This is the first installment of our new Web series, “Get to Know an Installer.” We’re going to introduce you to the people who really make the solar industry tick. We also hope to show you how, exactly, our partner installers work with customers to help them meet their energy goals. So without further ado, here’s a profile of Paul Fleury and Greg White, two hard-working guys who are trying to bring affordable sustainable energy to greater Charleston, South Carolina.

Spend about a minute on the phone with Paul Fleury, and you’ll realize you’re speaking with someone who loves what he does for a living. The affable Maryland native left his previous job in the automobile industry to co-found Sustainable Energy Solutions, a Charleston, South Carolina-based company that specializes in installing solar thermal systems. Now Fleury and his partner, Greg White, spend their days helping homeowners understand the benefits of using the sun to heat their domestic water.

When asked what they enjoy most about their new jobs, Fleury chuckled. “No longer having a boss.” He then went on, ” We enjoy contributing to the community in a way that really helps people. We’re trying to help move Charleston forward to becoming a sustainable city. We want people to know that they can reduce their energy use and save money without giving up their lifestyle.”

Fleury and White, who both attended the University of Georgia, met in 2004, several years after they graduated. In the interim, White had gained considerable experience with structural wiring and smart monitors for residential applications.

On site in Charleston, South Carolina

Following some preliminary conversations, the two decided to get serious about starting their own company. They spent four months putting together a business plan. The decision to install solar thermal systems was “a natural choice,” according to Fleury. He noted that such systems are relatively affordable compared to solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, and offer a solid return on investment. “We saw solar thermal as one of the best ways to help homeowners save money and energy, right off the bat,” Fleury noted.

Next, the two spent a year educating themselves about solar thermal technologies, installation procedures, and related rules and regulations. Beyond reading industry classics, like Tom Lane’s “Solar Hot Water: Lessons Learned 1977 to Today,” the two took a week-long course at the Florida Solar Energy Center, one of two organizations that certify solar equipment to receive state tax credits. The Solar Rating Certification Council (SRCC) is the other. Beyond this, White also took a home energy rating systems (HERS) course at the South Face Energy Institute in Atlanta.

During our interview, Fleury spoke mostly of the cost savings offered by solar thermal systems, and the challenges involved in starting one’s own company. But it was clear that both Fluery’s and White’s interest in renewable energy isn’t limited to technical or financial considerations. Fleury, who grew up on the lower Chesapeake Bay, has a long-standing connection with the local ecosystem. White, a rock climber and outdoorsman, shares a similar connection. While the two have little time these days for enjoying the great outdoors, they both have a genuine interest in helping the environment.

Though they’re optimistic about the future of solar power and other forms of renewable power, not everything has come easy for their new venture. “Renewable energy legislation has really been on the back burner here in South Carolina,” observed Fleury. “It’s one of the few states to still not have net metering,” he added, referring to the process by which electricity from solar electric systems is fed back into the grid and credited to the owner’s utility account. Net metering is one of the key ingredients to the cost effectiveness of solar PV systems.

Beyond a 25 percent state tax credit, the state legislature doesn’t offer much support for residents and business owners who want to install solar electric systems. Without stronger incentives at the state level, adoption rates of such systems will likely continue to be slow. Accordingly, Fleury and White launched Sustainable Energy Solutions by focusing instead on solar thermal systems — which are relatively affordable, and often provide a faster payback period and higher return on investment.

Yet, despite the challenges posed to solar PV in the state, the two owners intend to offer PV installation services in the future. Fleury mentioned that they are looking into getting certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Professionals (NABCEP), widely viewed as the industry gold standard for PV installation.

When asked if he could tell fellow South Carolinians one thing, Fleury concluded: “That there are companies out there who are ready to help bring South Carolina up to speed on the energy front.” Jokingly, he added, “And that we can use the sun for more than just getting a tan.”

For more information on Sustainable Energy Solutions, check out their GetSolar profile. Right now, residents and businesses in the Charleston area can sign up with them for a free energy consultation. Plus, they’re offering 10% off all systems contracts through May, 2009.