Solar Spring Break | 2019

*After this page closes on 3/1, we will continue fundraising on this site: https://donate.gridalternatives.org/campaign/uc-berkeley-2019-ssb/c207964

This spring break, 2019, two groups of 12 UC Berkeley students will be traveling to areas around Oakland and Salinas to install solar panels for low-income households. This is the 6th year that UC Berkeley students are participating in this “Solar Spring Break” project, hosted by the nonprofit organization GRID Alternatives. Solar Spring Break is supported on campus by the Student Environmental Resource Center (SERC) and is comprised of a week-long trip over Spring Break to install panels and a DeCal (student-taught class) on the topics of solar technology and environmental justice.

Most residential areas today are powered by energy from fossil fuels, which are nonrenewable, polluting, and contribute to climate change. In order to decarbonize our energy system, it is essential to increase the presence of renewables in the residential electricity mix. However, the upfront cost of rooftop solar systems is a major barrier that deters many homeowners from switching to solar. By installing solar panels on qualifying homes in underrepresented communities, our team seeks to provide needed financial savings for residents while lowering greenhouse gas emissions. We believe that renewable energy and utility savings should not be reserved just for those with the means to afford solar panel installations. People struggling to make ends meet are the ones who would benefit the most from stabilized and reduced electricity bills, and that is why we focus on this demographic.

In addition to advocating for environmental justice in underrepresented communities, participants of Solar Spring Break will also acquire the technical skills need to install solar panels. This hands-on learning experience will actively enrich participants’ knowledge and understanding of solar energy and prepare many for a career in the field of renewable energy.

Solar energy is a renewable and carbon neutral source of energy. Once set up, it involves minimal maintenance and running costs, while providing a reliable electricity output. However, the initial installation costs of an average sized home solar panel system (5 kW) can cost over $25000, mainly due to the prohibitively high costs of photovoltaic systems, as well as the labor and electronic components required. Thus, even with subsidized rates and incentives provided by utility companies, most low income communities still cannot afford these facilities. GRID Alternatives aims to overcome this cost barrier, and make solar power accessible to all regardless of socio-economic background. This will not only benefit the environment, but also improve the financial well-being and living standards of impoverished communities in the East Bay and Central Coast.

Crowdfunding Goal

Participating in each installation effort costs us about $5,000, and since we are participating in both the East Bay and Central Coast projects this year, we need to raise around $10,000 to cover our costs. Here is a more detailed budget breakdown:

• Solar Panels/Program Fees: $9,000

• Meals/Food for both groups for a week: $800

• Transportation to/around Salinas and Oakland (BART, rideshare, gas, etc.): $400

• Misc./Activities: $100

Grand Total: $10,300

This money will directly bring the environmental and economic benefits of solar power to low-income families in Oakland and Salinas. Please make a gift today to help us reach our goal so we can bring renewable, affordable energy to underserved communities and give students hands-on experience with solar technology!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read about our project, and if you would like to know more about the program before making a gift, you can read about it on the GRID Alternatives website and on the SERC website.

Note: We began fundraising on a separate site before this one, and the money we raised there (~$3,400) is reflected on this site in order to give donors an accurate view of the total progress of our fundraising efforts.