What we do at GetSolar.com is educate consumers of all kinds about the values of solar energy and help them determine if solar is right for them. Then, we connect those consumers with qualified, experienced solar electric or solar thermal installers who can provide competitive quotes. This means the consumer doesn’t have to worry about whether or not the installer behind the quote has a good service record, or up to date insurance and licensing, or good business credit: we’ve taken care of all that already.

If you want to hear an industry insider talking about the paramount importance of qualified installers, watch this Renewable Energy World interview with Jane Weissman of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC). This is from just a couple days ago at the ASES conference in Buffalo, NY. She talks about how very difficult it is to get properly certified, and discusses some of the different training methods and types of certifications currently available. She also talks about the next level up: how to ensure that the folks doing the training are themselves certified to train. Watch (or listen), and be enlightened–and gain new respect for the solar panel installers who have to navigate this difficult path.