"Every Child Has a Light" Program Kicks Off to Give Sustainable, Solar Light Solutions to Disadvantaged Zambian Communities

OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Sungevity, the nation's most innovative, customer-centric, residential solar company today announces the "Every Child Has a Light" program, which enables customers to give solar while going solar. In partnership with Empowered by Light, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving lives through renewable energy technologies, Sungevity will donate one solar light kit to a school in need in Zambia for each residential solar panel installation in the U.S.

Each Pharox solar light kit, a product of Lemnis Lighting, is a compact solution in a reusable package containing a triple LED lamp, a solar panel and a built-in USB connection to charge mobile devices.  Currently, many Zambian citizens have difficultly accessing lighting and are left to rely on dangerous and toxic kerosene lamps.  Helping Zambians replace kerosene with solar will allow them to bypass the usage of fossil fuels altogether, contributing to the improvement in the health of citizens and the environment.

"Solar power is a sustainable way to light up a child's world.  The program allows us to empower communities with alternative energy sources that can fuel both their everyday needs and their future prospects," said Danny Kennedy, Sungevity president. "When going solar also means giving solar, it's a powerful opportunity to reduce our energy footprint and utility costs locally while also enabling healthier, safer living globally."

With this new program, Sungevity customers can now add the benefit of giving solar to Sungevity's unique ownership platform, which includes:

• A cost-free and hassle-free online iQuote to get homeowners started.  Using proprietary technology and just a home address, Sungevity will send a prospective customer a proposal within 24 hours.
• The Sungevity Solar Lease makes it easy to power homes and save money every month – all with $0 down and low monthly payments over the life of the lease.
• Best-in-class customer support platform including a dedicated representative and free iPad to manage your system.

"At Empowered by Light, we think its possible for some developing nations to literally leap-frog decades of fossil fuel development and use," said Marco Krapels, Empowered by Light co-founder. "We are thrilled to partner with Sungevity to bring solar power to the people of Zambia and help make this vision a reality."

Every Child Has a Light was soft-launched on Oct. 20 at a Los Angeles event with Empowered by Light partner SHFT.com.  The campaign is part of Sungevity's "Solar for All" global giving strategy, the company's vision for affordable solar panels for everyone regardless of geographic location. To learn more about Sungevity's "Solar for All" efforts, visit: http://www.sungevity.com/everychildhasalight.

ABOUT SUNGEVITY

Sungevity is the nation's most innovative and customer-centric residential solar company.  Leveraging web-based solar analytics and satellite imagery, the company's online iQuote process - combined with its Solar Lease program - provides homeowners with the easiest, most affordable solar energy solution.  Sungevity is growing at a rapid pace, increasing its customer base by ten-fold and quadrupling employee headcount over the past year.  The company currently provides solar services in eight states including, Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York, and is the exclusive residential solar partner for Lowe's, the world's second-largest home improvement retailer.  For more information, visit Sungevity.com.

ABOUT EMPOWERED BY LIGHT

Empowered by Light (EBL) is a non-profit organization founded with a mission to improve lives through the use of renewable energy technologies. Solar: ZAMBIA is its first project with the goal of delivering 5,000 solar-powered LED light/cell phone charge kits to rural Zambian schools who do not have electric power. By empowering communities with solar lighting kits they are able to extend the hours available for study while improving indoor air quality and saving the community money.

SOURCE Sungevity