It was only a few years ago when Karen and Lamar Erdman, like many other Americans, were reassessing everything–their spending, savings, energy use, waste–as the economy began to take a dive. Karen Erdman was driving home from work when evening when it hit her–they hadnt yet considered solar.
After some research, the Erdmans realized there were no local distributors for a solar hot water heater they wanted to purchase. The company asked if they were interested, so the couple purchased the heater and became distributors as well. More than two years later, Maximus Solar is serving residential and commercial customers throughout Pennsylvania and surrounding states.
It was six months of soul searching and a lot of prayer, says Karen Erdman, a registered nurse with a background in program design and management. We just jumped in.
The company sold and installed solar hot water systems before adding photovoltaic roof panels to its offerings. The products are among the most highly rated in the industry. Like most working in this space, Maximus offers customers expertise in applying for state and federal incentives that return up to 55 percent of the initial investment within the first year. In the last year, the company has grown by 200 percent.
Maximus started with a warehouse in Sacramento, Schuylkill County, and last year opened an office in the Murata Business Center in Carlisle. While her husband works full-time as a manager at a power plant, Karen Erdman drives 60 miles back and forth working the phones, taking orders and sending out information.
She expects that arrangement to change. The company has the potential to hit seven figures in sales this year, and Erdman hopes to hire office staff and full-time contractors sometime in the spring.
While shes a big believer in the power of her products to save money and energy, Erdman says its important for consumers to be educated.
I would suggest people ask multiple questions. Information is usually free, she says. Sometimes we turn people down because we really pride ourselves on honesty and trying to save people money. Some people who live in the woods, solar just wont work. Or maybe a senior citizen doesnt use enough water to warrant purchasing the solar heater.
Source: Karen Erdman, Maximus Solar
Writer: Joe Petrucci