Hello Tom
This is my first job they sent me on. It was in foster city at a residence home. I was very excited to be a part of this project. It was a 4.5 kW Roof mount PV System. The job included 22 "Evergreen 205" modules. We used Solar City's own Canopy mounting system, which i found alot easier and faster then the pro solar mounting system we used in our class. Also the inverter we used was a Fronious IG plus 3.8. It was a very exciting to work on the roof along side with the other installers. They really had me jump right into work rather than just have me stand and watch, which is what i expected since it was my first install. I did everything from cutting shingles and laying down the brackets, flashings, rails, and modules. They Even had me Carry up each module up the ladder and onto the roof which was really crazy. I had to position the module in one hand and carry it up a 10 foot ladder with gusts of wind almost blowing me over every other module. All and all the install was a success and we actually finished it all in one day.
Best Regards, Willie
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Coneybeares
How you doin Tom, just following up with you,we just completed a huge job in the city, and everything turned outwell done and clean. Me and a few other temps were requested tobe apart of RealGoods Solar full time as soon as things start picking upagain- probably in mid February(as you know January is not the best month for solar). Coneybeares temp agency really hooked me up well, and working hard helped too. Take care Tom, Sunny IS Money! Jon
Monday, November 30, 2009
Exported Waste Africa
Tom,
Thank you for sending me the article. These are some of the problems I was faced with on my last visit to Nigeria. There is a place called Computer City in Lagos, Nigeria where all the recycle computer parts are store for resale. Not only is it causing big environmental issue it is also health problem. It is an issue that needs to be address now. It should be shipped to an industrialized developed country that will utilize the recycle part not Africa that is just developing. Global Warming is a Global Issue, No Nation should be left behind. Sending all these garbage to another country is not going to turn the Earth Green. What people need to understand is that we share the Oceans and the Earth. Our Globe is becoming smaller and smaller as people travel all over the world. If any disease breaks out we are doom to be affected. Going Green should be a Global compaign. This issue require a big attention before it gets out of control.
This is one of my concern regarding United Nation(UN) why are all these leaders gathering together and deciding on issues relating to Green and implementing the opposite. I think, we need conformity uniform global rules and regulation on Corporation setting new manufacturing plants including imports & exports of raw material and recycle material, carrying a penalty for any country that violate the law.
Emission Control:
Update, do you know that all those cluster cars were shipped to Africa and other developing countries. Is this the perfect way of going GREEN or just a slogan of
"Not in my backyard" can the world leaders explain what they meant by cutting emission of CO2. for developed countries only. I do not think this is a perfect way of solving this Global Warming Issue at all. Moving a problem from one side to another side does not solve the problem instead it is going to build up and explode to a bigger problem that will be too late to handle.
Let me use Solar training term -laugh. it is just like connecting black (hot) & white (neutral)cable together (Explosion) This is a problem that does not required a rocket scientist to solve at all. We all need to make this place a better place for us to live. Since we begin the Green campaign it has increase the quality of life of some people and longetivy. Yes we can live to be 120 years. It happened in our forefather days as written in the bible. Women were even having children at 70yrs old. Let us allow nature to take it course.
Again, thanks for sending me the article. It did lifted my spirit and passion for the environment as usual.
Judith
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/
Judith;
This article from the New York Times addresses some issues that you are passionate and made me think of you. It mentions Nigeria at the very end. I was hoping you would write an article for our solar blog.
~Tom
--
Solar Program Designer & Instructor
JobTrain
650-681-9445
Exported Waste Asia
EXPORTED WASTE
The third world countries have been recipients of these commodities for more than three decades now. These are the junks of more advanced countries that are mostly sold and shipped to countries like the Philippines. Commonly exported junks are used computers and television sets, old cargo trucks and tractor heads, old cars and vans, used engines, used heavy & construction equipments like excavator/loaders, loaders, dozers and cranes, really old junk cargo ships and self-propelled barges, and near expiring medicines. Unaware of toxic effects, or simply myopic, the government has allowed unabated entry of such goods into the country for so long. Some however, are smuggled through different ports by unscrupulous traders. These oldies (televisions & computers) are very saleable and normally end up in garbage piles. More often than not, those used engines that repowered cars and buses and trucks are heavy polluters carbonizing both the highways and lungs of the daily commuters. The other oldies are deployed in the cities and provinces spewing carbon dioxide and leaking engine oil to the ground, and rivers & bays. Junk cargo ships are good source of scrap metals, plastics, wood, etc., for recycling into deformed bars, copper bars, aluminum and cast iron. However, these ships are also laden with asbestos, acids, nitrates, and other toxic chemicals. Ordinary workers and welders chop them into pieces and those harmful materials are ditched on the ground. One worst pollutant that most people are unaware of is the expired medicines that get to the dumps and waterways. Those countries made huge profits while they moved their garbage next door, but the ecological damage is global and certainly, will also be in their backyard.
Poor recipients, not only are they choking due to toxic waste, they are limping too, because their factories that used to manufacture those products had all shut down.
wilfred 9/30/09
EXPORTED WASTE
The third world countries have been recipients of these commodities for more than three decades now. These are the junks of more advanced countries that are mostly sold and shipped to countries like the Philippines. Commonly exported junks are used computers and television sets, old cargo trucks and tractor heads, old cars and vans, used engines, used heavy & construction equipments like excavator/loaders, loaders, dozers and cranes, really old junk cargo ships and self-propelled barges, and near expiring medicines. Unaware of toxic effects, or simply myopic, the government has allowed unabated entry of such goods into the country for so long. Some however, are smuggled through different ports by unscrupulous traders. These oldies (televisions & computers) are very saleable and normally end up in garbage piles. More often than not, those used engines that repowered cars and buses and trucks are heavy polluters carbonizing both the highways and lungs of the daily commuters. The other oldies are deployed in the cities and provinces spewing carbon dioxide and leaking engine oil to the ground, and rivers & bays. Junk cargo ships are good source of scrap metals, plastics, wood, etc., for recycling into deformed bars, copper bars, aluminum and cast iron. However, these ships are also laden with asbestos, acids, nitrates, and other toxic chemicals. Ordinary workers and welders chop them into pieces and those harmful materials are ditched on the ground. One worst pollutant that most people are unaware of is the expired medicines that get to the dumps and waterways. Those countries made huge profits while they moved their garbage next door, but the ecological damage is global and certainly, will also be in their backyard.
Poor recipients, not only are they choking due to toxic waste, they are limping too, because their factories that used to manufacture those products had all shut down.
wilfred 9/30/09
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Wayne & Francisco
(Late post~Tom)
Francisco,
Right on you the Man.Congratulations on the start of your new career.
As for me ( Wayne Ward ) i'm working for solar city out of Berkeley.2 weeks now.Completed 2 residential installations and now i'm on a 6 week ground mount project in Livermore hills. Thanks again for all the Great training you have taught us Mr.Tom Hugget.
Tony and Steve
Good Day Tom,
This is one of the roofs of a church/school in Livermore where we are installing the mounts for the racking. There are four total.
This one has the least slope but is the highest up. 4 guys using cordless impact wrenches done this roof in about 6 hrs. Monday we go back to continue there are 8 guys from VEP on this job, 4 SolarCity employees. Hopefully I can come and ring the bell on Fri. If I'm still working. The last one @ Real Goods only lasted 1 day.
Happy Holiday, Steve
This is one of the roofs of a church/school in Livermore where we are installing the mounts for the racking. There are four total.
This one has the least slope but is the highest up. 4 guys using cordless impact wrenches done this roof in about 6 hrs. Monday we go back to continue there are 8 guys from VEP on this job, 4 SolarCity employees. Hopefully I can come and ring the bell on Fri. If I'm still working. The last one @ Real Goods only lasted 1 day.
Happy Holiday, Steve
Jon is hired
(~Tom is late posting)
JonHey Tom - as of this week, I'm working for Marin Solar,working on a 12:12 pitched roof in san fran - big projectracking done, just installed enphase micros today for the most part.I am working through the week with them and still weekends at the restaurantso not much time to do much but I hope to hear from you soon - take care!
Sam's update September 3
(Reply by Roberto follows~Tom-is late posting)
Sorry for late replay first time checking email in a month. Im beat, tired but doing well working 50+ hrs. Work and sleep is my week. I love it Solar City, I gotten to work with some good crews. I've done a lot in the last 3 weeks from a 37kw sys on a comp shingle with perlins to 35kw ground mount. Solar City is massively hiring and I hear being really really persistent is key in getting a interview. In all honesty being really fit is key in getting in with out experience, this is a hard job my first day I saw someone go to the hospital for heat exhaustion so keep it in mind. All new hires are really in shape so you need to be when coming in for an interview.
Sorry for late replay first time checking email in a month. Im beat, tired but doing well working 50+ hrs. Work and sleep is my week. I love it Solar City, I gotten to work with some good crews. I've done a lot in the last 3 weeks from a 37kw sys on a comp shingle with perlins to 35kw ground mount. Solar City is massively hiring and I hear being really really persistent is key in getting a interview. In all honesty being really fit is key in getting in with out experience, this is a hard job my first day I saw someone go to the hospital for heat exhaustion so keep it in mind. All new hires are really in shape so you need to be when coming in for an interview.
Good Luck people;
Sam
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Roberto
Hello Sam (Solar Cycle 5 Team leader and graduate recruited by Solar City~Tom)
from a fellow JobTrain graduate under Tom Huggett.
Congratulations on getting hired as a residential installer with SolarCity. As you're finding out, it's a tough job. I heard about that guy who couldn't take the heat - literally. It's unfortunate but you absolutely have to keep yourself hydrated for your own and others' safety. I've worked on various jobs under downpours, freezing and 115+ degree temperature conditions to list a few. One is at the mercy of the elements as an installer and one should be prepared to face and deal with it. And as you said and as you noticed you will not see any out of shape installers for obvious reasons.
Having also worked in HQ (SolarCity Foster City headquarters) and with those doing the hiring I can share the following for all prospective hires:
1. Review Tom's class notes. Know strings, series, parallel, combiner, inverter, racking, penetrations, etc. You will have a written test before you are interviewed.
2. Be informed about SolarCity. Do your homework about SolarCity and scour www.solarcity.com to learn anything and everything about the company. Know who Pete and Lyndon are. Know where our various warehouse locations are at. Know what jobs we've done in the past. What is the relationship between between SolarCity and Tesla Motors? How many installations did the FosterCity warehouse do last year? It's all in the website.
3. Dress for the job you're applying for. If you're applying for an installer, then dress like a professional installer - long sleeve shirt, Carhartt/Dickies pants etc., boots. Let them know you're ready to work NOW! If one comes in dressed in a 3 piece suit, you might be able to pull it off but this attire is not helping you. And if one shows up in shorts or in some gang banger outfit then you'll be lucky if you get more than a few minutes of interview time.
4. Follow up. After your interview, follow up the next day with Tommie Lia (sic). Let Tommie know that you are interested in the position and find out when he will make a decision - it's usually less than a week after interviews. Patrick Donner is the HR recruiter and is whom 99% of applicants go through but you will not be working with Patrick but with Tommie.
Anyway, the above tips are for those of you still looking to get into solar. As for you, Sam, I'll have to track you down and say hi.
After Tom's instruction in JobTrain, I applied to SolarCity back in July 2008 and landed a commercial installer position. I helped install several commercial jobs throughout California since that time and even did some residential while things were slow in commercial. I also worked in the finance department in HQ for a few months. Now I'm back in the field as a project coordinator for the 3.4MW groundmount job in Tucson that you may have heard about. This is SolarCity's biggest job yet complete with 45,000 modules, 95+ temperatures, rattlesnakes and possibly live ordinances.
All you guys and gals still looking to get in the industry, keep at it. Keep informed about the industry. Don't wait for a job to land on your lap - it won't. So work hard to get one.
Thank you JobTrain and above all thank you Tom for your knowledge, patience and instruction.
-Roberto
from a fellow JobTrain graduate under Tom Huggett.
Congratulations on getting hired as a residential installer with SolarCity. As you're finding out, it's a tough job. I heard about that guy who couldn't take the heat - literally. It's unfortunate but you absolutely have to keep yourself hydrated for your own and others' safety. I've worked on various jobs under downpours, freezing and 115+ degree temperature conditions to list a few. One is at the mercy of the elements as an installer and one should be prepared to face and deal with it. And as you said and as you noticed you will not see any out of shape installers for obvious reasons.
Having also worked in HQ (SolarCity Foster City headquarters) and with those doing the hiring I can share the following for all prospective hires:
1. Review Tom's class notes. Know strings, series, parallel, combiner, inverter, racking, penetrations, etc. You will have a written test before you are interviewed.
2. Be informed about SolarCity. Do your homework about SolarCity and scour www.solarcity.com to learn anything and everything about the company. Know who Pete and Lyndon are. Know where our various warehouse locations are at. Know what jobs we've done in the past. What is the relationship between between SolarCity and Tesla Motors? How many installations did the FosterCity warehouse do last year? It's all in the website.
3. Dress for the job you're applying for. If you're applying for an installer, then dress like a professional installer - long sleeve shirt, Carhartt/Dickies pants etc., boots. Let them know you're ready to work NOW! If one comes in dressed in a 3 piece suit, you might be able to pull it off but this attire is not helping you. And if one shows up in shorts or in some gang banger outfit then you'll be lucky if you get more than a few minutes of interview time.
4. Follow up. After your interview, follow up the next day with Tommie Lia (sic). Let Tommie know that you are interested in the position and find out when he will make a decision - it's usually less than a week after interviews. Patrick Donner is the HR recruiter and is whom 99% of applicants go through but you will not be working with Patrick but with Tommie.
Anyway, the above tips are for those of you still looking to get into solar. As for you, Sam, I'll have to track you down and say hi.
After Tom's instruction in JobTrain, I applied to SolarCity back in July 2008 and landed a commercial installer position. I helped install several commercial jobs throughout California since that time and even did some residential while things were slow in commercial. I also worked in the finance department in HQ for a few months. Now I'm back in the field as a project coordinator for the 3.4MW groundmount job in Tucson that you may have heard about. This is SolarCity's biggest job yet complete with 45,000 modules, 95+ temperatures, rattlesnakes and possibly live ordinances.
All you guys and gals still looking to get in the industry, keep at it. Keep informed about the industry. Don't wait for a job to land on your lap - it won't. So work hard to get one.
Thank you JobTrain and above all thank you Tom for your knowledge, patience and instruction.
-Roberto
Saturday, September 12, 2009
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