Blog Articles
Ramblin’ Man, Or, Accounting for Travel on a Big Project
I am driving to the Solar Software Summit, and you should let me know if you'd like to meet up there. It’s a road trip! Except, I’ve been on the road a while now so maybe it’s a bit of an excursion. I thought I would blog about something related: travel. This is...
In The News: Solar Pro – The Solar Software Ecosystem
“Software specifically developed for solar market applications has proliferated in recent years due to sustained industry growth. A San Francisco Bay Area subject matter expert curates highlights and trends from the expanding network of specialty solar software and...
Cost Per Watt is a Terrible Metric
Awhile back I started talking about a solar system cost. Immediately, the person with whom I was speaking translated number into a cost per watt. I totally understand why folks do that. It gives you a quick and dirty way to compare between systems. But it is SO...
Mobilization in Solar Estimating projects can cause significant overages
If you step back and think about it, installing a solar system (PV or Solar Thermal) requires a strong knowledge or trade experience in structural design, roofing & waterproofing, electrical and/or plumbing, and probably carpentry. Sometimes even steel work. But...
Parametric Estimating for the Solar Industry
The analogy that you often hear of altitude is fitting: the view from 10 feet, 100 feet, 1000 feet, 10,000 feet, etc. We’ve talked about the smaller levels, but now it is time for the biggest view. Today we are going to go into parametric estimating or comparison...
Area or Volume Pricing: For When you Already Have Data
There is definitely more to estimating than Unit pricing and Take-offs! They have a time and a place. I typically draw on them when I have to bid something about which I have no context or experience. Imagine the people who bid on STS-1 (the first space shuttle...
In The News: White Paper – How to save up to 7 cents/Watt in your next commercial solar project.
“Explore three case studies which compare costs between inverters in commercial rooftop systems of varying sizes and three-phase voltages. Learn how the installer saed with HIQ inverters based on real bids that were submitted last year in California.” Published...
Unit Pricing: Accurate AND Time Efficient for Solar Bidding
This week we start streamlining the art. As a method with nearly equivalent accuracy as Take-offs, unit pricing adds speed. It uses the same principles of Take-offs at a slightly bigger picture. Well, from a different angle. Basically, you identify something that is...
Solar Estimating: What Are Take-Offs, Anyway?
Last week I talked about solar bidding as an art form. In art, as with most things, there is a range of concrete and abstract approaches to art. Estimating is no different. This week we are going to start with the most concrete: Take-offs. I like to say estimating can...