GlobalGiving.org: Solar electricity for 10 low-income families, USA

GRID Alternatives' Success Stories from the Field

Tracie Troxler — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:01:19 GMT

GRID Alternatives has had great success in 2011 and is looking forward to building and expanding more of our services in 2012. To date we have installed 1571 solar electric systems among 7 regional offices in California and have now reached 4.2 Megawatts of generating capacity across the state. In addition to these successes, we have had a positive influence in the lives of our clients and volunteers.

Stories from the field this year have come from many walks of life and have inspired our greater community and our staff. These stories have included homeowners who have had to choose between electric bills and medical bills prior to their solar electric installation and then were relieved of this financial strain after assistance from GRID Alternatives. Stories have also included unemployed solar installation volunteers and interns who later found work in the solar industry as a result of their experiences with GRID Alternatives - many of whom still volunteer with the organization after they become employed! To learn more about GRID Alternatives' solar success stories and our impact in the lives of our clients and volunteers click here.

It is with deep gratitude to our donors that we are able to faciliate change in the lives of families with low incomes throughout California. We are looking forward to having an even greater impact in 2012!

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Latest News At GRID Alternatives

Solarthon Season!

Jessica Nelson — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 06:15:03 GMT

On Saturday, September 10, 2011, GRID Alternatives will kick off it's Solarthon Season in Oakland, CA! Solarthon is an annual solar installation block party and fundraiser for GRID Alternatives. Solarthon brings together hundreds of individual, team, and corporate participants from their communities to install multiple solar energy systems alongside the homeowners.

In 2010 GRID Alternatives took the event statewide and held three regional Solarthon events out of our Greater Los Angeles, Bay Area and Central Valley offices. A total of 24 solar electric systems were completed during these events in conjunction with the Single-family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) Program, under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.

In 2011, GRID Alternatives will host five Solarthon events throughout California:

Bay Area- Saturday, September 10, 2011

Central Coast - Saturday, October 22, 2011

Central Valley - Saturday, October 8, 2011

Greater Los Angeles- Saturday, November 5, 2011

San Diego- Saturday, September 24, 2011

We look forward to all of our Solarthon events and would like to thank all of our supporters. With the help of our global community, we are able to provide solar energy systems to more families and shine the light on a better, more sustainable future for all!

Students, Service and Celebration!

Jessica Nelson — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 22:00:48 GMT

Porterville High School Students lend a hand!

The past few months have been busy, busy! From students to storms, GRID Alternatives is excited to share a few stories with you!

On May 4th and 5th, GRID provided students from the Porterville High School Alternative Energy Resource Occupation (AERO) Pathway Program hands on training during a two-day install. Students applied what they have learned in the classroom while helping two families lower their electricity bills. We are thrilled to see eager students preparing for careers in solar, wind and other renewable energy professions.

"May gray" was upon us in San Diego setbacks, but the sun came out to shine for the office's 100th install celebration! It's amazing to think we have provided solar for 100 families since opening the San Diego office in 2008. More amazing is that the office will now perform close to 100 installs this year! San Diego also completed the first solar install on the La Jolla Indian reservation. The crews were top-notch at this scenic site and we look forward to working with many more tribal families.

San Diego wasn't the only office affected by weather, but that didn't stop an all-star volunteer coming from Minnesota to volunteer with GRID Alternatives. Michael’s first step to learn more about solar energy was to attend a Boots on the Roof class in the Bay Area. That is where he first heard about GRID Alternatives. After seeing an electric meter spin backwards he thought, “This is a great way to help out. It has always been important for me to help others. I always had a good life and helping others makes me feel good about myself. Some things you just cannot buy. Experience and the feeling to give back are priceless,” said Michael.

Thank you to all of our volunteers and donors that make it happen!

Desert Development!

Jessica Nelson — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 00:20:37 GMT

Cathedral City Install

GRID Alternatives is proud to announce the opening of our sixth office, now serving California's Inland Empire!

The San Bernadino and Riverside counties are some of the largest in the nation and homeowners in this area can greatly benefit from solar energy. With sun a plenty and jobs few and far between, we are eager to accrue employees, volunteers, job trainees and homeowners to positively impact this region.

Since 2004, GRID Alterantives has installed over 750 solar elelctric systems accross the state, providing homeowners with up to 75% savings on their electric bills.

Thank you to all of our donors for supporting us and helping to bring solar energy to more families accross California!

One more solar family!

The GRID Crew!

Give the Gift of Solar Energy This Year!

Myshel Prasad — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 20:22:11 GMT

As 2010 comes to a close, GRID Alternatives has a lot to celebrate!

GRID has recently launched a new office in the California Central Coast area and we are continuing to expand the regions we serve. GRID has already surpassed its ambitious 2010 installation goal and as of today has installed 337 new solar electric systems for low income homeowners this year, reaching a total 640 installations to date. Together, these projects are generating 1.4 megawatts of clean energy and are saving low income families nearly $14 million in energy costs while preventing over 56 thousand tons of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2011, we've set the bar even higher and we're going for another 600 solar installations for 600 more families!

This holiday season, consider supporting GRID and giving the gift of solar in honor of your loved ones and a greener planet and stronger neighborhoods. There are many different reasons to support GRID's work right now, whether you are concerned about climate change or energy independence, or if you are a job training or low income housing advocate, or just concerned about how you can help keep struggling families from losing their homes. Maybe you already have a solar electric system and want to share the benefits of renewable energy with others or maybe solar isn't a viable option for your home at this time but you'd still like to get involved and offset your own carbon usage and reduce greenhouse gasses by supporting solar power.

The sun is a gift that never stops giving and when you support a solar installation for just one low income family, your are supporting thirty years of clean solar power! Check out photos of our recent projects to see your donations at work! Thank you for visiting Global Giving and Happy Holidays from GRID!

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Visit our new website for other ways to get involved!

GRID Alternatives Solar Installations: Megawatt!!

Myshel Prasad — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 19:36:54 GMT

GRID Alternatives has now installed over 500 solar systems for low income families and these projects represent over 1 Megawatt of generating capacity! These solar installations are saving California's most vulnerable residents 75% on their energy costs and will reduce almost 50 thousand tons of greenhouse gasses in the next 30 years. GRID has also provided over 5,000 volunteers and green job trainees with the critical hands on experience with solar installation in the field that they'll need in the growing solar marketplace.

GRID Alternatives' unique model demonstrates in a very immediate way the important role that solar renewable energy can play in our communities at both the micro and the macro levels. Alberto is a GRID Alternatives Greater Los Angeles client who lives with his disabled parents. Their medical conditions require them to maintain a level temperature in the home and they struggled to cover their energy costs, which were up to $180 a month. Now that they have gone solar through GRID Alternatives, they pay only up to $10 a month. Alberto says that not only have these energy savings allowed them to invest more in food and health care, which has become more important than ever after their Medicare benefits were cut, but notes that “We have become more conscious about our energy usage ever since the system was put on our home. I don’t know why we were not saving energy before but now I am a strong advocate for others to save energy.”

GRID Alternatives is helping to reduce the threat of global warming and to keep struggling homeowners in their homes, one solar panel at a time.

Solar Block Parties Across the State!

Tracie Troxler — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 17:32:48 GMT

Completed Solar Elecric System in Escondido, CA

GRID Alternatives continues to expand our non-profit solar electric installation services to low income homeowers accross the state. Currently we are serving families in the San Francisco Bay Area, the Greater Los Angeles Area, the Central Valley, San Diego, the Inland Empire and are moving into the Central Coast. To date we have installed 420 solar electric systems, with 100 of those completed in 2010 alone.

To celebrate our growth while installing more solar electric systems throughout the state, GRID Alternatives is hosting several large solar block party installations throughout California. These regional events, called Solarthons, will be held June 12 in Los Angeles, July 31st in the Bay Area, October 2nd in the Central Valley and tentatively October 30th in San Diego. Each event will install 6-10 solar elelctric systems in a single day with community members and local homeowners. Check out www.Solarthon.org for more details about GRID Alternatives regional Solarthon events.

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GRID Alternatives is GROWING!

Tracie Troxler — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 23:48:21 GMT

GRID Alternatives is growing rapidly!

To date we have installed 340 solar electric systems, trained 3,800 community volunteers, and helped reduce the electric bills of California's low-income families by up to 75%. Our recent regional office addition in the Central Valley is up to speed and a fully operational office. This is the fourth regional office in addition our Headquarters office and our offices in the San Francisco Bay Area, Greater Los Angeles, and San Diego.

In 2004, GRID Alternatives launched it's Solar Affordable Housing Program and installed two solar electric systems. In 2010 we are on track to install 300 solar electric systems in a single year. We are thrilled about our growth and ability to increase access to the economic and environmental benefits of solar energy for California's low income families.

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Solar Client Nominates GRID Staff for Award

GRID Alternatives Updates

Laurel Crump — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:51:42 GMT

GRID Alternatives has been very busy and have continued to grow in the past several months. Solarthon 2009 was a great success, raising over $100,000 to support renewable energy for low-income families statewide! Follow the link to see pictures of recent projects throughout California.

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Installation Photo Gallery

GRID Alternatives Continues to Grow!

Laurel Crump — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 23:49:46 GMT

GRID Alternatives is has continued to grow over the past several months! Our recently opened San Diego office is now fully up and running, and in May we opened a Fresno Regional Office to add to our statewide network. As Project Manager for the California Solar Initiative Single Family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) Program, we continue to bring solar power to low income families throughout the State, having completed 228 installations statewide to date.

The GRID Alternatives Oakland office will be hosting Solarthon 2009 on September 12th, 2009. This year we will be installing solar electric systems on 16 houses in one day! For more information or to find out how to participate, please follow the link below.

As always, thank you to the supporters of GlobalGiving for helping GRID Alternatives deliver more renewable energy to low income families throughout the state of California!

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GRID Alternatives is Expanding Statewide!

Tracie Troxler — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:02:36 GMT

GRID Alternatives is growing rapidly! We recently opened an office in San Diego to add to our current operations in the San Francisco Bay Area and the Greater Los Angeles Area. We are on track to continue expanding throughout the state to serve more areas as the manager of the California Solar Initiative's Single-family Affordable Solar Homes Program (SASH Program). To date we have installed 205 solar electric systems for low-income families statewide and hope to install at least that many this year alone.

Thanks to the supporters of Global Giving for helping GRID Alternatives deliver more renewable energy to low income families throughout the state of California!

To view a complete photo gallery of our projects, click on the link below:

Links:

http://picasaweb.google.com/GRIDAlternatives

Exciting Growth with GRID Alternatives

Tracie Troxler — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 23:59:17 GMT

GRID Alternatives continues to expand our solar affordable housing program and staff. Since the start of 2008, we have completed 9 installations for homeowners with low incomes, and are adding 4 new staff members to our team.

In addition to our installation and program growth, we have also had several opportunities to create new partnerships with job training programs. These partnerships offer hard-working youth exposure to employment options in the emerging green economy and hands-on skill development in solar installation. Click on the link below to see pictures from one of our recent installations with the participants of the Richmond BUILD job training program.

Links:

http://picasaweb.google.com/GRIDAlternatives/RichmondInstallation3608

GRID Alternatives Winter '08 Newsletter

Tracie Troxler — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 23:02:55 GMT

GRID Alternatives is off to a great start in 2008! We have moved into our new office in downtown Oakland and have settled into our recently launched Southern California office in Carson. We have already installed 4 solar electric systems in 2008 and are geared up to serve many more low income families this year. Read all about our recent projects and growth in our 2008 Winter Newsletter.

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2008 Winter Newsletter

GRID Alternatives installs 30 systems for HFH International Jimmy Carter Work Project 2007

Tracie Troxler — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:41:34 GMT

GRID Alternatives' participation in The Habitat for Humanity International Jimmy Carter Work Project 2007 was a huge success! We installed 30 solar electric systems for low-income first-time home owners in Southern Los Angeles and San Pedro. During the week of this JCWP event, we also opened our L.A. regional office. Click on the link below to see pictures of GRID Alternatives on the roof with Jimmy Carter!

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GRID Alternatives on the roof with Jimmy Carter!

GRID Alternatives Fall '07 Newsletter

Zach Franklin — Thu, 04 Oct 2007 05:36:43 GMT

Check out the latest updates from GRID Alternatives, including our 100th low-income solar installation, expansion to Los Angeles, and an exciting partnership with SunPower. http://www.gridalternatives.org/eNews/Fall07.html

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Fall 2007 eNewsletter

GRID Alternatives Summer '07 Newsletter

Zach Franklin — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 19:56:34 GMT

Check out the latest updates from GRID Alternatives in our Summer 2007 eNewsletter!

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GRID Alternatives Summer '07 Newsletter

GRID Alternatives Spring '07 Newsletter

Zach Franklin — Wed, 21 Mar 2007 22:24:46 GMT

Click on the link below to read our Spring 2007 newsletter, with updates on GRID Alternatives projects!

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GRID Alternatives Spring '07 Newsletter

Fall 2006 Newsletter

GRID Alternatives — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 22:26:45 GMT

Click below to read about the SOLARTHON, recent volunteer projects, and an upcoming fundraiser.

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Fall 2006 Newsletter

Spring 2006 Newsletter, Issue 5

Tim Sears — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 20:30:21 GMT

Read the attached newsletter to learn about the latest activities at GRID Alternatives, including new housing projects and the upcoming Solarthon!

Attachments:

GRID Newsletter; Issue 5, Spring 2006 (DOC)