SunReports, the market leader in residential solar energy monitoring for both solar PV and solar hot water systems, reports that consumer-oriented businesses which publicly display solar performance data either via physical displays in stores or via web portals experience significant business growth as a result. Business owners report that publicly displayed solar performance data builds consumers sense of a business as a green brand, building customer loyalty and referrals.
The benefits of solar monitoring are not always obvious, but its an extremely powerful tool, said Tom Dinkel, CEO of SunReports. One of the most exciting uses of monitoring weve seen emerge, especially in the age of social media, is when businesses use monitoring to build their identity as solar powered. This has tremendous ability to create customer loyalty.
Torontos Beach Solar Laundromat, one of the first businesses to use SunReports monitoring on a commercial solar thermal installation, reports a direct increase in customer base and overall revenue since using the SunReports system to display solar performance. The company has eight solar thermal panels installed, which both heat water for the laundromat and provide potable hot water for the apartments on the buildings upper floor.
Since publicly displaying its solar performance data, the company experienced over 160 percent revenue growth in 18 months as customers chose Beach Solar Laundromat over its competitors specifically for its environmental initiatives. In an industry with little obvious opportunity for differentiation, the solar halo has lent the company a significant advantage.
When we started out our business, we were competing with three other Laundromats in the area, and now its down to one, said Alex Winch, owner of Beach Solar Laundromat. Customers see clearly how environmentally friendly our business is through SunReports simple and easy to understand visuals and this is why they go out of their way to patronize our business.
Another SunReports customer attracting more attention and revenue for taking responsible environmental measures is the Greenwich Avenue Carwash located in Stamford, CT. With 18 solar panels installed atop the business roof to heat water used in their automated car wash, the business was looking for a way to demonstrate its green commitment to their customers. The company turned to SunReports Apollo2 to monitor both their solar thermal and solar PV solutions.
Were pleased to see that our customers are as enthused about environmental practices as we are. As much as the solar panels are a draw for customers, they also provide the energy used in our operations and help with our overall costs, notes Gregg Mercede, owner of Greenwich Avenue Car Wash.
Since our solar thermal and PV systems play such an integral role within our operating costs, its become imperative to know whether they are functioning as they should, and having SunReports Apollo2 system is useful in alerting us when our systems are down or need maintenance. Its been a draw for our environmentally-conscious customers to see how weve dramatically reduced our carbon footprint.
Besides building brands, monitoring leads to clear operational savings. California gym Toadal Fitness generates an average of over 1200 therms per year with its solar thermal collectors. Since water heating for hot showers, steam baths, laundry, and pool and Jacuzzi heating represents a substantial portion of fitness centers overhead expenditure, the company ensures its solar thermal system is working to its highest potential with a SunReports Apollo2.
Since we incorporated SunReports into our overall solar system, its been a total eye-opening experience, says Christophe Bellito, one of Toadal Fitness owners. We were able to comprehend clearly our total hot water usage, which validated our decision to install solar thermal. Weve considerably trimmed down our operating expenses without having to compromise the service we offer our clients. As an added bonus, we have verification that well save 202 metric tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted over the next 25 years.
Based on the knowledge that monitoring helps grow brands, SunReports recently introduced the first Facebook application to broadcast users solar performance, accompanied by installer and manufacturer branding, to their social networks.
