One piece of advise everyone kept telling me as I prepared to enter high school was “get involved ” Unfortunately I took this advice too much to heart and ended up taking part in what ever I could get my hands on, to the point where I was pretty burnt out by senior year. By that time I had my hands tied to most of the organizations out of obligation, but one that I actually found value and enjoyment in was Habitat for Humanity.
As a freshman in Habitat I had a chance to make some good friends in older grades, which was nice since I don’t have any older brothers or sisters. By my senior year I enjoyed setting up the trips, sending reminders to bring tools and pack lunches, and seeing with awe how Habitat could create beautiful neighborhoods out of slums.
That’s why I got so excited when I read about Habitat for Humanity pairing with PG&E to provide solar generated electricity to low-income families in Oakland, California.
Developers are building a twelve-unit housing project in Oakland’s District Seven. These units include solar panels that create close to 300kWh each month. This can help reduce utility bills (about $500 a year), making Habitat’s housing even more affordable for low-income families.
This project is a result of the renewal of the five year old PG&E Solar Habitat Program. Since 2007, the project has helped to create four hundred sixteen solar-powered homes in Central and Northern California. So far in 2012, PG&E’s $1.7 million donation has helped put panels on 64 Habitat homes. I can only hope solar energy is adopted into Habitat’s housing on a more national scale soon.
Having worked on Habitat houses for years, I know the organization’s constant effort to reduce costs for its families while still providing them a quality home. Solar seems to fit this mission perfectly and I can’t wait to see this deployed on a larger scale. I’ve been meaning to pick up a hammer and get involved again. This may be a perfect push to do so.
Frank Luke says
Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter are behind this humanitarian project. Even though dissed in office, he’s proving to be one of the most compassionate of our Presidents !! Shout out to these wonderful people !!