Nerdy is an understatement.

Hi, I’m Spencer, aka Your Proud Solar Nerd.

My home energy journey started when my friend showed me a lightweight, virtually unbreakable, flexible, thin-film solar panel that I could peel and stick anywhere. I was totally hooked by this cool little piece of technology. It was clear that this was the future and so I started working in the solar industry over 17 years ago.

As the curious cat I am, I wanted to learn about MORE than solar and I went out and did home energy audits with a business friend. And that’s when I realized just how much goes into a home energy system. It’s way more than a peel-and-stick solar panel...it’s insulation, airflow, and ventilation. All of it works together to create a truly efficient and healthy home.

I distinctly remember opening up a vent and seeing insulation behind it. I asked my friend, “Wait, don’t we breathe the air from that vent?” He kind of gave me a nod and replied, “Yup, that’s how we used to do things.” It was little moments like these that made me keep searching for what had builders missed.  I was on a mission to learn everything I could, and question the status quo.

So I got every Home Energy Certification I could think of and started my energy audit and whole-home upgrade company, Energy Integrity. And for 8 years, I would go into people’s homes, crawl around their attics, clean up their homes, seal airflow, upgrade windows, add insulation, upgrade heating + cooling systems, and install solar energy and batteries. And the results were insane.  People couldn’t believe their homes were at a comfortable temperature all year round, and their energy bills were the best they’ve ever looked.

But I knew I wanted to do more than crawl around hot, dirty attics. I wanted to change the way every single homeowner views their home’s energy usage.  I wanted to be a home energy leader and I wanted people to see the opportunities I saw.  So I participated in various programs, developed a great relationship with SDG&E (one of the largest utilities in California), companies and started teaching courses on home energy upgrades.  And I got recruited by the world's largest solar energy and battery technology companies.

That's when things really started to take off.   At my day job, I built upon my home performance background with an even deeper understanding of solar and battery technology and started training solar energy professionals all over the country.  And, homeowners who attended my SDG&E trainings loved feeling empowered with knowledge for where they spend most of their time.  I've now spent the last 5 years refining the Home Energy Course and it's ready for prime-time.  Now, with power of the Internet, my goal is to share what I've learned so everyone who has a home can save more,  live comfortably, and achieve true energy independence.