Our Nonprofit Model
Our Story
Founded in 2013 as a 501(C)(3) non-profit corporation by a group of good-hearted, globe-trotting career professionals, Good Sun operates as a natural resources management NGO.
Our founders are trained in various technical, environmental fields and we apply our experience and education to help others less fortunate. The impetus for Good Sun’s formation is simple: During our travels, and over the course of our professional careers, we have witnessed and experienced many inequities of modern “civilization”; and we are compelled to help “level the playing field” so that all people (and animals too) may have an equal chance at a healthy and prosperous life.
Our mission is to equalize life opportunity by democratizing basic resources of clean food, clean water, clean shelter, clean power, and community connectivity.
We accomplish this mission by installing low- and no-cost renewable energy power systems, by securing clean sources of drinking water, by developing permaculture farms and building eco-friendly dwellings, and by providing education and vocational training on the principles and practices of appropriate technology and sustainability.
We also work to propel solar past its current 1% energy market penetration in the U.S. by diverting used solar panels on the path to landfill and re-inserting them into a secondary solar market, deploying solar ubiquitously to low- and middle-income consumers.
Our founders are trained in various technical, environmental fields and we apply our experience and education to help others less fortunate. The impetus for Good Sun’s formation is simple: During our travels, and over the course of our professional careers, we have witnessed and experienced many inequities of modern “civilization”; and we are compelled to help “level the playing field” so that all people (and animals too) may have an equal chance at a healthy and prosperous life.
Our mission is to equalize life opportunity by democratizing basic resources of clean food, clean water, clean shelter, clean power, and community connectivity.
We accomplish this mission by installing low- and no-cost renewable energy power systems, by securing clean sources of drinking water, by developing permaculture farms and building eco-friendly dwellings, and by providing education and vocational training on the principles and practices of appropriate technology and sustainability.
We also work to propel solar past its current 1% energy market penetration in the U.S. by diverting used solar panels on the path to landfill and re-inserting them into a secondary solar market, deploying solar ubiquitously to low- and middle-income consumers.
Recent & Upcoming Projects
We're always looking for good people to join us on our journey. So climb aboard!
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Solar in Uganda: Queen Elizabeth Nursery & Primary SchoolOur business development guru, Dan King of Integrative Roofing and Energy, introduced us to Nelson Byamukama, co-founder of the Queen Elizabeth School in Kihihi, Uganda. Since 2018 Good Sun has donated over $8,000 USD to the school for the construction of two classrooms and a proper latrine, as well as to furnish desks, sleeping mats, and other materials for the students. In the fall of 2019 we visited the school to help construct classrooms and install a small solar system so the students have power and light by which to learn and advance their life opportunities. For more information or to volunteer on this project in the future, please contact us.
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Local Homeless Shelter Getting SolarGood Sun has collaborated with California Solar Electric Company and Sunpower to install a 13.8kW rooftop solar PV system at the Hospitality House "Utah's Place" homeless shelter in Grass Valley. The solar system is expected to off-set about 30% of annual utility costs and allow for Hospitality House to reinvest the savings back into the homeless shelter.
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Solar in the Organic Garden: An Eco-expedition at GVC SchoolGood Sun is working with the Grass Valley Charter School to install a 10kW solar PV system that will double as a shade structure in the school's organic garden, where students can learn about sustainable agriculture and renewable energy all in one place!
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Kenya’s CURA OrphanageThe CURA orphanage: a wonderful little oasis just outside of Nairobi. They have a great garden, an amazing chapel, a savvy computer lab, of course the dormitories, a library, and even a health clinic. The orphanage was established with the sponsorship of Rotary International and is sustained in part through support from Creative Visions, the legacy of Dan Eldon (one of the primary inspirations for our Africa adventures). Amy Eldon, Dan’s sister, suggested we contact CURA and see if they could use solar power at their facility. We were able to parter with Barefoot Power in Nairobi to procure and donate two small solar DC lighting kits to help provide light and communications to the orphanage.
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Professional Associations
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A Brief History of Good Sun Volunteers
Collectively, the Good Sun team has traveled to over 80 different countries across 6 continents. We have developed drinking water wells and provided solarization services in Africa, taught environmental education and science classes in Africa and Central America, built a school in Nicaragua, Provided ESL services in Europe, and have provided environmental services in South America, Asia and Australia.
Good Sun team members operate their own solar contracting companies, work as technicians for Tesla and Sunpower, are raising families, are teachers and educators… Our “day jobs” keep us busy solarizing homes and businesses and teaching the next generations about the importance of stewardship for the earth, the animals, and for other people. Then we translate our professional expertise from our day jobs over to this passion project that is Good Sun.
Good Sun team members operate their own solar contracting companies, work as technicians for Tesla and Sunpower, are raising families, are teachers and educators… Our “day jobs” keep us busy solarizing homes and businesses and teaching the next generations about the importance of stewardship for the earth, the animals, and for other people. Then we translate our professional expertise from our day jobs over to this passion project that is Good Sun.
Recognition: There are millions upon millions of amazing, beautiful, talented, brilliant, kind, and wonderfully unique people in the world who will never get the opportunity to realize their “life potential” due to some unpropitious deformation of fate: poverty, drought, war, family obligations, social momentum, etc. We recognize this imbalance and work in support of our less fortunate brothers and sisters.
Gratitude: Trained on appropriate applications of low-tech solutions, Good Sun operatives utilize their experience with solar, water, agriculture, and construction technologies to provide clean, sustainable resources for people who struggle for them. Being blessed with opportunities in education and experience, we can help others who have not been so lucky…but are no less deserving. So let’s get to it!
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Kenya Big Picture Learning is grateful for the solar lamps and chargers our schools received when Good Sun came to Nairobi. Kibera, where hundreds of thousands of people live in about a three-square-mile area, has no legitimate electricity or running water. The roads, housing, and sewage facilities are inadequate, one in three people are HIV positive, violence is high, and less than 10% of residents have stable employment. These are difficult conditions in which to affect change. And yet when Good Sun visited our communities last month, they saw more possibilities than challenges. Good Sun was able to share the much-needed solar lights with school leaders from five of our partner schools. More than 350 teachers, students and families have benefited to date. |
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To the Good Sun Team: It was our pleasure having you at Cura Home. We are very thankful for the solar system and the LED Lights. On behalf of the Rotary Fraternity we are very thankful and welcome again to our home. The Almighty God bless you abundantly. |
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I enthusiastically endorse Good Sun Solar! Their entrepreneurial spirit in support of non-profits and broad base of volunteer support within the solar community made the dream of a solar installation at Bitney Prep High School become a reality. Many thanks to this amazing team! |
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My time on the Good Sun/ Bitney School solar install was great! I loved all of the positive energy, with all of the people working toward installing solar to benefit the students. I am a Bitney high school graduate so working at my old campus was nostalgic and very fun. Working with such nice people on good work being done to help our planet was really special. I am grateful that we have so many good folks in our community and such big-hearted people willing to organize this kind of project and make it happen! |
Sponsors and Strategic Partners
