Florida Solar Design Group wants to let our customers know how we are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. This page will provide up to date information regarding our operating schedule, precautions, and procedures for servicing clients.
July 13, 2020
This will be our last COVID-19 update unless something changes drastically. We are taking all reasonable and recommended precautions. We are open for business and continue to serve the community with solar energy installations and service. You can check our Facebook page for further updates (account not required): https://www.facebook.com/floridasolardesigngroup
June 22, 2020
With a newly reported uptick in COVID-19 cases in Florida, we are redoubling efforts to keep our employees and the general public safe. We are requiring any employees who share vehicles to wear masks and keeping all high touch surfaces disinfected. Because most of our work is outside and spread out, we are able to maintain social distancing in a relatively safe environment. We continue to operate at near 100%.
May 28, 2020
No major changes to report. We have noticed that certain types of work that require larger crews may take a bit longer due to distancing requirements and transportation needs. We are happy to report that some jurisdictions are actually issuing permits faster due to streamlined processes. Hopefully, this will result in lasting change. The speed of issuance may be related to reduced permit applications, but it’s good news nonetheless.
May 15, 2020
We are currently running at 100% capacity. We continue to follow safe workplace practices and offer remote consultations. We have resumed in-home consultations for those who prefer it. Please exercise mutual respect for distancing during consultations we conduct in person.
April 20, 2020
We are currently running at 100% capacity. We have found that sending employees directly to job sites in personal vehicles is not overly burdensome and inefficient, however, parking can be an issue in some communities. Otherwise, our office remains closed, although owners are often on-site to meet incoming shipments and to get work done in isolation. Our phones are being answered remotely. If we are slow to pick up, please leave a message and we will return your call.
Permitting is running smoothly in most jurisdictions with minimal delays. Inspections are being completed, sometimes a day or two later than our normal procedures, but they are getting done nonetheless. The Counties and Cities are doing a good job of working with contractors to make this happen.
We are hearing rumblings of some supply chain issues (not all directly related to COVID-19). We are boosting inventory to avoid installation delays resulting from any disruptions. The solar PV panel market remains fragmented, but our main suppliers are shipping product reliably now.
April 16, 2020
It’s business new-usual here. We have gotten into a groove where we can efficiently service clients while maintaining safe social distancing and other CDC recommended protocols. We are conducting sales consultations remotely and the response has been excellent. Coupled with our extensive blog, our personalized consultations, and 3D computer modeling has allowed us to effectively serve new clients. Installations are taking slightly longer than usual due to precautions we are taking, so we ask that you work with us and be patient if your installation takes an extra day. Most installations are not delayed, especially those closest to our office. Our employees continue to drive one per vehicle, so please make accommodations for extra vehicles at installation sites.
April 2, 2020
We are cautiously continuing work as an Essential Service listed in the governmental guidelines. Our employees are driving one per vehicle, we are limiting the number of people in the warehouse to 50% of the normal staff at most, staggering work hours if possible, and allowing employees to drive directly to job sites. We are closely monitoring activities of other trades, the Governor’s directives, and national news on the COVID-19 crisis.
On job sites we are wearing improvised masks or fishing-style sun masks. All of the previously implemented protocols are still in place as well.
For now, the supply chain seems to be largely intact with some scattered shortages that are causing minor delays under the circumstance.
Our priorities are emergency service and winding up work in progress to protect homes and property.
At least one owner on a daily basis is ensuring that employees are following protocols and that they are well prepared at both work and home.
April 1, 2020
In light of the Governor’s Safer-At-Home order, we are assessing what activities we can continue during the month of April. We are confident that we will be able to continue operating because we are part of the Energy Sector that is considered an Essential Service as defined by the US Department of Homeland Security Guidelines. In fact, solar energy construction is specifically listed as a trade that is included in Essential Services.
With that said, we will continue to take extreme measures to ensure the safety of our employees and the public. Employees are taking precautions in both their work and personal lives to ensure that the company remains operational in a safe manner. We understand the seriousness of the Governor’s order and will heed all applicable warnings.
We understand that clients may have emergency needs like leaks, outages, and other service related issues that need urgent attention. We will prioritize these needs.
We also have several clients with work in progress. We want to assure you that we will prioritize these installations in order to protect the equipment and your home including the weatherproofing of your roof.
We ask that you be patient with us as we work through scheduling so we can take necessary precautions.
Our supply chain is working hard to meet our demands and we are working through some minor snags that we expect will be resolved expeditiously at all levels of the supply chain. We are finding the resilience of the supply chain to be remarkable under the circumstances.
And we are taking steps to be prepared to hit the ground running at double speed once orders are fully lifted, recognizing that we will need to continue precautions against COVID-19 for the foreseeable future.
March 27, 2020
Consultations
We are still offering in-home consultations for solar pool heating and solar electricity clients. During these consultations, we ask that you participate with us in maintaining a safe social distance and refraining from physical contact.
We are fully prepared to perform remote consultations via telephone. Most clients are going this route. We realize that some information may not be adequately conveyed in this manner. We encourage you to visit our extensive blog and to follow up on consultations with any questions you may have. We respond quickly to email, text, or voicemails.
Installations
We are out at homes installing solar energy systems every weekday at this time. We are operating at near full capacity. We have not detected any significant supply chain problems and have ample stock or immediate availability from suppliers for most everything we offer.
Unless directed otherwise, we will continue to fulfill our contractual obligations and take on new clients.
At this time, there are no interruptions to permitting in any jurisdiction where we work. If permitting authorities cease or slow operations, we may be forced to delay work accordingly. As a result, we are applying for permits urgently so we can continue work, even if we cannot schedule inspections until sometime in the distant future.
Precautions
We ask that you be patient with our installers and staff as we take extreme precautions to keep them and you safe. We are sanitizing vehicles, office and the warehouse on a daily basis and continuously throughout the day. Installers are minimizing travel together and sharing of tools and equipment. They are practicing social distancing on the job site, working as independently as possible. This means that it takes us a little longer to get to homes and a little longer to get jobs done. We may not finish jobs in normal timeframes and may need to return in some cases on subsequent days to complete work. The health and well-being of our employees are of paramount importance. Any employee who has any symptoms of infection are directed to stay home and self-isolate at the direction of medical professionals. We will provide economic relief to affected employees.
We ask that you limit in-person interaction with our staff and practice safe social distancing when discussing your installation with them.
Schedule
Our office remains staffed from 8-5 weekdays at this time, but prefer to keep visits to a minimum. Our phone hours are the same and we respond as usual to after-hours voicemails.
Thank You
As a company, we owe a huge debt of gratitude to our gracious clients who are moving forward with purchases, and to our loyal staff who continue to push forward during this difficult time. Thank you for your support.