Rays of Hope Austin

Our Mission

Rays of Hope is dedicated to financial empowerment for low-income families, community building, and renewable energy education and advocacy.  We create pathways to self-sufficiency for struggling homeowners, and inform the public about the benefits, both financial and environmental, of renewable energy.

What We Do

We work with other notable local organizations to provide 1) energy efficiency and carbon footprint reduction education, 2) energy efficiency retrofits for existing homes,  and 3) solar photovoltaic systems on new or existing houses to further reduce utility bills in Austin, Texas.  Homeowner recipients will have the unique opportunity to learn about energy efficiency and solar energy, while dramatically reducing or eliminating their utility costs.  Project houses will serve as the setting for installation workshops  which are open to the public, the tuition for which will underwrite the installation of the systems.

What's New?

Rays Of Hope's pilot project was in March 2008.

Solar Energy International held their 'PV Design and Installation' workshop in Austin March 10-15, 2008.  Rays of Hope provided the solar panels for the hands-on installation portion of the March 10-15 workshop.   

The installation took place at one of four houses currently under construction by Casa Verde Builders in the  City of Austin's affordable housing subdivision, Frontier at Montana.  Houses are being built to Austin Energy Green Building Program 4- or 5-star standards, so that more of the energy produced by the panels goes to reducing the utility bills of the family that ends up in the house.  Check back in six months for an update on specific savings seen by the homeowner.