RE-volv, a local company dedicated to people-empowered solar energy movement, helped us fund our 36kW solar panel system.
In turn, Other Avenues is paying back RE-volv, investing in other community solar projects through the revolving fund.
SunWork and the RE-volv staff installed the panels, and two friendly PG&E workers gave the “ok” to turn on our panels.
Some stats:
In our first year, we will save 12% on our electric bill, and 30% by 2020. This amounts to a savings of $335,000 during the 20-year warranty period. Additionally, by year 20, the lease revenues will fund an additional three solar-energy systems for community-based non-profit and collective institutions!
For your deep, inner geek (or your proud outward geek), here are two links to monitor our solar panels. Click on the “Graphics” link to take you to the performance history.
“We are a coop, we have a coop, we can just spread our cooperative un-self-consciously into the economy.” -OA worker, 2012
By being a cooperative, part of our job is to make cooperatives an alternative to the dominant market. We focus on people, on workers & their rights, and on finding business solutions that continue to enhance all of our lives.
In the U.S., there are 30,000 cooperatives – and they all operate under the Seven Cooperative Principles.
Putting People First
That’s what we’re about. We care about ourselves, and make sure that we take care of our rights as workers and as humans. We care about the people involved in the food industry – such as farmworkers, our delivery drivers, and workers for small and large corporations serving the food and health industry. Many of the choices we make, as a business, in choosing what food and other products we carry stems from putting people first.
Our deep commitment continues into our community of San Francisco’s Outer Sunset district, as we thrive into our 40th year!
Cooperative Links of Interest
- National Cooperative Business Association (NCBA)
- 2012 International Year of Cooperatives (IYC)
- Stories.coop
- And – See our local cooperative network links here