History of Sunshine Solar

Established in 2003, Sunshine Solar is now a family operated business with five full-time staff and over thirty contractors and distributors around the country. All use qualified tradesmen and have been trained and working in the solar industry for several years. We are not only experienced in the installation of solar hot water systems for the residential market, our team have been involved in larger projects such as schools, motels, commercial buildings, as well as retrofitting to character homes and heritage buildings needing extensive and careful plumbing, building and electrical preparation. We have completed work for many large complex million dollar plus homes on both flat and hill sites, consulting closely with leading architects and designers, as well as dream homes on lifestyle blocks, farms and exclusive country lodges and retreats. For over the past 8 years we have operated continuous research and testing programmes with CPIT year round in various NZ conditions. We are currently a part of the solar pilot study for Contact Energy. Results have shown that our evacuated tubes supply up to 85% of your annual hot water heating costs.

Our team

About-team-1

John Wilson

Manager / Technical support

John has been passionate about Energy Efficiency for a long time and back in February 2005 decided to make a business out of his passion. Apart from overseeing Sunshine Solar Business Operations John is using his Engineering background in the development of new product lines to keep Sunshine Solar at the leading edge of technology available and not yet available. With close alliances with ARA (previously CPIT) and the University of Canterbury he is currently working on improving system interactions with battery and storage technologies, developing water purification systems for developing nations and looking at jumps in technology in solar thermal. John can often be found lecturing on home energy efficiency in locations as vast as schools to architects and designers.

Arun Kumar

Marketing & Operations

Arun comes from an engineering, marketing and business management background. He organises our marketing and graphics, as well as accounts management for customers. He also manages projects with John. An ambassador for renewable energy, he is looking forward to seeing more people living and building sustainably through going solar. He focuses on communicating the importance and benefits of Solar Energy, coordinating and answering questions for your install.

About-team-3

Kath Mackay

Administration & Accounts

Kath looks after most of our admin and accounts. She’ll be the one doing your building consent and booking in your install. She will also be calling to check up on payments. Kath used to be neighbours with the boss so probably knows a bit too much about what happens in the Wilson household outside of hours. When not at work Kath plays taxi to two very sporty kids and is very keen on Netball both playing and watching

Paul McCulla

Heating Engineer

Paul moved over from Northern Ireland well before it was fashionable for the Irish to move to New Zealand (ie 5 years before the earthquake). He has been installing Central Heating systems for most of his career (previously was an engineer for boeing). Paul still owns a Central Heating heating company and radiator shop on the side of the world. Paul specialises in building robust Residential and Commercial heating systems with specialised controls the maximise efficiency and comfort. Outside of work Paul like to build and race his Peugeot especially in the National hill climb competitions.

Ryan McCarthy

Installer – plumber

Ryan is the youngest member of the Christchurch team. He has been full time with Sunshine Solar since early 2015. Since then Ryan has been installing almost a solar a day and can often be seen perched on a roof with crescents in hand. Ryan has installed more solars on slate roofs than probably anyone in the country which is not an easy feat. Outside of work Ryan is another Boys Brigade leader and can often be seen trying to break or get stuck his 4WD on some rough terrain. (That’s why God invented the winch)

Andrew Gush

Marlborough Area Manager

Andrew is based in Blenheim and looks after the Marlborough area with particular interest around the Marlborough Council Solar Saver scheme. (Pay solar off out of your savings through your rates). Co-incidentally Andrew is also an electrician so extremely handy to have during assessments.

Janet Cloake

Customer support

Janet organizes appointments and has a job that includes chatting to people on Facebook. Janet and husband Russell have just moved into their own off-grid home so are a living breathing example of what can be done solar wise on for a few penny’s.