NABCEP Certification Demonstrates Quality, Experience And Knowledge In The Field Of Alternative Energy
WILMINGTON, NC, May 18, 2010 — In keeping with the highest standards of quality and integrity, Cape Fear Solar Systems, LLC is proud to announce becoming a NABCEP Certified Solar Installer. This distinguishing mark for renewable energy professionals has been awarded since 2003 by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP). NABCEP’s rigorous competency standards for certification send a clear message to consumers, financers, and public officials that the industry stresses the highest standards in safety, workmanship, and ethical business practices.
Developed by industry experts, NABCEP is the leading national credentialing organization for renewable energy professionals. “NABCEP is most assuredly making a positive difference in the quality of renewable installations in the country,” says Ezra Auerbach, the Executive Director of NABCEP. As of April 2010, 1,196 individuals have obtained NABCEP’s Solar PV Installer Certification and 132 have obtained NABCEP’s Solar Thermal Installer Certification in the USA.
Benefits of this certification serve both the consumer and the installer. NABCEP Certification demonstrates consumer protection, quality assurance, and improved system performance. For installers, passing this challenging exam usually means validation of their experience and knowledge, increased credibility and marketing value for their company, greater career mobility and recognition by their peers. “Systems installed by NABCEP certified installers have fewer problems at the time of inspection than those installed by non-certified installers,” states New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) as a result of their study and as referenced on the NABCEP web site.
Increasing the number of NABCEP Certified Installers can only improve the industry as a whole. Unfortunately, untrained or uninformed installers in many cases provide misleading information to clients, which puts the industry at risk in terms of promises made versus results delivered. “We see all too often, whether intentionally or unintentionally, customers being lead to believe unrealistic figures related to performance and return on investment of solar systems” says John Donoghue, a NABCEP Solar Thermal Certified Installer at Cape Fear Solar Systems, LLC.
“At Cape Fear Solar Systems, we want to be an active player for the long term. Being licensed, insured and certified demonstrates our commitment to a long term presence in the local solar market” Donoghue explains. Due to the harsh and demanding environment in which solar systems operate, particularly day to day exposure to UV radiation, Cape Fear Solar Systems, LLC selects products that will perform well and hold up in this environment. Products of an inferior quality, while they may look good initially from a financial standpoint, rarely, if ever, meet expectations in terms of performance and durability. “Before you go solar, make sure it is for the long term and make sure your installer plans on being there as well,” Donoghue emphasizes. When it comes to choosing an installer, customers must look for quality of workmanship and experience: the mark of NABCEP Certification is one of the ways they can be assured of satisfying these requirements.
