For the 25 years that we’ve been in business, 16 of those years we’ve been a Certified B Corp. Our journey to becoming a B Corp started with SEM’s mission of leading the change. Our co-founder, Maria Kingery, believed that this is the way all businesses would be run so in 2009 being a B Corp became a part of our company DNA.
At that time, we were among a bushel of early adopters who believed that business could be used for better. The first B Corps were certified in 2007, and we followed soon after becoming one of the first Certified B Corps in North Carolina and one of the first in the solar and building performance industry. Today there are over 50 B Corps in North Carolina and over 10,600 worldwide.
What Is B Corp Certification?
B Corp Certification starts with the B Impact Assessment where a company measures their performance across five areas: governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. They must meet a minimum score of 80 points to achieve the certification. The certification process is administered by B Lab, an independent non-profit who developed the certification in 2006.
B Corp Declaration of Interdependence
As a Certified B Corp, we sign on to the Declaration of Interdependence which states:
We envision a global economy that uses business as a force for good.
This economy is comprised of a new type of corporation – the B Corporation – Which is purpose-driven and creates benefit for all stakeholders, not just shareholders.
As B Corporations and leaders of this emerging economy, we believe:
- That we must be the change we seek in the world.
- That all business ought to be conducted as if people and place mattered.
- That, through their products, practices, and profits, businesses should aspire to do no harm and benefit all.
- To do so requires that we act with the understanding that we are each dependent upon another and thus responsible for each other and future generations.
📸 New team members sign our B Corp Declaration of Interdependence after orientation
Why B Corp Recertification Is Challenging
Recertification isn’t automatic. The process to complete certification (and re-certification) takes months. It all starts with the B Impact Assessment followed by several rounds of documentation and verification from B Lab. To qualify for certification, companies need to reach a score of 80 points — the median score for an ordinary business is 50.9! This is intentionally rigorous, and the bar is about to be raised significantly.
In April 2025, B Lab unveiled its most significant evolution in its 19-year history, moving away from cumulative point scoring toward mandatory requirements across seven Impact Topics. We completed this recertification under the current framework and we’re excited to continually measure our impact on the new standards.
Why B Corp Recertification Matters for a Local Energy Company
The energy industry is changing quickly. Incentives shift, policies evolve, and new players enter the market every year. At the same time, greenwashing and surface-level sustainability claims are more prevalent than ever. We’ve all heard the horror stories of bad actors in the energy industry, especially fly-by-night solar companies that come and go as quickly as the incentives rain and evaporate.
B Corp recertification provides something most certifications don’t: verified, third-party accountability. It’s the difference between a company telling you they care about a triple bottom line and a company proving it through independent assessment and third-party transparency.
For us, being a Certified B Corp means our values aren’t a marketing tool. They’re a framework we’re held to and one we operate by. It means when a customer chooses us, they’re choosing a transparent solar installer and community-focused energy partner with the documentation to back it up.
How We Raised Our B Corp Score by 15 Points
Here’s a closer look at our highlight improvements across each impact area and how we landed at our highest score ever of 112.5.
📸 Our founders with our ownership team
Governance: Mission Locked
7.4 → 15.6 points
In 2024, we officially became an LLC owned by seven long-term employees, who “mission locked” the business. That means our ownership team built a legal framework that requires us to consider all stakeholders (including the planet) in our decision-making, not just profit. This was a major contributor to our score increase.
📸 The Southern Energy Management Team!
Workers: Taking Care of Our People
22.9 → 25.5 points
We made meaningful investments in our team, including expanding our parental leave policy to 12 weeks of paid leave for primary caregivers. We also strengthened our professional development programs across the board and continued growing our in-house installation team. Today, over 90% of our team members report being satisfied.
📸 Our builder services team takes on packing meals at the Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC
Community: Showing Up Beyond the Job Site
16.2 → 16.7 points
We’ve continued to build a more inclusive and engaged workplace by embedding our JEDI commitment into hiring practices, offering training, and increasing our involvement in community partnerships, service, and giving.
📸 Our co-owner, Graham (pictured left) in DC advocating for the solar industry with other Amicus Solar Co-operative members
Environment: This Is the Work We Were Built For
47.0 → 50.5 points
This remains one of our strongest areas. Our work in renewable energy and resource conservation,especially through our multifamily and building science teams, continues to drive meaningful impact. We also offset our carbon emissions, obtained LEED Silver for our building, and sourced the majority of our energy from renewables – including the solar on our roof!
📸 Customers, the Lenses, pictured outside their solar powered home
Customers: Accountability You Can Feel
3.6 → 4.0 points
We’ve improved how we gather and act on customer feedback, while continuing to monitor satisfaction and outcomes. At the end of the day, we’re focused on delivering real value and making sure our customers feel it.
B Corp Recertification FAQs
How often do companies recertify as a B Corp?
Every three years. Companies must reapply and re-earn their score each cycle.
Is it B Corp certification verified?
Yes. B Lab independently reviews and validates all submitted information.
Does B Corp certification expire?
It does. If recertification isn’t completed on time, certification lapses and a company can no longer call themselves a B Corp or use the B Corp mark.
What makes B Corp certification different from sustainability claims?
B Corp certification is verified, scored, and public covering impact areas including: governance, workers, community, environment, and customers.
What does “mission-driven” mean?
It means our mission is built into how we make decisions, and that we consider people, community, and the environment in how we conduct our work.
Why This Matters to Our Customers and Partners
Choosing an energy company is a long-term decision. You’re not just buying a product or service, you’re choosing a partner, whether that’s a solar system or sustainability consulting. B Corp recertification helps us show that we take that seriously. It means our values, transparency, accountability, and long-term thinking aren’t just things we say, they’re measured and verified by an independent third party.
For our customers, partners, and communities across North Carolina, this is us showing our work and committing to keep doing so. Thanks for being with us here on this journey in using business as a force for good!
📸 A few shots from our recent B Corp Recertification party with B Local at our HQ in Raleigh!
