This past Saturday, more than 3,700 volunteers from all over the world participated in US Green Building Council’s Green Apple Day of Service, a global movement that encourages people to take action in their communities through service projects.
Joining the worldwide cause, GRID Alternatives Greater Los Angeles partnered up with volunteers from Vons Credit Union, USGBC-LA and Arroyo High School to install solar electric systems for three families in the City of El Monte. Volunteers had the opportunity to make an immediate impact in their community while also learning about solar energy through a hands-on experience.
In their own backyard, volunteers installed a total of 10 kilowatts of solar, which over 30 years, will eliminate 256 tons of greenhouse gases -- equivalent to planting 6,005 trees!
The families have flipped the switch on their solar electric systems and will now save over $80,000 during the lifetime of the systems. El Monte homeowner Sandra Zepeda, a solar advocate and now proud-owner of solar explained, "I am happy to fulfill my dream of being part of a movement that helps the environment. The savings also mean having more money to put into my kids college fund. Every penny that I save will be put to good use.”
Thank you to all the volunteers and supporters who made GRID Alternatives first Green Apple Day of Service an amazing experience! Special thanks to Stephen Weakley and Donna Young from Vons Credit Union for their support and to Dominique Smith and Natasha Dyer from USGBC for coordinating the event. We would also like to thank Vanessa Goh from the Alliance to Save Energy and Professor James Waterhouse from Arroyo High School for making this project a success, as his students can attest: where we learn, matters!
You can browse through our pics here or look at some of the cool projects that took place worldwide here. 