SmartPower launched its Solarize at Work Program back in 2015 with the goal of leveraging our award-winning “Solarize” community-based outreach campaign to large and medium corporations. Simply put, with so many people working from "the home office", many companies wish to provide an added value to their employees in the form of a good deal on solar for their employees -- and possibly even their customers.
At its core, Solarize at Work should be thought of as “another valuable employee benefit being provided by a great employer”.
Most corporations already offer great vacation plans, health care and salaries. Now, we can provide your staff with an easy way to go solar!
What is Solarize:
In the spring of 2012, SmartPower, in partnership with the Connecticut Green Bank, launched “Solarize Connecticut” as a test model to determine whether this unique on- the-ground and online outreach campaign could dramatically advance the adoption of residential solar by lowering costs and making solar more affordable. Solarize works in “communities” across the nation, and a community for us can be broadly defined as a city or town, a school or faith community or, even, a company or place of business. After all, we all create and make our own communities. And our businesses and companies are indeed “communities.”
Although no two Solarize campaigns are the same (because no two “communities” are the same), the foundation of the Solarize program consists of (1) robust on-the-ground and on-line community-based outreach coordinated by SmartPower and led by participating volunteers; (2) a pre-selected and trusted solar installer using pre-approved equipment; (3) an end date for the 16-20 week solar campaign that motivates home-owners to take action; and (4) the opportunity for zero-down financing to reduce the complexity of the solar process.
The Key Elements of Solarize at Work:
Once engaged by your company, the SmartPower Team gets to work putting the campaign together on-the-ground, in your office, and on-line. Key elements include:
a. Solarize at Work Launch event:
We will plan a launch event for Solarize at Work with your company to kick off the project. SmartPower would work with your company’s communications and public relations people to attract media to cover the event as well as the attention and interest of employees. Our intent is to highlight your business as a leader in solar and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and have the campaign and your company serve as a model for other businesses interested in launching a Solarize at Work campaign for their employees.
b. Solarize at Work website:
Using the WeeGreen “Solarize” platform, SmartPower will create a Solarize at Work website that will be branded to your company and customized specifically for the campaign. Employees will be able to sign up to have a free evaluation of their home for solar, learn more about solar and even volunteer to help others learn about solar. The site will include any scheduled events, testimonials from other employees and general information about solar installations and financing. Links to the website could be included on any internal intranet for employees or other communication channels. We will also feature any and all other sustainability efforts that your company may wish to promote.
c. Outreach:
SmartPower will coordinate and run outreach events such as employee break- fast meetings or brown bag lunch workshops (“Solar 101s”) to inform employees of the program details at your facilities, and during these days of uncertainty, via Zoom. Links to these webinars would be on Solarize at Work website. We would also utilize social media to showcase the progress and results of each of the campaigns.
d. Materials:
SmartPower will create co-branded campaign materials such as flyers and post- ers to inform employees of the campaign throughout the offices where they work. We will work with your company to identify the most appropriate materials and locations for bringing attention to the campaign for employees in the workplace. And should your company continue to have a work-from-home policy in place, we can effectively use email and text messaging to convey and send messages and materials.
e. Solar installers:
The Solarize at Work program works with solar installers that have been vetted and are qualified by our partners and others. Indeed, we have also sought the input of an independent, national non-profit firm, Institute of Building Safety and Technology (IBTS), with extensive experience with providing quality assurance screening of solar installers and installations for municipalities, military bases and state governments. We have a network of solar installers in 40 states that can provide service and access to financing for solar to employees who live across the country.
f. Zero-down Financing:
Today’s solar customers like the ability to buy solar with no money down and a low, monthly payment. As such, SmartPower has worked with all the leading national solar lenders. Indeed, we will partner with one of them for your Solarize at Work program to ensure your employees have the opportunity for zero-down financing for their residential solar.
Conclusion:
We look forward to discussing the opportunity to bring Solarize at Work to your employees for their homes and perhaps even exploring the opportunity to install solar at your facilities. By providing $0 down financing as an option, solar is now within reach for anyone with a home that gets good sunshine. We would love to bring this benefit to your employees and in the process make your company. To learn more, contact SmartPower's President by clicking the box below: