Yale’s participation in unique solar program highlights Earth Week 2015
Yale will launch Earth Week with a special event to bring attention to a unique program that provides more affordable solar energy options to faculty and staff.
The university will host an information session about Solarize U, a program that offers a “solar marketplace,” where participants receive bids from pre-screened, solar panel installers, at noon on Monday, April 20, in Kroon Hall’s Burke Auditorium, 195 Prospect St. Participants then can request site visits from installers that make the best offers.
Solarize U, which is sponsored by partnering universities in Connecticut, is part of the residential solar program Solarize Connecticut, which operates in more than 50 communities across the state. The program is spearheaded by the Connecticut Green Bank in a partnership with the non-profit SmartPower.
President Peter Salovey first announced Yale’s participation in the program last August, as part of six sustainability initiatives introduced to the Yale community. The university has hosted a number of information sessions about Solarize U in the past month.
“Yale University is excited to partner with Connecticut Green Bank to support our staff and faculty in their efforts to make their homes more sustainable through the Solarize U program,” Salovey said. “With this program, we can further encourage members of our community to do their part for the environment by taking action at home, and also save money on their energy bills.”
Those who attend the April 20 event on campus will learn about the evolution and history of the Solarize Connecticut program, meet solar installers, and learn more about Yale’s participation. Featured speakers will include Bryan Garcia, president of Connecticut Green Bank; and Kenneth Gillingham, assistant professor of economics at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
“Connecticut Green Bank is extremely proud of what we have been able to achieve through the Solarize program,” Garcia said. “We continue to see our financing tools and the Solarize model bringing down the cost of solar and making it affordable for more and more homeowners throughout Connecticut.”
Ginger Chapman, director of Yale’s Office of Sustainability, noted that, “Renewable energy and affordable energy options are very important to Yale. It’s wonderful to be able to offer this program to members of our community, thanks to our partnership with Connecticut Green Bank.”
Other participating schools in Connecticut include Southern Connecticut State University, the University of New Haven, the University of Connecticut, Wesleyan University, and Eastern Connecticut State University.
Yale faculty, staff, alumni, or students can sign up for a free solar site visit at www.solarizeU.com/yale or by contacting Solarize U outreach managers Kate Donnelly or Bernie Pelletier at kdonnelly@smartpower.org or bpelletier@smartpower.org.
The Solarize U session is part of several Earth Week events at Yale. For more information, visit the Office of Sustainability’s website, at http://sustainability.yale.edu.
(Image via Shutterstock)
Media Contact
Jim Shelton: james.shelton@yale.edu, 203-361-8332