Young Female Entrepreneur Addresses Climate Change by Growing Home Solar Industry - United States of America

Sunrun was co-founded by Lynn Jurich and is the largest dedicated residential solar company in the United States. With Sunrun co-founder Ed Fenster, Lynn invented the business model “solar as a service” that unlocked consumer demand for clean, affordable energy direct from residential rooftops.

Fast facts:

With more than USD 3 billion in installed solar systems across 15 states, Sunrun is revolutionizing how consumers get electricity;
Sunrun has installed systems on 70,000 customers’ homes nationwide;
Sunrun has raised more than USD 300 million in equity capital;
Solar power makes up three-quarters of new U.S. electricity generation, and more than half a million U.S. homes and businesses have now gone solar;
Americans are installing new solar panels every 3 minutes;
Sunrun designs, installs, and maintains the solar systems. They also guarantee their customer’s energy production and 20% savings on their electric bill.

The problem

Smarter phones. Smarter technology. Smarter innovations. So why are Americans still in the dark when it comes to energy? Many Americans have switched all their light bulbs over to CFLs and started running the wash on cold, and only at off-peak hours, but it still isn’t enough. Many Americans think that solar is too expensive and not feasible in their state.

The solution

Sunrun has created the first affordable “solar as a service” option for homeowners that eliminate the traditional barriers to solar adoption like high upfront cost and complexity of ownership. Before Sunrun installs solar panels, they visit their customers’ home and review the current energy bill, learn all about the household's energy needs, and customize a precision system tailored just for the specific household. Alongside their customers, they select panels, determine the best payment plan and begin the solar process, including whether it is best to buy or lease. When the customer is ready, they just sign the agreement to lock in low energy costs for the next 20 years.

Helping the planet

Opting for solar energy is good for the environment. Unlike traditional energy sources, when PV solar panels create electricity, they don't emit harmful greenhouse gases, pollute groundwater or deplete any natural resources. In addition, by going solar, people help protect the planet by cutting back on their dependence on non-renewable energy.

Helping people

Solar PV energy systems can lower energy bills in several significant ways. Because people are generating some of their own electricity, they are able to cut down drastically on what they pay their energy provider. If customers live in a region where energy prices rise and fall with energy demand, they are in luck. Many government entities provide subsidies to help cover the initial costs of setting up PV solar panels through tax rebates and other incentive programs.

Scaling Up

Currently, Sunrun is already in 15 states in the U.S. and they are planning to scale up quickly.