Our solar experts in the Coachella Valley are pleased to introduce one of the hardest-working members of our certified Energy Consultant team, James Kortmeyer!

How long have you been with Renova Energy?

I’ve been with the Coachella Valley solar team at Renova Energy for almost a year now—I can’t believe how fast it’s gone by!

What do you enjoy most about living and working in the Coachella Valley?

The people I’ve met—the people working at Renova Energy and all the homeowners I get to meet and speak with about installing solar and the amount of money it can save them. Being that I was born and raised in the Coachella Valley, I like that I’m working for something that can save people money and preserve our beautiful valley.

What do you like most about working at Renova Energy?

The people. I was born and raised in the Coachella Valley, so I know what it means to be part of a tight-knit community, and Renova Energy gives me that same sense of community with people who are passionate about clean energy.

What is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned while working at Renova Energy?

People who work in sales are notorious for coming across as a bit shifty, but my mission at Renova Energy has been to not only change that perception but to also show people the true benefits of switching to solar for their homes or businesses. I understand that people can be apprehensive about making such a huge investment, so I make a point to always be upfront about the costs and make sure customers understand how solar will improve their lives in the long run.

What is the most important fact about solar or battery storage that you want all your customers to know?

The majority of customers have a basic understanding of what solar is—they know that it gives them power, they know that it’s clean energy, and they know that it saves them money on bills. But I also like for customers to realize that solar isn’t a catch-all. When the grid goes down during a blackout, power gets lost, too, unless they’ve invested in battery storage. I like to make sure customers know about the benefits of solar and battery storage because the combination of the two not only provides peace of mind during outages but also allows people to own their own power.

Since you’ve been with Renova Energy, what’s the coolest thing you’ve learned so far about solar and battery storage?

1 kW is equivalent to your microwave running for one hour. A solar panel is made up of 66 tiny cells. I also didn’t know that solar doesn’t work when the power goes out unless the home or business is equipped with battery storage, but I definitely understand the technology better now.

For more questions about how solar and battery storage can work for you, reach out to James or any of our certified Energy Consultants by calling our Coachella Valley residential and commercial solar team!