Homeword's solar system on low-income housing is working again!

How this project works

This spring, 2024, we learned the housing nonprofit Homeword's large solar array at Orchard Gardens was not working due to older, faulty inverters. With no budget for replacements, they were feeling the impact of less solar gain and higher electricity bills.

​What a perfect Footprint Fund project. And we realized perfect for Climate Ride -- another Missoula-based amazing nonprofit. They run biking and hiking trips around the world, all to benefit climate organizations, and they  have been looking to "offset" their emissions with more solar for low-income housing. They are looking to be a CLIMATE POSITIVE organizations, and generously donated $10,000 for this project

We then pooled individual donations together with a River City ROOTS festival offset, and that allowed us to purchase and install four new inverters.

A big shout-out to Orion Thornton of OnSite Energy for helping to figure out the issue and make the replacement seamless. 

​Check out our short inspirational video!

July 2024 CELEBRATION

Folks from Homeword, Climate Ride, OnSite Energy, and Climate Smart Missoula celebrating this Footprint Fund WIN.

Mackenzie, Patrick & Hanna - Climate Ride

Homeword staff at Orchard Gardens

Orion from OnSite Energy

Amy and Shanti - Climate Smart

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