In early 2008 the solar industry started taking off. The promise of affordable, clean energy along with government incentives created a big wave of residential solar. It was clear homeowners wanted clean energy, on their terms. They wanted to break free from utility hikes and get smarter about their energy use. It caused the launch of hundreds of solar companies all trying to capture a new market. Many were over-promising, under-delivering and going out of business so fast homeowners had nowhere to turn for the warranties they were guaranteed. It didn’t take long for the solar industry to get a bad reputation.

We knew there was a better way – so we started Sunny Energy. We don’t want to be the biggest solar company. We want to be the best. So, we don’t do things the easy way – we do them the right way.

Our four founders are industry-leading experts who know business operations, industry regulations, design and construction, installation and customer service. Solar industry leaders Joe Cunningham and Chris Wood joined master electrician and construction experts Terry Rials and Jake Stainbrook in 2014 to create a better solar experience – Sunny Energy.

It did not take long for the four founders to agree on and focus on the company’s pillars of sustainability and success:

• Invest in People: Hire local, qualified employees, offering competitive salaries and bonuses, substantial benefits, 401K with profit sharing.
• Insist on Quality: Select high-quality, highest value products for our customers.
• Put Customers First: Provide exceptional customer service, starting with the employee and consumer education on the values of solar done correctly, and by practicing the same.
• Continually Improve: Reinvest profits in R&D, quality and process improvements and our employees.
• Be Ethical: Maintain an ethical business and environmental conscience.
• Be a Good Neighbor: Invest in our community by helping to improve the business of solar, improving student educational programs and assisting organizations such as St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and Mom’s Pantry.

When it comes to our customers, the right way is educating them about what solar is – and isn’t – so they can make the right decision for themselves. It’s taking the time to get to know our customers, understand their goals and reasons for wanting solar, and building a system designed to meet those goals instead of simply selling the same system to everyone. It’s finding the best technology – not just the name brands. Though we have those too! It’s leadership in the industry so we can help shape regulations and the future of creating, storing, and monitoring your own clean energy. It’s about taking the extra time, care, and using only the best quality products to install your system so you can enjoy your system for decades to come without damaging your roof. It’s about maximizing a homeowner’s ROI, not our company’s revenue. And it’s about building a sustainable business that’s here for the long-term, not the quick money. Company profits are not the main goal, but they should be the result of good business practices.