Solarize Habitat for Humanity Homes Nationwide
GiveSolar and Habitat Virginia Seek Major Funding to Make Solar Energy Affordable to Low-Income Households
GiveSolar and Habitat for Humanity Virginia have partnered with 25 Habitat statewide organizations (aka Affiliate Support Organizations) to make solar energy affordable to low-income households across the country. Together, we are addressing three urgent challenges: (1) access to solar energy for low-income households, (2) economic insecurity caused by energy burden, and (3) the widespread transition to low-carbon energy sources necessary to address climate change.
Within this framework, the GiveSolar and Habitat partnership has developed a robust statewide solar program that has led to a successful program launch in Virginia, and nine other states planning to follow suit - Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and Texas. In January 2024, GiveSolar began raising funds to help start up solar programs in these 10 states. This campaign ended in August 2024 after successfully reaching our fundraising goal of $1 million.
With the successful completion of Phase 1 of this campaign, the money raised was divided equally among the 10 participating states, helping these states to start-up solar programs. The success of the Phase 1 campaign has lead to 15 more states expressing interest in starting solar programs. Beginning on Nov. 1, 2024, GiveSolar launched a campaign that seeks to raise $25M to assist 25 statewide offices of Habitat to develop and deploy 5-year solar projects that correlate with the 5-year duration of the federal Solar for All Program This project has the potential to bring solar energy to thousands of low-income households.
Why Give?
GiveSolar / Habitat Virginia have a successful track record of launching a statewide solar program in Virginia. By normalizing solar energy on Habitat homes, this project will have transformative effects across the country by routinely incorporating solar into Habitat homes thereby easing the transition to clean energy in other sectors of the national housing market.
Funding request
Federal funds from “Solar for All” (a component of the Inflation Reduction Act) will not be enough to successfully deploy solar on Habitat homes. Most states will require complementary funding for each solar system and Habitat must develop programs and capacity to make the most of Solar for All. Additional funding from individuals, corporations, and foundations is necessary to bridge the funding gap and get Habitat ready to launch solar programs. We have had some big wins through early grassroots crowdfunding and have succeeded in reaching our $1 million goal.
Now, we have a new goal, to raise $25M to build robust 5-year Habitat solar programs in 15 states. These states include tens of thousands of homes that could potentially receive solar systems.
Your gift of any amount will have a big impact in helping us provide access to solar power for everyone. As an example: $200 will buy 1 solar panel for a Habitat family, and $125,000 will pay for the solar panels on a 50-house Habitat development. Donations are being directed through Habitat Virginia, a tax-deductible organization.
