SEARCH Homeless Becomes a Model for Sustainability

SEARCH Homeless Services, a Houston nonprofit dedicated to providing hope, creating opportunity and transforming the lives of homeless men, women and children, unveiled this week their new custom-built, sustainable headquarters that will enhance SEARCH’s offerings to the community. Sitting on top of the roof of the new SEARCH Employment Services and Care Hub is a 65-kilowatt solar array, donated as a result of a $300,000 grant from the Green Mountain Energy Sun Club.

As a result of the Sun Club’s donation, the new SEARCH building is equipped with a bevy of renewable energy solutions, including LED lights, insulation and the rooftop solar system, which is expected to slash SEARCH’s annual energy costs by more than 50 percent. That’s a savings of more than $342,000 over the life of the solar array!

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“The Sun Club is proud to partner with SEARCH Homeless Services. In addition to supporting the organization’s critical role in caring for the homeless in our community, we hope our donation helps establish SEARCH as a model for sustainability,” said Jason Sears, executive director of Green Mountain Energy Sun Club.

The new SEARCH facility is a result of funding from SEARCH’s “Of Course We Can” capital campaign, which also funded a second House of Tiny Treasures, the nonprofit’s early childhood education program. In addition to the solar panels at the new headquarters, the Sun Club’s $300,000 donation will also equip the new House of Tiny Treasures, which is set to open later this summer, with a 1,000 gallon water harvesting system. The rainwater cistern will be used to irrigate the school’s landscape and be incorporated into the education curriculum so teachers can illustrate the importance of conserving water as a core component of sustainability.

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Leadership from Green Mountain and the Sun Club, along with Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner and SEARCH board members, partners, staff and clients attended the building’s ribbon cutting on June 13, 2016.

The solar installation at SEARCH Homeless marks the Sun Club's 89th dedication, with more than $4 million donated to worthy nonprofits since 2002. Contributions to the Sun Club come from Green Mountain Energy Company and its residential customers, employees and supporters who believe in the program’s mission to support local non-profit organizations through solar and sustainability projects. Click here to make a one-time, tax deductible donation to the Sun Club or visit www.gmsunclub.com to learn more.

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