Solar Uptown Now, or (S.U.N.) is a community-initiated program that is aiming to install 270 kW-DC of rooftop solar capacity at nine affordable housing cooperatives in the Harlem and Washington Heights neighborhoods of New York City. The effort is a good example of how low- and middle-income communities can transition to clean, affordable energy, while also creating green jobs for the local economy.
The solar
installations will reduce operating costs for the co-ops while also giving the
900 residents of the communities an estimated combined savings of $59,000
during the first year alone. Over the solar installations’ 25-year lifespan,
residents will save more than $1.7 million. These savings can help the
cooperative to build up reserves and address maintenance issues.
The project isn’t just throwing the panels on, either. S.U.N. is providing
education to residents, as well as free technical assistance and financing
options for the co-ops. The residents are empowered to make informed decisions,
helping the effort to be more sustainable.
While solar
energy is providing residents with savings, as an added bonus, S.U.N. is also
opening job opportunities in the local community. WE ACT, a program that
provides free working training in New York, partnered with Solar One and the
S.U.N. program to offer free solar installation training in 2018. As part of
the program, S.U.N.’s installer must hire some of the local trainees. More than
100 unemployed or underemployed residents have received training, with five of them
landing solar jobs.
While the
effort shows that solar is a viable option even in low-income housing areas, it
also shows that when a community and group work together to create green jobs
in the local economy, everyone wins.
Green Jobs
How to Apply for a Green Job With the demand for green jobs skyrocketing so far in 2017, giving yourself a unique edge can be difficult—yet absolutely necessary—in order for you to become a proud worker for Mother Earth. Follow these steps to successfully claim your next environmentally friendly employment opportunity. 1. Resume: Make sure … Continue reading..
