Sun Connection Company Profile

While Sonoma County has always been a solar contractor's dream, until recently, consumers haven't always taken full advantage of the free energy that shines down upon them every day. When we think of solar energy, most of us visualize expensive solar electric arrays on our roof, but that's not the only solar energy system available. Sun Connection in Santa Rosa CA offers a number innovative and affordable ways to utilize the sun, including installing tubular solar lights that channel sunlight into your home so you don't need to use electric lights during the day.

A Bright Idea

The idea of skylights might make some people uncomfortable who are worried they might leak. Sun Connection owner David McElroy understands. He started out in the roofing business and learned about the possible problems with solar skylights and tubular lighting firsthand: He was often called in to repair the damage that other skylight installers had done to roofs, or to repair leaks that had sprung up around skylight installations. David was intrigued by the tubular solar lights, but found that improper installation done by others was causing too many problems. As David thought about the future, he saw a perfect connection between his roofing expertise and installation of tubular lights and skylights. In 1993, he opened Sun Connection in Santa Rosa, which combined his roofing business and the installation of tubular solar lights and skylights to help consumers go green and conserve energy. David's expertise ensured that every installation was done correctly and in a way that protected the roof of each home he worked on.

Since then, Sun Connection has branched out into other energy saving products: solar attic fans, radiant barrier insulations systems for attics, fiberglass entry doors and French doors, and dual-paned replacement windows (a tremendous amount of energy leaks out of poorly insulated doors and older windows). David's bright idea has been so successful that he was able to close down the roofing portion of Sun Connection within four years, and he's now focused completely on energy conservation.

Solar Can be Attractive

We've all seen huge, black, bulky solar installations on the roofs of homes and thought, "Hmmmm, does going green have to mean ugly?" No, Sun Connections has found the solution: they searched out the options and became one of only thirteen companies in the nation to be chosen by the European solar company Velux as a 5-Star Dealer. Velux creates stylish skylights, Sun Tunnel lights, and state-of-the-art solar hot water systems that create a sleek profile on the roof and can be integrated with existing roof designs. As David McElroy says, "You don't have to install bulky solar components all over your roof any more. With these Velux systems, you can be green and take complete advantage of the sun and have a good looking home."

A Family's Dedication to Energy Conservation

David McElroy and his wife Suzi McElroy run Sun Connection in Santa Rosa as a family business. Their daughter Alicia has worked in the business for 14 years, and her husband Derek Collins has worked as Sun Connection's installation manager for 6 years. As David and Suzi look to the future and plan for their retirement, they know that Sun Connection will continue in the capable hands of Derek and Alicia. For customers, knowing that the tradition of professionalism will continue is very reassuring. A Sun Connection customer, Soni of Sebastopol, has had twenty Velux Sun Tunnel lights installed over the last 8 years, and says, "I rarely have any problems, but if I do, Sun Connections is always very responsive." With Derek and Alicia at the helm, they'll continue to be responsive for decades to come.

As David McElroy looks back, he's happy that he saw the problems with how others were doing skylights and tubular solar lights, and knows how to avoid those problems entirely. He's also happy that his solution led to an excellent new business for his entire family. But as he looks ahead, "I see a bright future, not just for Sun Connection, but for the entire region. With the amount of sun here, and the way people are focusing on energy and the environment, we're going to see real changes. And since we've been doing this work for 15 years, we've got the experience, the right solar products, and the expertise to meet this growing demand. We're totally committed to energy conservation, and now that the public is realizing they should be too, it's a great time to be in the energy conservation business."