|
Larry, I was glad to read your post. It tells me that the effort to establish NABCEP is proving to be worthwhile. If NABCEP didn't matter, you wouldn't have written, as it wouldn't have affected you. You have been doing RE work (likely with great skill from the testimonials on your website) for 20 years, and with your own business for about seven. NABCEP has been offering certification for about that same length of time. Now that there is a critical mass of some 1,500 certified installers, and there has been plenty of time for installers to choose whether to attempt to become certified or not, it seems to me that it's perfectly appropriate for NABCEP to advertise to the public that there's a standard to use to compare installers. Like our president said when asked if he inhaled, "Of course. That's the point." Some longtime Wrenches have chosen not to become certified. That, too, is the point: it's optional. Yes, some jurisdictions have chosen to make it a requisite for rebate levels or participation in incentive programs - that's their right, but NABCEP can't control this beyond discouraging the practice. It's intended to be a voluntary certification, separate from licensure or any state requirements. In 2000 Trace (before it became Xanthra- er, Xantrex, and long before it became Schneider) offered the first "Certified Dealer" program in the industry. I became one back then because it was the only game in town. I saw the benefit, both to set our company apart with some good marketing differentiation, and to begin to add to the professionalism of the whole immature PV industry by supporting professional standards and certifications. In 2001, NABCEP was just coming into being as a concept, and I was asked by the organizers to present and support the idea of a national certification for installers to independent installers on this list, which I did. There were some really lively discussions in 2001 and 2002. I took the first exam for the same reasons as with Trace, along with one other - that it may not mean much now, but someday it will set us apart and people will have heard about it and will value it. That day came at different times in different states. In New Mexico, that day is just coming around. Suddenly, we too have plenty of new solar companies. Many claim to be the premier solar installer in the state, with years or decades of experience. Most will sell a system for less than we will - that's a common way for new companies to gain a track record. Anyone can claim anything in their marketing and on their website. What do we have to back up our own claims? Reputation. Referrals. Published testimonials. And more NABCEP certificants than anyone in our state. All of these carry weight and keep us busy. Larry, you are being too sensitive. You have been in business long enough to qualify. It's your own business, so you must have led all of your jobs. Weigh the pros and cons as they affect your business, and either get certified or don't, but don't criticize NABCEP for promoting its certified installers - that's its job. On the other hand, how can it be NABCEP's "job to unintentionally cause" anything? I think that's an oxymoron. Allan Sindelar On 2/6/2011 9:13 AM, wire...@gmail.com wrote: Hello Wrenches, NABCEP has a full page ad in Home Power magazine that tells potential PV buyers to "Insist on a NABCEP Certified Installer". That's a great ad if you are certified but not so good if you are not. I know many of you are but lots of us are not yet certified.NABCEP is doing a great job to ensure that PV is installed by qualified personal but is it their job to unintentionally cause non NABCEP certified installers who are otherwise very qualified to lose business. I don't think so. I contacted NABCEP about the consequences of this ad and actually asked them to stop running it or at least tone it down so it doesn't cause installers like to me to lose business. They disagreed with me. Am I being too sensitive here? Thank you. Larry Liesner Wirewiz Westport, CT Phone: 203-644-2404 Fax: 203-557-0556 wire...@gmail.com www.wire-wiz.com _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org |
_______________________________________________ List sponsored by Home Power magazine List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Options & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
