Domino and RE-volv Partner to Help Communities with Clean Power
Here at Domino, we’ve been forming some great partnerships with organizations whose missions align with ours. We’re happy to announce a new partnership with RE-volv, a nonprofit that’s bringing the benefits of solar power to communities around the country.
How RE-volv maximizes their impact
RE-volv aims to empower people and communities to invest collectively in renewable energy. That means that people like you can invest even very small amounts to help install solar systems on community centers. And the savings they get from solar power helps those organizations better serve their communities.
In this case, investing means donating. But it’s an investment in solar for our communities, because over time, each dollar you donate to an individual solar project will help finance three or more solar projects. That’s the beauty of the organization’s revolving fund.
Here’s how it works: A community center leases a solar system from RE-volv, who owns and maintains it. The community center pays for the lease, but pays nothing upfront and starts saving money right away, because the monthly lease payment is lower than their current electric bill. Sound familiar? That’s how solar leases work for individual homes, too.
Being a nonprofit, RE-volv can invest their lease earnings into the next project — and then the next project, and the next. That’s how their fund keeps growing.
Planting a solar seed in communities
RE-volv has already completed three solar projects and has five more in the works. Community centers they work with range from religious centers like the Kehilla Community Synagogue to coops like the Other Avenues Food Cooperative. These organizations are saving as much as 15% in year 1 and 26% by year 20 on their electricity bills. Estimated savings over 20 years are in the hundreds of thousands.
Installing solar systems is only one part of what RE-volv accomplishes. They also help educate people about solar. Events during fundraising and at installations get the community involved, and installing these projects in communities helps show people that solar works and is affordable.
In addition, RE-volv gets the word out about solar through their Solar Ambassador Program, which trains college students to organize crowdfunding campaigns for solar projects in their communities. The current group of ambassadors is working on projects with food co-ops in Isla Vista, CA and Milwaukee, WI, a community center in a low-income neighborhood in Philadelphia, PA, a nature center in Dayton, OH, and a church in Bryn Mawr, PA.
How you can help RE-volv and help yourself
We’re excited to partner with RE-volv as they empower people and communities with clean energy. With our new partnership, RE-volv can also be part of the 1 billion actions we’re creating at Domino for our clean energy future.
That’s because as part of our partnership, Domino will help the RE-volv community save energy and money — with everything from smart thermostats to solar power. Each RE-volv community member who talks to a Domino energy savings concierge will get a personal energy savings plan to help them switch to clean energy. And they’ll also be helping RE-volv, which will receive a donation from Domino each time someone from their community talks to a concierge.
If you want to do even more, you can contribute to RE-volv on their website, where you can also sign up for their mailing list. And they have great volunteer opportunities, a fun way to contribute. If you’re a student, you can apply to be a Solar Ambassador and make a direct impact in your community.
This all goes to show that when it comes to solar, there’s something for everyone. We can all do our part to move our communities to clean energy!
