Reserve your spot on the volunteer installation crew! Help make the benefits of solar power accessible to low-income families while learning new skills and having fun outside. Gain hands-on solar experience and network with others interested in renewable energy, the environment, and our communities. Best of all, there’s no experience, special skills, or tools needed. Read on for information on how to participate in our solar installation volunteer opportunities, our Team Leader program for more experienced solar volunteers, or to volunteer other skills you have.
How to Volunteer with GRID Alternatives Bay Area
Step 1: Click here to complete and submit our online volunteer application.
Step 2: Once you submit your application, you will start getting monthly emails with information about upcoming volunteer opportunities and orientation session dates, with links to register for them. You can also check out our online events calendar here. The calendar is typically updated during the first week of the month with confirmed opportunities and periodically updated throughout the month as events are planned. YOU MUST ATTEND A VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION BEFORE ATTENDING AN INSTALLATION.
Step 3: Receive confirmation for your orientation, training, or installation date after you sign up. Please note that we have thousands of interested volunteers and it is common to be waitlisted 2-3 times for an event.
Step 4: Volunteer under the supervision of our professional solar installers. GRID Alternatives is both a nonprofit organization and a licensed California C-10 electrical contractor. All volunteers must sign a waiver onsite at the installation.
Here are some answers to frequently asked questions about volunteering:
What is the time commitment? 1-2 days, 8:30am - 4:30pm with a break for lunch. Installations are typically 2-day installations on weekends. You can volunteer for one or both days.
How many volunteers can you accommodate? For safety and workflow reasons, each site can accommodate 10-15 volunteers each day. Spots fill up quickly with consideration for previously waitlisted and local volunteers and participants in job training programs. We encourage local volunteer attendance at our events and cannot guarantee confirmation to individuals traveling long distances. We also cannot provide lodging assistance.
What experience is required?No experience or tools necessary! Each team is led by an experienced volunteer Team Leader, and each installation is managed by GRID consturction staff. Moderate lifting (20 lbs.) may be involved. As GRID Alternatives policy, all modules and inverters must be carried by at least 2 people at all times. If you are uncomfortable with heights or ladders, ground work is available.
What is the age requirement for volunteering? You must be 18 or over to volunteer. In some cases, we can accommodate 16-17 year-olds with written parental consent. Please contact us for more information.
What training is provided to volunteers? All volunteers are required to attend a volunteer orientation session which covers basic solar electric concepts and a review of the installation process with a focus on safety. The orientation is not intended to be a technical training on system design. Once you have attended an orientation, you may sign up for as many installations as you like. You must receive confirmation for all installation dates. Translation can be made available upon request.
What happens if I am waitlisted? When you are waitlisted for an event it does not carry over to future events. You must send a new request each time you want to attend something. For example: if you request a seat at a mandatory volunteer training in April and are waitlisted, you are NOT automatically put on a list for the next volunteer orientation. When the next orientation is announced, you must send another request for a spot.
Are you a solar contractor or installer interested in increasing the visibility of your company in the community? Or are you a GRID Alternatives volunteer and want to take on a leadership role at installations? Team Leaders work under the supervision of GRID Alternatives' professional solar installation staff and help provide guidance to less experienced volunteers, ensure a positive and safe experience, and verify that all work is done to GRID Alternatives’ standards. GRID Alternatives provides all the necessary equipment and tools, and we have already done all the design and permitting. We will provide you with the approved drawings when you arrive and lots of thank-yous! If you're interested in becoming a team leader, please contact us.
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Team Leaders:
What is the time commitment? 1-2 days, 8:00am - 5:00pm with a break for lunch. Installations are typically 2-day installations, usually on weekends. You do not need to volunteer for consecutive days.
How many team leaders do you need? At least 1-2 for each system each day.
What are the qualifications? For volunteers without significant professional solar installation experience, volunteer team leaders are required to:
- Have participated in at least five GRID Alternatives installation days.
- *Attend a 2-hour team leader training. Please see our calendar or monthly email blasts for dates and locations. All volunteers must attend the volunteer orientation before requesting a team leader training.
- Have a GRID Alternatives staff person sign off on a skill set spreadsheet.
If I work for a solar installation company, can I market my services to the other volunteers? Feel free to wear your company shirt or bring your company brochures to display your company's commitment to sustainability and community. Often our volunteers are interested in getting a system on their home or business. We will thank you during our morning safety talk and encourage volunteers to talk to you if they are interested in getting a system quote.
Do I have to worry about liability? No, all of our projects are fully insured. If you have additional questions, contact us.
■All equipment and tools are provided.
■We have already done all the design and permitting. We will provide you with the approved drawings when you arrive and lots of thank-yous.
■All of our projects are fully insured and supervised by on-staff experienced Construction Managers.
GRID Alternatives is a volunteer-driven organization and has ongoing needs for volunteers to help with various aspects of our work. If you are interested in volunteering other skills besides helping to install solar power, complete and sign an online volunteer application and include your areas of interest, and we will follow up with you when we have a project that matches your skills.
