CALIFORNIA
CONTRACTOR
FINDS NICHE
Solar water heating is proving a pro table venture.

Bruce Sherwood, owner of Amador Solar (www. amadorsolar.com), Amador, Calif., serving northern California and the Foothills, worked in solar plumbing back in the ’80s when the business was booming, thanks to tax credits. A er the tax credits went away and business tapered o , he began a career in retail operations; however, six years ago, he returned to his rst love, plumbing. en, in late 2007, he decided to focus on solar hot water heating (SHWH) and began researching di erent manufacturers to partner with, eventually selecting Heliodyne.

“I decided to focus on solar because it is my passion,” Sherwood says. “It is the best alternative for what our country is trying to do in regard to nding alternative sources of energy. We need to be more conscious about the way we will leave the planet to our children and future generations.”

Rosalie Escamilla, mayor of Jackson, CA, and her husband John had a solar water heating system installed in their home.

Over the last year, Sherwood’s business has taken off. He credits that to the incredible market for SHWH in California, as well as to making the right choice in a manufacturer partner.

When asked what contractors looking to get into SHWH should look for in a manufacturer, Sherwood o ers the following:

What is their history? What types of jobs have they done? What types of case studies are available?

Are the products high-quality? Where are they manufactured?

What do the actual installations look like? Sherwood emphasizes how important it is to go out and look at real jobs.

How do they size the systems? Unless you plan to engineer the systems yourself, make sure the systems come as preassembled packages – they must be sized correctly.

What type of so ware do they o er to help you during the sales process?

What do they offer in terms of training, certification and technical support? Can you communicate openly?

Sherwood focuses primarily on residential – both new construction and retro ts. He handles all sales calls and communication with the manufacturer, and uses licensed contractors to do the installs.