Earlier this month, Green Mountain Energy Sun Club kicked off a summer road trip to celebrate projects 100-107 in Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas.
These projects are possible thanks to Sun Club members. Through their donations, Sun Club members create a ripple effect in their communities by inspiring others to do good through the implementation of sustainable projects with other nonprofits.
We want to shine a light on two Sun Club members who are setting the bar for a sustainable lifestyle – Tim and Sydney Reichard.
Sun Club members since January 2008, Tim and Sydney’s sustainable journey began with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 2007 Fourth Assessment Report and a trip to Alaska where they witnessed glacial melting firsthand. Inspired by what they learned and saw, the Reichards decided to take charge and combat global climate change wherever they could by incorporating sustainable practices in their everyday lives and educating their communities on the benefits of being good stewards of the environment.
At home, Tim and Sydney have helped decrease their carbon footprints by:
- Installing PV solar panels and subscribing to 100% renewable energy through GME
- Installing an energy-efficient HVAC system
- Recycling approximately three times as much in volume as they discard in trash
- Using efficient LED and CFL lighting
- Planting only native and drought-tolerant perennials in their home landscaping
- Planting organic flower and nectar gardens
- Planting milkweed in a secluded area for Monarch butterflies
In their communities, the Reichards have been very active in promoting the importance and benefits of sustainability.
On multiple occasions, Tim delivered his presentation “Stewards of the Earth – How Can We Impact our Global Changing Environment?” at their church and to the Dallas chapter of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society.
Equally passionate about promoting and adopting renewable energy, Tim and Sydney pitched solar power to their church, using their own home solar system as an example and highlighting the environmental and economic benefits. Located across the street, Sun Club’s very first solar donation, Winston School, also served as a beneficial example to the congregation of how solar can be implemented. By the following fall, panels were installed on the church’s roof.
“Renewable energy is an essential part of the local, national and global solution to saving our planet from continued increase in global warming and climate change,” said Tim. “We’re already witnessing climate changes we’ve never experienced before as predicted by the IPCC and climate scientists.”
“The research, time and energy I spent preparing for and delivering these talks brought me to see the tremendous benefits of renewable energy, especially solar energy,” said Tim. His advice to all of us, “Be a Steward – a change agent for conservation and sustainability. Reduce your carbon footprint and help save our planet.”
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