From early Internet to modern electrification
Brad’s career has always lived at the intersection of technology, storytelling, and execution. He built and ran internet-era businesses in Japan (including Jmail, described as Japan’s first commercial internet company), delivered public speaking engagements across Japan on high-technology topics, and later founded ABC Solar in 2000 — translating that same “build it, document it, make it real” mindset onto rooftops and into electrical rooms.
If you’ve ever wondered why ABC Solar is obsessive about clarity — clean scopes, clean diagrams, clean warranties, clean expectations — it’s because the founder came up in industries where reliability wasn’t a vibe; it was survival.
His love of solar (and why it’s not just “green”)
Brad loves solar because it does something rare: it turns a home into an engine. Not a metaphor — a literal machine that produces energy every day. Add batteries and smart control, and it becomes resilience: comfort during outages, stability during heatwaves, and the ability to stop “utility surprise” from running your monthly budget.
Solar is also a craft. A good system is quiet. It disappears into the home. It produces without drama. A great system has a personality: it’s designed for the exact roof, the exact loads, the exact constraints, and the exact way a family lives.
“The panels are the easy part. The real work is the design — how the system behaves on bad days, not good days.”
Books & writing (the library behind the work)
Brad writes because the industry needs fewer slogans and more plain language. Some books are technical, some are entrepreneurial, some are cinematic — but they share a theme: real-world systems, real-world people, real-world consequences.
Brad’s author portal includes many additional works (children’s stories, essays, travelogues, and technical projects). Visit bradbartz.com.
Patent: FRED — First Responder Ember Drone (Fire Netting)
Brad’s most recent invention work is FRED — a wildfire defense concept designed to intercept and neutralize embers before they ignite new fires. The FRED system is described as a fire-resistant netting architecture held aloft by autonomous UAVs, adjusting to conditions in real time.
The project is presented publicly at FireNetting.com and includes an IP notice and licensing channel for partnerships.
- Patent: US Patent No. 12,539,435 B2 (issued Feb 3, 2026).
- Concept: AI-guided UAV netting designed to intercept wildfire embers mid-air.
- Purpose: Shift wildfire response from reactive to proactive — stopping ignition chains early.
Solar is resilience. Wildfire defense is resilience. Brad’s work lives in the same place: keep people safe, keep systems running, and design for the day the world gets difficult.
Speaking, teaching, and the “raise the bar” mindset
Brad has always taught what he builds. That’s why ABC Solar clients receive clear disclosures, clear expectations, and systems designed to survive real life — not just pass an optimistic spreadsheet.
He’s available for universities, founder programs, podcasts, and operator conversations — less performance, more useful reality.
- Founder/Operator topics: sales discipline, delivery discipline, and staying alive long enough to win.
- Solar topics: storage strategy, code realities, consumer protections, and outage-ready design.
- Resilience topics: wildfire defense, backup power, and “designing for bad days.”
Learn more about appearances and invitations at bradbartz.com.
Work with ABC Solar
If you want a system that’s designed like a machine (not a sales pitch), you’re in the right place. ABC Solar builds solar + battery systems for homeowners who care about reliability, documentation, safety, and long-term value.
- Solar + Storage designed for your loads and your utility reality.
- Permitting + inspections handled end-to-end with clean documentation.
- Maintenance & service that treats your system like infrastructure, not a “one-and-done.”
ABC Solar does not offer financing or leases. We design and install the system you purchase. Any borrowing is arranged independently with your chosen lender.
If you need to borrow, we suggest discussing a home equity line of credit (HELOC) with your bank or credit union. Compare rates, fees and repayment terms separately from the installation price.
A HELOC is secured by your home, which you could lose if you cannot repay. Rates are usually variable and payments can rise. The safest choice depends on your finances and the loan terms.
Email: [email protected] • Phone: +1-310-373-3169
Or use the contact page.