Inspiring Conversations with Keith Murphy of Astrawatt Solar

Today we’d like to introduce you to Keith Murphy.

Hi Keith, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My interest in solar started in college where I learned of climate change which led to a desire to work in a field that allowed me to be a part of the solution.

One of my first jobs out of college was working for Ameren in St. Louis as part of their Pure Power program, which is a program Ameren created that allows homeowners to pay extra on their electric bill to add more wind energy to the grid. This was a tough sell because there was no direct benefit to the homeowner. I would primarily go do to door and encourage people to sign up for Ameren’s program. Most homeowners I spoke with weren’t interested with what I was presenting but were interested in learning more about solar power, which was not something we did at the time.

I recognized demand for solar from this experience a little over a decade ago now and I got another push around the same time after reading a book called “Hot Flat and Crowded” which led me to make the jump and send my resume out to solar companies all over the country.

I landed in Baton Rouge, LA in 2013 as a solar sales person. I worked for this company for about 2 years after helping open offices in New Orleans, LA and Tampa, FL until I decided I wanted to move back to KC where my family was living.

In 2015 there were very few solar companies around and I felt I had the experience necessary to go out on my own. So while living above my sisters garage and $56 in my bank account I did just that. Cutting grass at a golf course in the morning and using those funds to spend on a marketing budget.

Since our humble beginnings we have been featured on the INC 500 list three times and one of KC’s top 50 fastest growing companies three times as well. We have offices in 15 metro locations around the country and we are soon to be opening a new location in Puerto Rico.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We have been in business going on 9 years now and it has been great for the most part. Challenges are part of the gig as an entrepreneur but how you over come those challenges and lead others to be better is what sets organizations a part.

We made the decision very early on that we are going to set ourselves apart by focusing on doing the job right. Over time we have become synonyms with solar done right which has greatly contributed to our long-term success.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a solar panel installation company. Our mission is to provide better solar experiences which starts with our educational approach to our sales process. We are not pushy door to door sales people. A lot of our clients are doing a ton of research before going solar with us and we love that. Our customers generally chose us because we are highly experienced and knowledgeable. We are also certified to sell and install the best solar products available on the market and because of our volume we can generally offer those premium products at a more fair price point the the competition. We are vertically integrated which means we do everything in-house from marketing and sales, to project management, plans design, engineering, installation, and post installation technical service. This is somewhat unique in our industry and we believe this is the main reason why we can consistently provide superier support to our customers, over our competition.

We help homeowners take control over their home’s electricity to help save money on their electric bills, become energy independent, and gain peace of with battery back-up options to power your home when the grid goes down.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
We are seeing many more homeowners choosing to add battery back-up to their solar installations than in years past. I believe this will continue to become much more common as the battery technology and the costs are coming down to a point where it makes sense from both an ROI standpoint and the emotional draw of peace of mind should the home ever lose power.

Contact Info:

• Website:www.astrawatt.solar
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astrawattsolar/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AstrawattSolar/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/10564284/admin/dashboard/
• Twitter: @astrawatt_solar
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@astrawattsolar