On Veterans Day, members of KPMG’s Veterans Network joined GRID Alternatives to install solar on the home of Yvonne, whose husband and children are veterans and active duty military members, in Southeast, DC. This installation is part of GRID Alternatives’ Troops to Solar initiative, providing hands-on job training and volunteer experience to active duty military and veterans.
This “vets helping vets” solar install was made up of 10 KPMG employees: 6 veterans, 2 spouses of veterans, and 1 veteran supporter. The global consulting firm, KPMG, has a wide range of diversity and network initiatives. Justin, who works at KPMG’s federal advisory department on housing urban development, helped coordinate the event with GRID Alternatives. He shares, “As an army veteran, I’m part of the military veteran diversity network that has a lot of volunteer opportunities. Recruiting [for this solar installation] was easy.”
For all of the KPMG volunteers, it was their first time volunteering with GRID, like Theresa who was an intelligence officer for the marines before working at KPMG’s federal advisory practice department. After getting off the roof she shared why she came out on a Saturday, “It’s nice helping improve someone’s life who’s a veteran or has military affiliation that has given something to the country and kind of help them out. It was great to see my other coworkers up there problem solving, learning new stuff, and working together.”
The homeowner, Yvonne, who is a special police officer for government buildings, learned about the no-cost solar program from watching a Youtube video and later seeing a Facebook ad which prompted her to call GRID for more information. 
She stayed with the KPMG employees the whole day, took videos, and later generously offered lunch to the volunteers. Yvonne has been living in DC all her life and her family is made up of veterans. Her husband was in the army; her son was in the marines; her daughter is currently serving in the army, and she has three nephews in the air force. The 3.64 kW system will save the Yvonne and her family approximately 600 dollars a year and prevent 99.51 tons of greenhouse gases from entering the atmosphere.
The veteran helping veteran build was special not only because the volunteers were part of a project that will have a direct impact, but the volunteers had the opportunity to meet the family they were helping. Justin adds, “Just seeing the family themselves makes it more meaningful. It’s a very simple thing we can do to help them and their house. I can see the impact.”