Stellar Solar wins top honor in S.D. newspaper

California solar company wins people's choice award in San DiegoStellar Solar won the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Best of Sand Diego award for Best Solar company earlier this month.

The honor is just the cherry on top of the sundae for a company that has been growing and gaining momentum in recent years, said Stellar marketing director David Boylan.

“The company has been taking really big strides,” Boylan said.

In addition to a few major installations, including 1-megawatt on the U.S. Foodservice headquarters and a 540-kilowatt system atop the roof of the Salk Institute, a cutting edge research facility, the company has gained prominence among the public.

“We’ve really had a hard focus on education,” Boylan said.

The company hosts education session for the public with free dinner seminars at popular local chain Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza.

“Most of the time, solar education and information sessions are in the rec center on Saturday mornings, and it’s a pretty hard sell,” Boylan said. “This is a really casual laid-back atmosphere, and I think people are really responding to the way Stellar Solar works.”

Stellar also opened the first solar retail store in San Diego, which is also one of the first in the country.

“We just couldn’t pass up the location,” Boylan said.

It’s located just across the parking lot from a new center featuring cutting edge renewable energy technology that was established by San Diego Gas and Electric, the local utility. They built a state-of-the-art building that’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certified, displays cutting-edge technology and showcases the latest and greatest in solar, wind, geothermal and other renewable energy innovations.

Boylan said Stellar treats its new retail store like a second office, but draws a lot of business through its conveniently and prominently displayed doors.

Not many solar installers have added a physical retail presence to their business models. There are just a handful around the country that have storefronts. But it’s a move that has made Stellar stand out in the minds of San Diego residents.

Being present and available is part of what landed the company in the number one spot in the Union-Tribune’s People’s Choice awards. But it’s also important to the company, Boylan said, that the marketing efforts are direct and honest, and that Stellar never misleads potential clients.

Image courtesy of Stellar Solar.