When Jorge Gonzalez’s rooftop solar electric system was turned on in 2016, he felt he could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Faced with ever-increasing energy bills, solar would provide significant savings--money that could instead be used to feed his family and save for the future.
But Jorge’s story didn’t start with solar. It started with small, individual behavior changes that he and his family of eight had adopted over the years: turning off lights, unplugging unused appliances, and switching to LED lightbulbs. Their energy efficiency efforts eventually became habits, so when solar finally did find its way to their rooftop, their bills dropped to nearly zero.
At GRID, we see each day how solar drives economic growth and environmental benefits in communities most impacted by underemployment, pollution and climate change. Solar savings are especially impactful for low-income families, who pay an ever-increasing percentage of their household income in electricity costs. But as Jorge’s story illustrates, solar is just one piece of the puzzle. When paired with energy efficiency, the economic and environmental benefits of solar multiply: lower electricity consumption, less stress on the electrical grid, and smaller energy bills.
We all make daily energy consumption choices that have an impact on our environment and our energy grid, whether we have solar on our rooftop or not. We’re excited to partner with Energy Upgrade California to educate and inspire communities to conserve electricity and preserve our environment by reducing the demand on our energy grid and make informed choices about their energy use at work and at home.
Learn more about Energy Upgrade California and what you can do to conserve energy in your own home!