This October, Colorado’s communities are coming together in a collective effort to combat climate change and address energy inequality. Namaste Solar, an employee-owned Certified B Corporation, is hosting its 5th annual Keep the Lights on Colorado (KTLOC) philanthropic campaign to help the most vulnerable Colorado families with their electricity bills. The community-based campaign supports Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC), a not-for-profit that utilizes community solar subscriptions (CSGs)* and emergency bill assistance. Namaste Solar aims to raise $50,000 to aid 116 Colorado families through October, through contributions from corporate partners and individuals.
Increasing electricity costs are the norm on the Front Range with a 4% average annual increase. Energy poverty remains a critical issue, where many low-income households spend a disproportionate amount of their income on energy bills. Simultaneously, we’re in a pivotal moment with climate change. The importance of decarbonizing our grid has never been more apparent. Namaste Solar aims to bring awareness of these issues while raising funds to reduce energy costs for those in need. The KTLOC campaign supplies qualified families with subscriptions to CSGs, centrally located solar systems that people gain access to through subscriptions.
One recipient shared, “I appreciate the assistance you have so kindly helped me with. It has been a blessing. Going through chemo and losing my companion of 25 years to dementia and COPD-4 has been a struggle. Without your help, I don’t know where I would be at this time.”
According to EOC, one in four households struggle with a high energy burden. These households are spending a disproportionate amount of their income on energy bills. The energy burden on low-income households is 3x that of higher-income households. Households that meet or are below the 80% area median income threshold are often making difficult decisions because their home energy can cost more than 20% of their monthly income.
In the past four years, Namaste Solar’s campaign raised over $284,000 and helped over 1,000 families gain more financial and energy security. For 2024, 23 partner organizations have already signed on as sponsors.
The KTLOC campaign runs throughout October, and anyone can contribute, from individual donations to corporate-level giving. Corporate sponsors are encouraged to participate as a means of giving back to the local community that supports their businesses, as well as a way to demonstrate their values to their employees and customers. Corporate donors also gain significant visibility through new sponsorship benefits. To become a sponsor, companies can
email Jenna Stadsvold, at jenna.stadsvold@namastesolar.com. To become an individual donor, individuals can click the “Donate Now” button on this page.
This year, Namaste Solar will host a campaign happy hour to celebrate our community and provide a venue to learn more about EOC’s program. All are invited to join us on Wednesday, October 23 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Prost Brewing Company in Northglenn.
