My Nonprofit Reviews
mikebme
Review for ACTERRA: Action for a Healthy Planet, Palo Alto, CA, USA
We co-sponsored a Zero-Net Energy Solar Homes Tour with Acterra for the second year and it was a great success. We had over 200 people register which was an increase over the previous year. Acterra has earned a great reputation with the local community, city departments and the press. So they were a real asset to the process. Acterra has a can do attitude and they are fun to work with. Thanks much!
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How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Very Well
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you recommend this organization to others?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2013
Review for Everybody Solar, Temecula, CA, USA
Everybody Solar is a great example of a nonprofit helping other nonprofits. They are helping to create a vertous cycle by raising funds for solar installations that will help nonprofits reduce their energy bills and create more clean energy.
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How does this organization compare with others in the same sector?
Quite well
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
A lot
Will you recommend this organization to others?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
Review for Sunwork Renewable Energy Projects, Milpitas, CA, USA
Before I was introduced to SunWork, I did solar workshops in the area. People would ask me if solar made sense with a low electric bill and at the time the answer was "it's a good choice for the environment, but economic payback is very long". However after I heard about SunWork and their nonprofit volunteer model that reduces the cost significantly, solar can have both an economic and environmental payback for people with small electric bills. I was so impressed that I joined the board. In addition, the volunteers learn valuable skills as well as contribute directly to reducing pollution and carbon emissions. Several volunteers have gone on to get jobs in the solar industry. And now SunWork is starting to help other nonprofits with solar installations so these nonprofits can reduce their energy costs as well as their environmental impact while delivering needed services.
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Will you volunteer or donate to this organization beyond what is required of board members?
Definitely
How much of an impact do you think this organization has?
Life-changing
Will you tell others about this organization?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
Review for ACTERRA: Action for a Healthy Planet, Palo Alto, CA, USA
Acterra is an amazing force for then environment in the community. I particularly like there skill in engaging and training volunteers to do great work for the environment. I volunteered for the Green@Home program that trains volunteers to do energy audits and install simple energy saving devices for homeowners and renters. They not only engage the community at the end user level, but the volunteers are local as well. They also do a great job at collecting metrics and scientifically comparing outcomes to continuously improve the program. They also firmly believe in having fun as part of the experience. I also appreciate their EcoCalendar and newsletters that have many interesting local green events co-sponsored with other nonprofits.
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Would you volunteer for this group again?
Definitely
For the time you spent, how much of an impact did you feel your work or activity had?
Life-changing
Did the organization use your time wisely?
Very Well
Would you recommend this group to a friend?
Definitely
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2012
Review for ACTERRA: Action for a Healthy Planet, Palo Alto, CA, USA
Acterra has been amazing with the breath and forward looking vision. I started with their Green@Home program volunteering to do free energy audits. They provided training and we worked in one city, now we are doing 5 cities and growing. And they followed up with people to measure how much energy/CO2 was saved. I volunteered at anther non profit the Clean Tech Open and discovered that Acterra had incubated it. So they don't have the feeling like they need to do everything. They can nurture something that can grow to be even bigger and better on it's own. Then I wanted to transition to a green career and they offer an environmental leadership course which helped transform my thinking and put me into the network for environmental change. And yet they still have things like walking tours in a local preserve. It's also important for them to keep things positive, not just focus on the negative environmental impacts. It's about what we can do to make a difference.
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Reducing energy use and CO2. Fostering new environmental organizations. Creating communities of environmental leaders.
What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
They focus on positive actions and offer fun, practical activities to help.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Staff is great, warm and friendly as well as knowledgeable.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
change the world. They have been asked by many people to replicate the environmental leadership program in different areas, but they don't have the funding. Also the Green@Home program could be dramatically expanded to more areas.
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
