Apr 7 2014
RGS Energy, a nationwide leader of turnkey solar energy solutions for residential, commercial, and utility customers, and GRID Alternatives, the nation's largest non-profit solar installer, have launched a new partnership to help bring solar power to low-income communities across the country.
RGS Energy employees will volunteer throughout 2014 to install solar for 10 low-income families in California, Colorado, New Jersey and New York, while providing philanthropic support to help GRID Alternatives continue to expand. Each solar project will take one to two days to be installed.
The planned deployments represent RGS Energy's continued support of GRID Alternatives' mission to provide solar power systems to low-income families, and follows RGS Energy's participation in two successful GRID Alternatives Solarthon events in 2013. RGS Energy's nationwide partnership with GRID Alternatives provides its employees an opportunity to give back to their communities in a meaningful way through volunteering their installation services.
"Thanks to the generous contribution of RGS Energy's regional teams and our other partners, we're able to bring to these low-income families the financial and environmental benefits of solar power," said Erica Mackie, co-founder and CEO of GRID Alternatives.
GRID Alternatives will be providing the solar system equipment as donated by equipment manufactures and other partners, with the systems expected to save the 10 families 70% on their energy bills or as much as $190,000 collectively over the next 30 years. The new systems will also provide environmental benefits by substantially reducing the families' 'carbon footprint.'
"We have been a strong supporter of GRID Alternatives since 2010," said Bryan Conklin, the vice president of marketing at RGS Energy. "Our partnership with GRID Alternatives is a terrific way for us to give back to the communities that have helped RGS Energy grow to become one of the nation's leading solar energy providers over the last 36 years. These new projects further our philosophy and mission that everyone in the nation should be beneficiaries of solar power, no matter their economic means."
About GRID Alternatives
GRID Alternatives is a non-profit organization that brings the benefits of solar technology to low-income communities. Using a barn-raising model, GRID Alternatives leads teams of volunteers and job trainees to install solar power on qualifying homes, providing needed savings for families struggling to make ends meet while preparing workers for jobs in the fast-growing solar industry and cleaning our air. More than 4,000 families have benefited from the program to date, saving $110 million in lifetime electricity costs, and more than 15,000 people have received solar training. GRID Alternatives has offices throughout California, in Denver, CO, and in New York, serving the tri-state region. For more information, visit www.gridalternatives.org.
About RGS Energy
RGS Energy (Nasdaq:RGSE) is one of the nation's pioneering solar energy companies serving commercial, residential, and utility customers. Beginning with one of the very first photovoltaic panels sold to the public in the U.S. in 1978, the company has installed more than 19,000 solar power systems representing well over 170 megawatts of 100% clean renewable energy. RGS Energy makes it very convenient for customers to save on their energy bill by providing a comprehensive solar solution, from design, financing, permitting and installation to ongoing monitoring, maintenance and support.
As one of the nation's largest and most experienced solar power players, the company has 17 offices across the West and the Northeast. For more information, visit RGSEnergy.com, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rgsenergy and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/rgsenergy. RGS Energy is a trade name and RGS Energy makes filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission under its official name "Real Goods Solar, Inc."
Source: http://www.rgsenergy.com