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Solar Energy Non-Profit Delivers Alternative Energy To Low-Income Neighborhoods

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Residential solar power has become increasingly affordable over the past few years as an environmentally friendly, cost-saving alternative to traditionally sources of energy. But the barriers to entry can still be too high for low-income communities, which is where solar non-profits like GRID Alternatives come in.

The organization helps identify neighborhoods that could benefit from green energy, and volunteers rally together to help install solar panels on qualifying homes.

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Homeoner Miguel Rodriguez, right, carrying a panel with a member of Green City Force

A recent installation in Brooklyn, New York was the organization's first venture in the region -- the group has installed more than 3,600 similar projects along the West Coast. The family is expected to see their annual energy costs cut in half, the organization says.

A study released earlier this year said nearly all of New York State's energy needs could be met with a combination of wind, hydroelectric and solar power by 2030 with a concerted push.

Many of the volunteers were trainees with Green City Force, an on-the job service corps that helps young, low-income people enter sustainable careers.

“I looked out at all the other roofs out there that are going to want this," one worker said during the event. "I thought to myself, ‘That’s one down, thousands to go.’”

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Pulling panel up to the roof

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Green City Force Corps Member Vanessa Williams getting hands-on with solar installation

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Top U.S. Renewable Energy Sources - 2011 (MOST RECENT DATA)
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  • Top Renewable Energy Sources

    Renewable energy made up 9 percent of all energy consumed in 2011, according to the U.S. Energy Information Agency, and that number is predicted to grow throughout the next decade. Here's a breakdown of the top sources of renewable energy in the country, from wind to water and everything in between. Information courtesy of the U.S. Energy Information Agency.

  • Solar Power - 2 Percent

    Solar power and photovoltaic cells make up the smallest percentage of U.S. renewable energy production, but its future looks fairly promising. Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway invested $2.5 billion in Calif. solar company SunPower earlier this year. Also, unlike other sources of renewables, energy can also be generated by small-scale solar installations (like on the rooftop of a home or business), and declining costs have made solar much more affordable. Information courtesy of the U.S. Energy Information Agency.

  • Geothermal - 2 Percent

    Geothermal power captures naturally occurring heat from the earth to turn it into power. The renewable source is geographically dependent, but the Western half of the U.S. has many promising locations for power plants, like The Geysers in Calif., the largest geothermal power plant in the world. The U.S. is the largest producer of geothermal power on the planet, but growth hasn't kept up with wind or solar development in recent years. Information courtesy of the U.S. Energy Information Agency.

  • Waste - 5 Percent

    Believe it or not, burned garbage accounts for 5 percent of all renewable energy created in the U.S. each year. More than 29 million tons of municipal solid waste was burned in 2010 to create steam to spin turbines and generate power, and there are more than 75 waste-to-energy plants in the country. Emissions regulations have been in place at waste incineration plants since the 1960s, but the EPA warned in a 2006 report that the toxins released during the process could pose a serious environmental risk if not strictly enforced. Information courtesy of the U.S. Energy Information Agency.

  • Wind - 13 Percent

    The amount of wind power has grown for each of the past three years throughout the U.S. and accounted for the largest growth in capacity of any energy resource in the country last year. Wind turbines now supply more than 50,000 megawatts a year, enough to power 13 million homes, according to Reuters. Federal tax credits, which were set to expire at the end of 2012, have made wind farms an attractive form of renewable energy. Congress approved an extension of the credits through the end of 2013. After production, wind turbines are net zero, meaning they require no energy and produce no emissions. The only problematic thing generated in some cases other than clean power has been a whole lot of noise. Information courtesy of the U.S. Energy Information Agency.

  • Biofuel - 21 Percent

    Biofuels, like ethanol, are created from organic matter like corn or soybeans. Gasoline in the U.S. contains 9 percent of the resource by federal mandate under the Renewable Fuel Standard program, and more than 40 percent of the corn crop last year was turned into biofuel. The resource is slightly more unstable than other renewables because it depends on the productivity of farms - drought or other environmental problems can significantly lower yields and increase prices. On average, ethanol has 20 percent fewer emissions than traditional gasoline but some types, like cellulosic ethanol, cut greenhouse gas emissions more than 85 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Information courtesy of the U.S. Energy Information Agency.

  • Wood - 22 Percent

    Timber accounts for nearly a quarter of all renewable energy created in the country. Rising energy costs have led to an upswing in wood burning over the past decade, and nearly 20 percent of New England homes use wood for heating, according to a National Geographic report. Although it may be a cheaper alternative, wood burning stoves and fireplaces release more emissions of fine particles than other home heating methods, according to the EPA. Burning good wood in an efficient burner lowers toxic emissions and lost energy. Oh, and always have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors handy. Information courtesy of the U.S. Energy Information Agency.

  • Hydroelectric - 35 Percent

    Almost all of the current hydroelectric power plants in the U.S. were built before the mid-1970's, but it's still the highest producing renewable energy source in the country. In 2011, 8 percent of all power created in the U.S. came from hydroelectric sources, but it's also one of the most geographically dependent sources of energy. The Pacific Northwest gets more than half of all power via hydroelectric due to prime geography. Information courtesy of the U.S. Energy Information Agency.

  • How To Really Go Renewable

    Watch this TED talk on the missing link in the future of renewable energy.

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