ROC Highlights Licensing Requirements for Solar Contracting

By Jessica A. Jackson

With over 300 days of sunshine per year, Arizona is becoming a leader in the solar industry. More and more people are now going green and looking for ways to make their homes energy efficient. Contractors in Arizona are likely eager to become a part of this growing industry—but you must make sure you are properly licensed. The Arizona Registrar of Contractors recently posted on its website the latest on its solar licensing requirements. Depending on the type of solar installations you are performing, there are different license classifications. The website contains a table of each of the different classifications, details on the different testing requirements, and even links to the statutes governing solar contracting in Arizona. Residential and commercial general contracting and remodeling licenses may contract for solar installations—but beware—all work pertaining to solar products must be subcontracted to a properly licensed solar plumbing, air conditioning, boiler, electrical, or swimming pool contractor! There are several exceptions and details noted on the website, so be sure to check it out here.

Please contact Jessica Jackson at jjackson@holmwright.com or (480) 477-8593 for additional information

VA HOSPITALS IN ARIZONA TO RECEIVE SOLAR PANELS

REC Solar—a San Luis Obispo, CA solar company—has announced that it will provide the means to renewable energy at Veterans Affairs hospitals in Arizona and two other states.

VA hospitals in Phoenix and Tucson will join facilities in California and Nevada as REC installs about 1.7 megawatts of solar panels on the roofs. That is enough electricity to power about 3,600 homes.

The REC/VA projects will result in about 60 jobs in the three states, but if successful, could be the beginning of a trend—similar to cell phone towers—where solar panels are placed on the expansive roofs of local facilities in order to serve people in those areas and create many more job opportunities in the local market. To some, this is a more attractive proposition then creating solar fields of solar panels in rural areas and wiring it into urban areas.

REC Solar expects the work to be done by the end of spring. The system will be the largest for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

For more information contact Jared M. Scarbrough at jscarbrough@holmwright.com or (480) 477-8589.

“Cash for Caulkers”—The Construction Industry’s Version of Cash for Clunkers?

By Jared M. Scarbrough


You’ve likely heard of “Cash for Clunkers”—a federal government program where a potential purchaser of certain new cars at participating dealerships could trade in an older car for an unusually-high trade-in rebate—but have you heard of “Cash for Caulkers”? Cash for Caulkers is President Obama’s proposal that calls for greater incentives—perhaps amounting to thousands of dollars—for homeowners to get new energy-efficient appliances, windows, and other such items.

The proposal will likely be patterned after New York State’s home energy efficiency program. Essentially, a homeowner seeking to take advantage of the program locates a participating contractor to schedule an energy audit—available on a designated website or by calling a toll-free number. Then, for about $500, the contractor will meet the homeowner at his or her residence and figure out how much energy the house wastes by placing a huge fan in the doorway that will suck outside air into the house, highlighting leaks in windows, doors, and walls. Among other things, the contractor will also test each appliance to see how much energy they use, and check the thickness of insulation and windows.

After the inspection, all of the information from the inspection is fed into a computer model that generates a checklist with everything that could be replaced, how much it will cost, and how much energy savings can be expected out of it. The homeowner decides how much work to do, and negotiates a price with the contractor. When the work is complete, the homeowner pays the contractor, and the contractor submits the paid invoice to the federal agency that runs the program. The homeowner then gets a reimbursement check from the agency of up to 50% of the project cost—with a maximum reimbursement of $12,000—usually within 30 days.

What does this mean for the construction industry? Well, for contractors hit hard by the recession and collapse in homebuilding, this program would be a godsend as it is expected to create over 250,000 construction jobs nationwide.

The proposal is currently in the early stages of development and there is no timetable for its implementation. But with the cost to the government a “mere” $10 billion, experts expect the proposal to be approved once the kinks are worked out and for the program to be initiated later this year.

For more information contact jscarbrough@holmwright.com/.