A nonprofit initiative helped build solar projects for 40 row houses in Montgomery County, Maryland, generating over 270 kilowatts of new energy output. The clean energy nonprofit RE-volv and Montgomery County Green Bank provided funding for the project, while solar contractor GreenBrilliance installed the photovoltaic systems.

These arrays are installed on the row houses of the affordable housing organization Housing Unlimited and are expected to reduce energy costs by $500,000 during their service life.

RE-volv Executive Director Andreas Karelas stated, "Housing Unlimited's incredible mission in the intersection of mental health and housing is now further strengthened through solar power, thanks to lower energy costs, allowing better utilization of precious resources to serve clients." "RE-volv is delighted to play a role in this remarkable project alongside our long-time partners, Montgomery County Green Bank and Green Brilliance.". ”

Currently, Housing Unlimited operates 96 scattered housing sites in Montgomery County, providing shared housing for 263 adults in mental health recovery. The transition to solar energy ensures the organization can allocate more of its budget to critical personalized services rather than utility costs.

"Housing Unlimited is delighted to install solar power at our homes," said Abe Schuchman, CEO of Housing Unlimited. "This allows us to allocate the saved energy costs toward expanding our team and building more housing. With safe homes and the necessary support, the adults we serve can fully focus on their independence and recovery."

Billie Eilish's Changemaker initiative provided funding for the project through REVERB, with one of its missions being to accelerate the adoption of clean energy by community service organizations.

GreenBrilliance Senior Mechanical Engineer Nishanth 'Neo' Mahankali stated, "GreenBrilliance is honored to serve as the design and installation partner for this solar energy initiative. Our mission is to provide nonprofit organizations with high-performance, turnkey solar solutions that deliver immediate cost savings. Witnessing our systems support mental health recovery and housing stability in Montgomery County is precisely the reason we undertake this work."