2009, Sellers participated in the first annual SolarTech Summit where leaders from the industry gather to exhibit the latest developments and technology.  The event attracted the attention of Dan Phelps, a partner at a major Silicon Valley venture capital firm.  Phelps had recently joined the board of Burnham Nationwide , and was advising Burnham to consider the solar industry as an opportunity for future growth.  In Greg and Dan’s discussions, it seemed as though there was an opportunity to partner and grow with the expanding market.  After having met with Dan, Greg traveled to Chicago and met with Carson Kyhl, Burnham Nationwide’s CEO.  They agreed that a partnership was worth pursuing and together formed Burnham Energy.

Burnham Energy reached its first milestone by participating in the annual Solar Power International Conference in Anaheim.  The conference attracted nearly 1,000 exhibitors and over 25,000 participants.  Following the conference, Burnham Energy had a clear sense of its client base, and had honed its message.

As part of the Burnham Nationwide family, Burnham Energy has access to a robust IT infrastructure, a national network of municipal and professional contacts, and the resources to identify opportunities and grow with the solar industry.  As we develop in 2010, Burnham Energy is poised to become the leading permitting and inspection services provider in the solar industry.

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