Sunrun puts the power back into the hands of the people - and that’s why I joined

Throughout my career I've dedicated myself to championing consumer-centered innovation. I’ve always been motivated to bring humanity into traditionally staid industries, like banking and energy. When I think of the energy industry now, I see companies like Sunrun: a mission-driven, high-integrity organization that focuses on everyday Americans and their needs. I no longer conjure up images of oil barons and dirty fossil fuel plants.

The work I do at Sunrun flips the script and puts the power back into the hands of the people, giving them the freedom to choose the energy they would like to power their home and a battery to control how they use it.

While rooftop solar can be an expensive purchase, Sunrun's “solar as a service” model eliminates upfront costs and ongoing maintenance expenses, offering people access to  solar energy in their home and helping create healthier communities, and local jobs.

What is solar as a service?

Solar as a service allows households to access clean solar energy from as little as zero dollars down, with no maintenance worries. The household simply pays for the energy generated by the solar system at a low monthly rate -- solar delivered as a service. We install the panels on the roof, monitor them daily and maintain them.

When households add a Brightbox home battery to their solar system, they are protected during power outages. They can even sell excess electricity back to the community when energy is most needed, such as during times of the day when electricity is more expensive.

Traditionally, if a household wanted solar power, the only option was to purchase the system outright and pay to have it installed. If something went wrong with the system, especially when a warranty expired, the owner had to pay for all repairs, and spend the time and effort locating a reputable repair company.  

With solar as a service, our motivations are aligned with yours: to have the most efficient solar systems producing clean energy for decades. As a consequence, you are not just paying for panels on the roof of your home. Your system is being fixed and maintained for 20 or more years by the nation’s largest home solar company. Not only does that mean you get low monthly rates for clean, reliable power, but you also get peace of mind for years to come.

Why I believe in solar as a service

One benefit of solar as a service is that the service not only includes all maintenance; it also provides for technology upgrades. Solar inverter technology will improve dramatically over the next 25 years, and as it does, Sunrun stays with you. Instead of leaving you with an outdated system that is not performing as expected, Sunrun is committed to providing you clean energy for the full lifetime of our agreement. That’s why we are technology agnostic, and will update the necessary components for customers as a part of our ongoing relationship.

Solar as a service also gives you the most options when you sell your home.  A solar system can increase the value of your house and, with solar as a service, you can choose to either buy out the system and fold that cost into the purchase price or to pass on the contract to your buyer, whichever option makes the most sense.  The other alternative - using debt to purchase a solar system - usually requires you to pay back the principle in full when you sell your home.

Why solar is for everyone

Clean air should not be a luxury for the rich. But today, air pollution disproportionately affects black, Hispanic and low-income students—and electricity generation is one of the biggest sources of CO2 emissions.

Solar as a service is one of those rare economic instances where everyone wins. Consumers can pay less, new jobs enter the economy, the environment benefits, and everyone is healthier and happier.

I’m so grateful to work for a company that truly is changing a centuries-old industry. Sunrunners have an ethos of “doing the right thing,” and that is apparent through the work we do every day and our foundational business model of solar as a service. I'm proud to be part of Sunrun's mission to create a resilient energy future for everyone's family and community, and a planet run by the sun.