NRDC Launches Solar Schools Crowdfunding Campaign

October 31, 2013 |

Over the past few years, the terms 'crowdfunding' or 'kickstarting' have taken off, much like the projects or startup companies that the fundraising campaigns are helping reach fruition. Now a somewhat unlikely organization has jumped into the fray, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), which is aiming to install solar on schools as soon as January 2014 through a new Indiegogo campaign.

The campaign seeks to raise $54,000, which will help three to five schools buy and install solar installations. “Our ultimate goal is help every school that wants solar power to get it,” said NRDC Renewable Energy Policy Director Nathanael Greene. “If we can hold fundraisers for field trips and sports teams, we can do the same to get our schools on solar.” He added that switching to solar power helps schools cut their energy costs and allows them to use those funds for other purposes while also reducing the environmental impact of energy use.

NRDC used California’s Firebaugh-Las Deltas United School District as an example. After going solar, the district was able to save roughly $900,000 allowing them to reinstate a music program for 2,300 students. It said students at solar schools also get a chance to see how solar energy works, which can help enrich their science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs.

“Numerous organizations and programs — mainly through utilities — are putting solar panels on schools,” said Jay Orfield, environmental innovation fellow in NRDC’s Center for Market Innovation. Another company, Mosaic, has also launched crowdfunding campaigns to support solar on schools, community centers and others. However, investments in Mosaic’s projects promise a return on investment over time, akin to a bond. Under the Indiegogo campaign, people can contribute as little as $10 to help a school go solar.

“What’s different about our program is that it aims to make solar an option for any school, anywhere, by beginning with local school administrators, parents, teachers, students and communities and giving them the tools to they need to make solar power a reality,” he said.

The campaign will also include a Solar Schools website that will help potential beneficiary schools apply to the program and for contributors to vote to select a school to go solar. The site, which isn’t up yet, will detail state and local rules about installing solar power in a given community. It will also help connect interested parties with solar installers, and local solar organizations.

Other organizations, including The Solar Foundation, Community Power Network, Bonneville Environmental Foundation (Solar 4R Schools), The Green School Alliance and Three Birds Foundation are partnering with NRDC on the campaign.

While it's NRDC’s first crowdfunding campaign, it is far from NRDC’s first efforts to promote solar. In the past, the organization has worked with professional sports and collegiate stadium owners to develop a guidebook to help them go solar. It’s helped stadiums like the Qwest Field and Event Center in Seattle and Chase Field in Phoenix, Ariz. go solar.

The original article was posted on SolarReviews.

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How Schools Can Use Less Energy & Spend Less Money without the Sacrifice

Making schools energy efficient need not be an exercise in sacrifice. Schools can get the same or better services, as well as increase the health and comfort of students and staff, all while using less energy.

The first step is to get an energy assessment that can help identify and prioritize opportunities for substantial energy and operational savings. Once these opportunities are identified, a school can develop a customized plan to reduce energy use, replacement and operating costs, and their carbon footprint. Common energy-saving measures for schools include installing high-efficiency lighting and lighting controls; heating, cooling and ventilation equipment; and motors, controls and variable frequency drives.

Incentives from government and/or utility-based programs may be available to help pay for the cost of an energy audit and/or energy efficiency upgrades. These rebates and incentives help schools lower the capital investment required to implement energy-saving strategies and technologies, as well as provide an attractive return on investment and payback due to savings on maintenance and energy costs.

In New York City and Westchester County, for example, schools with a Con Edison electric or natural gas account may be eligible for the following incentives from Con Edison’s Commercial and Industrial Energy Efficiency Program:

Payment of up to 50 percent of costs, with a cap of $67,000, for a Level 3 energy auditRebates for high-efficiency electric and gas equipment including lighting fixtures and LED exit signs, packaged heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, motors, chillers, and water and steam boilersPerformance-based custom incentives for installing high-efficiency equipment or energy-saving solutions not eligible for equipment rebates
Check to see what funding may be available in your area.

By David Pospisil, Guest Blogger, Energy Efficiency Markets

David Pospisil is Program Manager of Con Edison’s Commercial & Industrial Energy Efficiency Program, New York, N.Y. You can join the discussion on LinkedIn (Con-Edison-Commercial-Industrial) and Facebook.

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