The government is handing out rebates to weatherize homes, and install solar energy. It looks like a free for all on the contractor side as solar/electricians and weatherization/insulation and window conctractors race to redefine themselves and grab market share.
On the government side, it is a bottleneck, as they have the cash, but not the business culture to get the systems to deliver the cash to the public efficiently set up.
Anyone out there acting in a GC capacity to market solar and weatherization services to the public. I am talking about your not actually doing the work, but marketing yourself as a one stop shop for:
solar energy
insulation
solar hot water
windows
rain water harvesting
tankless water heaters
and negotiating with the local government for all the rebates and permits involved.
I guess the kernel is the “one stop energy savings shop” concept.
Replies
Do a search for this as I recall a thread a few months back about it...
There are several of those types of contractors here in Austin. They ramped up when all the federal programs started. One company I drive by each day on my way to the shop had three trucks detailed, a new office and tons of signs. This week a for rent sign popped up infront of the building and all the trucks were gone.
So they have either grown out of their space due to great business and have moved or I suspect the Energy niche was not quite as bountiful as they hoped.
I believe one can include weatherization and energy improvement as part of their services, but most of those projects require significant cash outlays from the client.
Best of luck.