In the week leading to Earth Day, clean energy organizations and advocates are sparking a national conversation about solar through the fourth annual “Solar Education Week.” Scheduled from April 15-21, the week features events across the country spearheaded by locals interested in uplifting their community through the benefits of solar. Organized by RE-volv, the initiative is a collaboration of solar and equity advocates, including, GRID Alternatives, Vote Solar, Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 campaign, and The Redford Center.
Solar Education Week aims to deepen the public’s understanding about solar energy benefits and challenges, with a focus on clean energy access for all and a just transition to a clean energy economy. It is designed to empower communities with tangible steps to shift to clean energy. Over 40 events in 10 states are already listed on the website SolarEdWeek.org.
“Americans of all ages and from all walks of life are looking for opportunities to take action on climate change,” said Andreas Karelas, RE-volv’s founder and executive director. “Solar Education Week is an invitation to people everywhere to host and attend gatherings to learn that solar is accessible, beneficial and—in many cases—already happening in their communities.”
Earth Day, cited as the birth of the modern environmentalist movement, is a celebration that often focuses on conservation and eco-friendly living. Solar Education Week is a complementary initiative that turns the spotlight to climate solutions and climate equity, movements that post-date the first Earth Day and require an additional conversation.
“We believe exposure and education on solar will help GRID Alternatives reach its vision of a transition to clean, renewable energy that includes everyone,” said Lia Papazoglou, volunteerism and collegiate program manager at GRID Alternatives. “We’re proud to partner with RE-volv on Solar Education Week to fill an information gap that will help include more people in the energy transition.” GRID regional offices will be hosting a number of events next week from education workshops to solar installations.
Solar Education Week is just one of RE-volv’s efforts to empower communities all over America to tap into the benefits of solar. RE-volv also runs the Solar Ambassador Program, a year-long fellowship that provides valuable career skills to college students by training them to bring solar to nonprofits in their communities. Fellows gain practical career experience in clean energy and project management while channeling their creativity and passion into real climate solutions. Students from over a dozen schools have participated in the program.
The sun provides more energy to the earth’s surface in one-and-a-half hours than the world consumes in a year. Compared with electricity from coal, solar over its lifetime uses less water, occupies or transforms less land and presents lower toxicity to humans. Solar is an incredibly affordable, reliable and versatile form of electricity. Solar Education Week exists to spread the word about the benefits of solar far and wide to all communities across the U.S.
News item from RE-volv
Zero Net Energy is mandatory in California in 2020 for new residential construction, businesses by 2030. Local production and consumption of energy with rooftop solar. Save hundreds of dollars a year by making most of your water and sewer bills go away with water conservation. Take a trip south in the winter with the money you save instead of handing it over to the District. Google “Oppose Bracebridge Sewers” for the website which describes a lot of water and power saving ideas. Some are no cost and produce big savings. Governments keep whining about infrastructure costs. The future is a greatly reduced need followed by elimination of residential water, sewer and hydro services.