Spotlight: Frazier Spann
Spotlight on a Solar Pro: Frazier Spann
This spotlight on a Solar Pro is Frazier Spann. There are exciting opportunities in the clean energy industry out there, for those unafraid of heights, and unabashed at breaking a sweat to get the job done.
Proving that to a tee is Frazier Spann. Graduate of Appalachian State University where he initially studied Computer Science and then ultimately completed a major in Sustainable Technology, he traces his journey to become a solar professional back to a certain professor he had. This professor beckoned Frazier toward the Sustainable Technology department, where his interest in clean energy sources soon blossomed into a passion.
A Greensboro, NC native, Frazier was looking to break into the realm of solar energy contracting and through a university department head he got connected with an internship for course credit with Renu Energy, and he immediately headed to Charlotte to take the job. He adores Charlotte now, calling it a city that feels young and hip with lots of cool things happening that are great to be a part of. Attesting that he has priorities, he quickly adds, “The brewery selection is awesome.”
Frazier developed rapidly as a solar installation team member and learned the ropes fast, so after his internship period ended he made it clear he’d like to become a full-time employee at Renu. Among renewable energy sources now in use it’s the most widely deployed, he says, which he points out makes sense: “It’s just more universal.”
Frazier takes a “perfect practice makes perfect” approach to his role as part of a solar installer team, saying, “I wanted to learn more, and doing installations helps you learn the best.” Like many employees in the solar industry and Renu particularly, he sees a smallish company with a local focus as his ideal place to be, remarking, “I’m at a small company, and I’m not just watching it grow, I’m a part of the growth. It’s more like a family than a team of coworkers.”
He’s come to appreciate that Renu’s install team holds their work to a high standard. “We’re focused on the finer details, with a great product and superior aesthetics, and really strong customer service,” Frazier says. “Which I’m pretty sure would not be the case when working for a larger company, where every customer is just a number.” The other area where a company of Renu’s size differentiates itself is the attention paid to employee needs and development. “They are really focused on helping us with our careers and helping to get the certifications and education we need not only for our role today but for the job we want in the future.”
The view from the roof – Photo taken by Frazier Spann
As a young worker, Frazier thinks a lot about the future of the solar industry, summing up his views this way: “It’s interesting to see how every couple of years new products are brought to the market. The goal is faster, cleaner and more efficient solar installation and solar energy production. It also excites me to see the growth in how many new people are going to be getting solar over the next 10 years. Along with the integration of energy storage which is going to bring renewable energy feasibility and usability to the next level.”
“At the end of the day it also feels great to work for an industry that is environmentally friendly and helping move our world to a more energy sustainable future,” concludes Frazier.
When he’s not helping install solar energy, you can find Frazier enjoying video games, PC building, and watching documentaries about science and history (hey, installing solar is hard work, what better way to rest up afterwards!) Plus being outdoors hiking, biking, and hanging out with friends, revealing that as a lover of nature and North Carolina’s beautiful places he really is a sustainability “true believer” at heart.
Read another feature on a solar professional: Hannah Elliott, Operations Supervisor
Read about the experience of Austin Winecoff, Summer 2018 Solar Installation Intern
Read about our two summer 2018 operations interns, Jenny Nguyen and Sam Robbins
Read our solar professional spotlight about Christina McClain: Junior Project Coordinator
Read about Logan Peterson, our summer/fall 2018 Operations Department Intern
Frequently Asked Questions About Solar for Your Home:
How exactly does going solar and a solar system itself work?
How many solar panels do I need for my home?
Roof-size/available space: When we look at the size of your roof and the space available, we gather data that tell us the maximum number of solar panels your home or site can hold and we even consider shading. We use a software “Suneye” which takes a 360 picture of your roof and we use this photo to determine if your home is a good candidate for solar.
Energy Usage: When we determine energy usage we look at your past electrical bills from over the course of a year to make sure your system isn’t too big or too small.
Your Budget: We take your budget seriously and most importantly, we want you to be satisfied with our services. We take your feedback on how much you want to spend so that we can size your system appropriately.
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