Stronger as a Community: BayWa r.e. Welcomes You (Virtually) to NABCEP 2020

The annual NABCEP Continuing Education Conference is a cornerstone in our U.S. solar industry, and we are so grateful for its return this month — hosted virtually in a safe and welcoming format for everyone in our solar community to learn and share with one another.

This is the fourth consecutive year that BayWa r.e. Solar Systems will be the Platinum Sponsor for the conference. We appreciate NABCEP‘s commitment to establishing high standards for solar professionals and providing contractors with seals that convey quality and reliability. BayWa r.e. and NABCEP also share the fundamental values of cultivating healthy solar businesses and industry resiliency. Attending NABCEP is always a valuable event for us: we get to check in with contractors to see if they’re getting the support they need from us, and catch up with our industry-leading manufacturer partners. It is also an opportunity to receive feedback about our own education efforts that we deliver through our digital magazine and Solar Town Halls.

Here’s a preview of what awaits us at #NABCEP2020:

Knowledge Exchanged – Meet Some of the BayWa r.e. Team Who Will Be Participating

Women Empowered

One important issue featured at the conference is not about products or technology at all, but about the value of encouraging women colleagues in our solar industry. According to the 2019 diversity study produced by The Solar Foundation (an effort supported by BayWa r.e.), while women make up 47% of the overall U.S. workforce, they only make up 26% of our solar workforce.

NABCEP is an important ally in addressing this gap, and I am proud to join Kate Collardson and Rebekah Hren of Airbnb in hosting the “Women in Solar Celebration” scheduled for September 11. We’re excited to network with anyone who seeks to foster inclusive and equitable opportunities in our solar workforce.

“Due to the culture we live in, it often happens that women are talked over in conversations, meetings, and on the job,” says Kate. “Not only is this frustrating, but it also prevents good ideas from coming to fruition. So, I welcome any conversation on the topic during this NABCEP conference month. Let’s figure out a way to have the voices of women heard — without the struggle!”

Reflection 2020 — Foresight 2021

When NABCEP was first scheduled for March 2020, the industry conversation was centered around forecasts for the coming year. How the world has changed since then.

But solar isn’t going anywhere — and neither are you, our #SolarFam. And while we won’t be in the same conference halls together, NABCEP 2020 will still be an occasion to cheer. We’ve all hung on, six months into this pandemic, and we have more to do as an industry to care for our team members, our communities, and our solar future.

Let’s strengthen our community — and enjoy this September’s conference! See you all online.