Next Generation Energy - Check out the Zilla Rack, So Simple It's Scary

We interviewed Dave from Next Generation Energy at the 2009 InterSolar conference in San Francisco, California.  Next Generation Energy is a wholesale distributor and manufacturer of renewable energy products, including wind power, thermal energy, PV panels, micro-hydro greywater systems.  In addition, the company is an integrator of all these systems.  According to Dave, Next Generation Energy is not a typical distribution company; it has a strong engineering base.  In addition to distributing their products, Next Generation Energy tries to come up with ways to eliminate problems that installers have with all of these products.  Most of the products offered at Next Generation Energy are manufactured by the company itself.  However, when selling products that they themselves do not manufacture, the company ensures that these products are some of the best in the world.

One of the main areas that Next Generation Energy focuses on is racking.  The company feels that racking has been a weak link in the solar industry.  They therefore developed their product Zilla, a universal racking system that combines the rack, the actual frame, and the raceway into one unit.   Next Generation focuses on residential, commercial, and industrial properties.

As far as their corporate sustainability, the folks at Next Generation actually practice what they preach!  At their offices, they use renewable energy ranging from wind systems to solar thermal and PV systems.  The company actually produces about 3/4 of the energy it consumes.  In addition, they even reuse their packaging materials.