January 7th, 2010
California Solar Energy Industries Association (CALSEIA) and Habitat for Humanity Tap The Power of Sun for a Family
Solar industry trade association members roll-up their sleeves and start 2010 by installing solar electric system for a low-income family in Los Angeles
Long Beach, CA – January 7, 2009 California Solar Energy Industry Association (CALSEIA) today announced a combined effort of its Southern California members to install a solar electric system on a Habitat for Humanity home in Long Beach. The new installation will provide reliable, affordable, and clean electricity from the sun to a low-income family of six. The 1.4 KW system offers close to 90% reduction in the family’s electricity bill, which translates to savings of \$360/year and over \$10,000 throughout a span 25 years as well as elimination of 43 tons of carbon emissions in to our environment over the same period.
“CALSEIA is thrilled to be doing this for a deserving family. Our member companies sought out opportunities to help low-income families in Los Angeles. Our local Chapter approached Grid Alternatives and Habitat towards the end of last year and the project quickly came to reality. As soon as a family was identified, our Southern California members immediately got to work to make this happen” said Sue Kateley, Executive Director of CALSEIA. “Our partnership with Grid Alternatives should help us find ways to do more projects like this in the future” Kateley added. By pooling their skills and generous equipment donations from leading manufacturers, and donated labor from experienced solar contractors, CALSEIA bridged the resource gap to bring the project to fruition.
Los Angeles installer, Solutions in Solar Electricity supported the installation while other CALSEIA members such as PV Powered and UniRac stepped up to donate other necessary equipment such as an inverter and roof mounting system. “CALSEIA members are fortunate to do business in a region where our customers recognize solar electricity is a locally abundant and predictable resource for powering their homes and businesses” said Joel Davidson, President of Solutions in Solar Electricity. “The Association members wanted to team up and give something back to our community by donating this system. Not only will it benefit the Habitat residents with reduced electricity bills for decades to come, but will provide clean power, which benefits society through improved air quality.”
“We are grateful to CALSEIA’s Southern California members for helping to muster the equipment and volunteers needed to complete this installation”, said Susie Chang, director of Grid Alternatives for Greater L.A., a non-profit partner of Habitat for Humanity that works with community volunteers to install solar electric systems for low-income families throughout California through Single-Family Affordable Solar Homes (SASH) program. “This is a special installation because it is donated directly by California solar industry members, who are making solar accessible to all, regardless of economic standing, and are driving local economic development through the operation of their businesses.”
About CALSEIA
The California Solar Energy Industry Association (www.calseia.org) was founded in 1977. CALSEIA’s mission is to expand the use of all solar technologies in California and establish a sustainable industry for a clean energy future. CALSEIA’s members include solar thermal and solar electric companies actively doing business in California, including: manufacturers, distributors, installers, designers, architects, consultants, and utilities.
Qualified solar installers can be found on the CALSEIA website at www.calseia.org/solar-energy-experts
About PV Powered
PV Powered (www.pvpowered.com) is the innovation leader for grid-tied PV inverters in the residential, commercial and utility markets, setting the industry standard for innovation in reliability and efficiency. Founded in Bend, Oregon in 2003 and privately owned, the company brings together one of the most experienced design teams in solar power electronics. PV Powered was recently selected to receive a Stage 2 award under the Solar Energy Grid Integration System (SEGIS) program by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The company is leading a team of recognized distributed energy and smart grid partners in developing innovations that increase energy harvest, reduce the cost of PV systems, and remove barriers to high levels of PV grid penetration.
About Solutions in Solar Electricity
Solutions in Solar Electricity (www.solarsolar.com) has designed and sold solar photovoltaic (PV) systems since 1978. Solutions owners, Joel Davidson and Fran Orner, are co-authors of popular "The New Solar Electric Home" book, now in its 3rd edition. Joel Davidson has worked in the PV industry for over 30 years and had one of the first PV powered homes in the U.S. He is a PV industry founder and was named “one of this country's most experienced, hands-on pioneers” by the Rocky Mountain Institute. Fran Orner has over 20 years of PV system design and installation experience and is an accomplished construction do-it-yourselfer and designer. Their Culver City solar powered home and office is one of the first net-metered PV systems in California. Solutions in Solar Electricity is a Southern California member of the California Solar Energy Industries Association (CalSEIA).
About UniRac
Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, UniRac (www.unirac.com) was founded in
1998 and quickly became the industry leader with a reputation for superior
products, responsive support and outstanding services. Speed and high-quality
installation options are the trademark of all our PV racking product lines. UniRac
delivers innovation, on time, and with award-winning results.
About GRID Alternatives
Founded in 2001, GRID Alternatives (www.gridalternatives.org) is a nonprofit organization that provides renewable energy and energy efficiency services, equipment and training. GRID Alternatives’ flagship Solar Affordable Housing Program trains and leads teams of community volunteers, corporate work-teams and low-income job trainees to install solar electric systems for low-income homeowners throughout California. To date, GRID Alternatives has installed 322 systems for low-income families throughout California with the help of more than 2,200 volunteers and low-income job trainees trained on the theory and practice of solar electric installation. These systems reduce each family’s electric bill by 75 percent on average, translating to more than \$5.9 million worth of energy cost savings over the systems’ projected life span.
About Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles (www.habitatla.org) strives to eliminate poverty housing through advocacy, education and partnership with families in need to build simple, decent affordable housing. Since 1990, HFH GLA has built and renovated over 600 homes locally and worldwide, transforming the lives of hundreds of individuals.
Press Contacts:
CALSEIA
Ron Mulick– Southern California Chair
818-889-0440
ron@mulick.com
Grid Alternatives
Susie Chang, Regional Director
310-324-8146
schang@gridalternatives.org
Solutions in Solar Electricity
Joel Davidson
310-202-7882
Joel.Davidson@sbcglobal.com
