GRID Alternatives returns to its 1st solar project 20 years later

GRID Alternatives, a nonprofit that installs solar for underserved communities, went back this week to the very first home it worked on 20 years ago. Bob and Lorrayne Murphy of San Carlos, California, were the group's first clients back then, and GRID returned to upgrade the original solar system on their house.

The visit marks two decades of growth for the organization. What started with one home has expanded into a program serving more than 14,000 families in the Bay Area alone, with those households saving a combined $328 million on energy over the life of their systems. Nationally and internationally, GRID has now worked with over 38,000 households, generating more than $887 million in lifetime energy savings for communities that have historically had less access to clean energy. BMO, a financial partner that helps fund GRID's projects including the Murphy home upgrade, joined the anniversary event.

For most homeowners, this is really a milestone story rather than news about a new program or deadline. It does show that solar systems installed decades ago can be revisited and upgraded rather than simply left in place or replaced outright, and it points to how much a household can save over the long run once solar is installed. If you're weighing a solar investment for your own home, the Murphys' 20-year experience is a reminder that the savings tend to add up over time, not just in the first few years.