Luminalt Solar

Locally owned and located in San Francisco, Luminalt designs and installs solar electric, solar hot water, and electric vehicle charging stations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Luminalt is committed to quality, sustainability, innovation, and community improvement. As part of Luminalt’s commitment to community improvement, Luminalt has partnered with San Francisco’s Mayor Office, San Francisco's Summer Jobs+ program, and Bay Area’s United Way - MatchBridge youth employment program to offer 3 business pathways internships to local youths this summer. Follow this blog as our interns periodically blog about their experiences at Luminalt this summer. Read their individual bios by clicking their corresponding names below.

[luminalt]

This is the end. - Summer 2014 Interns

What is something you've learned?

Bithiah - Throughout my 8 weeks here at Luminalt, I've learned a broad range of accounting skills. From timesheet entry to bill payments within Quickbooks. An important lesson I've gained from this internship is to take the time to complete something. Especially when it comes to accounting work, it's best to spend time on something and complete it correctly than to rush it through. I've never realized just how important balance statements are within a company.

♪Cause I'm happy...♪ - Elsie 

Jennifer - This marketing internship has taught me a lot about Salesforce. I've gained valuable marketing skills through my work on a market analysis' by analyzing Salesforce data. The opportunity to create a marketing plan was really worthwhile. 

Atop Project Open Hand!

Kevin - Like Jennifer, Luminalt taught me how to utilize Salesforce. There's so much that I've learned from these 8 weeks. I've been given the opportunity to learn about policy work at the state Capitol to creating marketing proofs such as lawn signs. The biggest take away for me is understanding that environmentally friendly businesses and products are not just a niche market but is rather affordable for all and that is really exciting for the future!

Solar!!! :)

[luminalt]

InterSolar North America 2014 - Jennifer

On Tuesday July 8, 2014, My fellow interns and I had the opportunity to attend InterSolar's Exhibition, held annually at San Francisco's Moscone Center. Established in 2008, InterSolar's aim is to unite businesses, technologies, and people from the most important solar markets around the globe together with the aim of increasing the share of solar power in our energy supplies. The exhibition is the most-attended solar exhibition in the United States. As a member of CALSEIA, Luminalt was able to provide exhibit passes to its employees and interns.

The three of us checked in and began exploring the booths. Melissa, Luminalt's Manager of Community Engagement, created an "InterSolar Scavenger Hunt" as a guide for better understanding solar industry terms and products. The guide enabled us to better understand the various presentations and materials at the event. The difficult part of the day was obtaining all the definitions to solar industry terms. Since we definitely looked younger than the rest of the attendees, we gave off the impression that we lacked knowledge in solar products. Many booth representatives were dressed to impress and were ready to pitch their products at any given moment whereas we only wanted to learn the basics. Having conversations with such huge players in the industry was a welcomed challenge. 

A creative sales presentation at InterSolar!

At the exhibition, we interacted with the suppliers, installers, and educators of the solar industry. We viewed presentations on panels, inverters, roofing mounts, and many more components that go into solar electric or thermal systems. Of the numerous presentations that we attended, my favorite was displayed by a sales team that pitched their product while attempting to break free from a straitjacket while riding atop a unicycle. Incorporating their product's key selling points and keeping the audience engaged, their courageous presenter would break free his left arm from the jacket and say something like "you can break free too... from energy reliance by going solar". They also gave out small prizes such as pens, car chargers, and USB drives after the presentation.   

Overall, it was a great opportunity to immerse ourselves into the solar industry. 

[luminalt]

Shadowing Sales - Kevin

A SunEye 210 device, by Solmetric, used to measure the sun.

On Wednesday 07/02/14, I got the opportunity to shadow Chase Christie, a Solar Consultant of Luminalt's Engineering and Analysis Team. Chase gets to visit the homes of potential solar customers in order to assess their roof's solar availability by day, month, and year with the help of a handheld tool called SunEye.

To utilize the SunEye, Chase climbs atop of the roof in order to measure and take angular pictures of the roof so Luminalt's engineering team can create a personalized photovoltaic(PV) system that suits the demands of the individual customer. With that and other site information, Chase conducts a price analyses. 

The majority of the assessment comprises of interacting with the interested customer. Chase explains the procedures, costs, and outcomes of going solar. From the break-even points to the 30% federal tax credit and SFPUC's GoSolarSF incentive, a San Francisco program that helps defray costs of a solar investment, Chase explains it all. 

As an intern, I got to tag along and experience the sales process. In addition, I was also the Cantonese translator for Luminalt since the customer was not fluent in English. I was given the opportunity to experience sales, which was new and exciting, yet it also felt routine, like the many times I've translated for my parents. 

It was a new, informative learning experience. Too bad the sun wasn't out that day. 

Tip: Bring a jacket if you ever go on a roof in San Francisco.

[luminalt]

Meet Luminalt's Summer 2014 Interns

From left to right: Bithiah, Jennifer, Kevin 

Hello! We are Luminalt's Summer 2014 interns, placed through United Way's Youth Employment Program - MatchBridge. 

What is something you look forward to learning during your time at Luminalt?

Bithiah - Accounting and business related skills!

Jennifer - General business/marketing knowledge and how Luminalt's marketing differs from other solar installers. 

Kevin - Learning how to measure the sun's ray using a Solmetric.

[luminalt]

Welcome to Luminalt Solar Energy Solutions' blog.

Locally owned and located in San Francisco, Luminalt designs and installs solar electric, solar hot water, and electric vehicle charging stations in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Luminalt is committed to quality, sustainability, innovation, and community improvement.  As part of Luminalt’s commitment to community improvement, Luminalt has partnered with San Francisco’s Mayor Office, San Francisco's Summer Jobs+ program, and Bay Area’s United Way - MatchBridge youth employment program to offer 3 business pathways internships to local youths this summer. Follow this blog as our interns periodically blog about their experiences at Luminalt this summer. Read their individual bios by clicking their corresponding links below.

luminalt.tumblr.com/2014bithiah

luminalt.tumblr.com/2014jennifer

luminalt.tumblr.com/2014kevin

[luminalt]

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