Submitted by EnergyTechStocks.com

It is only the end of the first year of what promises to be a decade-long revolution in how energy is produced and consumed and investors’ radar screens are already brightly lit with dozens, if not hundreds, of companies that appear to have a chance to hit it big. Which are the contenders, not merely the pretenders? Introducing five firms that look like they are poised to hit it big.

Contender #5 – Sungevity, a Berkeley, CA-based start-up that is simplifying the process by which a homeowner buys and installs a solar photovoltaic (PV) system by using satellite images and more to give prospective buyers online estimates, followed by installation.

Sungevity’s computerized approach could well become the industry standard because it eliminates much of the costly labor-intensive process of sizing up a home’s solar potential with two or more onsite visits. Sungevity calls it “remote roof analysis.” According to the company, “New technology has enabled us to . . . accurately and efficiently determine your home’s solar potential from our office.” In its first week of offering online price quotes, Sungevity reportedly processed 300 quotes, compared with six done manually the week before. Done manually, the 300 quotes would have taken hundreds of man-hours; Sungevity did it with four salespeople, the company says. Customers can even schedule online a time for installation.

By cutting down on time and manpower, Sungevity says it can offer lower prices. Overall, Sungevity would seem to be a perfect fit for big box retailers such as Home Depot and Lowe’s, each of whom is starting to expand its own solar businesses.