• 4 min read

Solar problems solved: tough roofs, bad weather, remote projects

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Solar installers face an almost uncountable number of challenges. Beyond external factors that have given the solar market its well worn “solar coaster” moniker, there’s just the day-to-day stuff of a typical project.

Let’s take 30 seconds and write down the challenges that come to mind. Ready… go!

  • Complex roofs: Steep-pitches, and tall or large homes
  • Old or dangerous roofs: Make for hazardous on-site inspections
  • Weather-related challenges: Rain, snow, and wind make assessments challenging, or downright dangerous — and can delay projects significantly
  • Remote locations: Long travel times to far off locations (and add traffic delays in more urban areas)
  • Annoying backlogs: The above factors lead to survey delays and repeat visits
  • Multi-person surveys: Surveys often require more than one person, compounding the wasted time and money

And… time! As you probably noticed, in the time allowed, we only got through some site assessment and project design challenges. But, even those are significant. And anything you can do to save time, save money, and save complexity on these tasks can have a real effect on your bottom line.

Nobody wants to get up on a roof like this any more than is absolutely necessary.

That’s where EagleView Powered Models (EVPM) come in. By helping you tackle challenges such as complex roof structures, adverse weather conditions, and remote project locations, EVPMs provide a versatile and reliable solution that can make your company more efficient and reduce costs across your project lifecycle. 

From verifying roof dimensions for installation, to minimizing change orders and avoiding repeat site visits, EVPMs streamline operations and accelerate project timelines. 

But don’t take our word for it.

Let’s take a look at how real-life solar installers are using EVPM to improve their business.

Stories from the field

New York State Solar

  • Overview: Operating in New York City, Long Island, and New Jersey, NYSS manages a high volume of complex projects, with 20-25% involving multi-story buildings.
  • Challenges: Time-consuming manual surveys, frequent weather delays, and costly repeat visits hindered efficiency
  • How EVPM helps:
    • Reduced survey time by over 40 minutes per project
    • Eliminated repeat visits for 20% of projects, saving $150-300 per project
    • Integrated seamlessly with pre- and post-sales workflows to streamline operations
  • Impact: Enabled NYSS to confidently handle complex projects, maintain customer satisfaction, and scale operations efficiently
New York State Solar case study link
Click above to read more about how NYSS cut their site survey time by more than 60%.

Revolusun

  • Overview: Revolusun Mountain States operates across the state of Idaho and Eastern Washington. With offices in Boise and Coeur D’Alene, this means projects are on average located over 1.5 hours away from their warehouses, creating unique logistical challenges for their team.
  • Challenge: Long travel times (up to 5 hours for some projects) and cancellations due to logistical delays
  • How EVPM helps:
    • Allowed pre-sale evaluations without in-person visits
    • Improved homeowner trust with accurate remote measurements early in the sales process
    • Reduced site-surveying team to one person instead of two when site visits are necessary
  • Impact: Reduced travel costs, minimized cancellations, and improved overall pipeline efficiency

Solar Mite Solutions

  • Overview: Operating in a region where unpredictable weather can pose challenges, Solar Mite Solutions is a dedicated solar installation company that often faced significant project delays when roofs became inaccessible due to adverse conditions.
  • Challenge: Frequent weather disruptions delayed site surveys and project timelines
  • How EVPM helps:
    • Remote measurements during bad weather help keep workflows flowing
    • Reduced delays and avoided rescheduling or repeating site surveys
  • Impact: Maintained project schedules, reduced inefficiencies, and improved customer satisfaction

Meeting unique challenges with EVPM

OK, now that we’ve seen how EVPMs have helped a variety of solar installers, let’s look back at our list of challenges from the beginning. But, this time, let’s look at how you can solve them with a little help from EagleView Powered Models:

  • Complex roofs: Steep-pitched, tall, or large homes become manageable with EVPM’s precise remote assessments.
  • Old or dangerous roofs: Surveyors stay safe by avoiding hazardous on-site inspections.
  • Weather-related challenges: Rain, snow, and wind no longer halt progress, as EVPM enables accurate designs in any condition.
  • Remote locations: EVPM eliminates the need for excessive travel, reducing costs and time investment.
  • Annoying backlogs: EVPMs prevent survey delays and repeat visits, streamlining project timelines.
  • Multi-person surveys: Allocate resources more efficiently by requiring fewer people per project.

Efficiency and growth

Now that you’ve met these challenges, you can look towards other goals, like streamlining your workflows, reducing your costs, and growing your business. Whether in dense urban areas or remote rural regions, EVPM can help you:

  • Increase capacity: Expand site survey operations without overburdening resources
  • Reduce costs: Minimize travel expenses and avoid costly repeat visits
  • Enhance trust: Deliver accurate remote evaluations to homeowners, boosting confidence in pre-sale designs
  • Adapt with the market: Meet the unique demands of diverse markets and project scenarios

So, yeah, there’s no end to the challenges when it comes to running a solar business. But, with EVPM, you can solve those pesky ones so that you can focus on the fun ones and ultimately install more solar.

Want to learn more about how EVPM can help your business? Get our free e-book, Enhancing Accuracy with EVPM in Aurora.

More questions? Reach out for a quick chat with one of our experts.

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