Clean Energy Program

Powering Communities with Renewable Energy

Energy is not just a utility. It is a measure of equity. Across the neighborhoods TerraFuture serves, residents pay up to 14% of their household income on energy bills, more than double the national average. Many live in aging housing stock with outdated insulation, inefficient HVAC systems, and no access to renewable alternatives. Our Clean Energy Program was designed to change that equation, one home, one block, one neighborhood at a time.

Since launching in 2020, the Clean Energy Program has upgraded 2,400 homes, generated $1.8 million in annual energy savings for participating households, and installed 2.4 megawatts of community solar capacity. These are not abstract numbers. They represent families who can now afford groceries in winter, seniors who no longer choose between heating and medication, and neighborhoods that are building real energy independence.

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Solar Co-ops

Our solar co-op model brings the benefits of solar energy to residents who cannot install panels on their own rooftops, whether because they rent, live in multi-family housing, or face structural limitations. TerraFuture organizes neighborhood-scale solar cooperatives where residents collectively invest in shared solar installations and receive proportional credits on their energy bills.

Currently, seven solar co-ops operate across three districts, serving 680 households. The average participating household saves $47 per month on electricity, and co-op members collectively own 1.6 megawatts of installed solar capacity. Each co-op is governed by its members, with TerraFuture providing technical guidance, financial modeling, and administrative support.

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Energy Efficiency Audits

Before a home can generate clean energy, it needs to stop wasting the energy it already uses. TerraFuture's energy efficiency audit program provides free, comprehensive assessments for qualifying households, identifying insulation gaps, air leaks, appliance inefficiencies, and opportunities for weatherization.

Since 2021, our team has completed 3,100 home energy audits. On average, households that implement our recommended upgrades reduce their energy consumption by 28%. We connect residents with local contractors, rebate programs, and financing options to ensure that recommendations translate into real improvements. Last year alone, audit-driven upgrades saved participating households a combined $420,000 in annual energy costs.

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Renewable Microgrids

Centralized power grids are vulnerable to extreme weather, aging infrastructure, and demand surges. TerraFuture is piloting renewable microgrid projects in two neighborhoods, combining rooftop solar, battery storage, and smart distribution systems to create localized energy networks that can operate independently during outages.

Our Eastside pilot, launched in 2024, connects 120 homes and three community buildings to a shared microgrid with 400 kilowatts of solar capacity and 1.2 megawatt-hours of battery storage. During last summer's heat emergency, the microgrid kept power running for 72 consecutive hours while surrounding blocks experienced rolling blackouts. A second microgrid is under development in the Riverside district, expected to serve 200 homes by late 2026.

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Community Solar Gardens

Not every clean energy solution belongs on a rooftop. TerraFuture's community solar gardens transform underutilized lots, former brownfields, and municipal land into neighborhood-scale solar installations that generate clean power and serve as community gathering spaces.

Three community solar gardens are currently operational, producing a combined 800 kilowatts of clean energy. Each garden includes educational signage, pollinator-friendly landscaping, and a small gathering area for community programming. A fourth garden, planned for the Greenway corridor, will be TerraFuture's largest installation to date at 350 kilowatts and will incorporate a stormwater management demonstration area.

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Impact at a Glance

• 2,400 homes upgraded through energy efficiency and solar programs
• $1.8 million in annual energy savings for participating households
• 2.4 MW of community solar capacity installed
• 3,100 home energy audits completed since 2021
• 7 solar co-ops serving 680 households
• 2 renewable microgrids piloted, with a third in development
• 28% average reduction in energy consumption after audit-driven upgrades

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Get Involved

Whether you are a homeowner interested in a solar co-op, a renter seeking an energy audit, or a community leader exploring microgrid options, TerraFuture can help you take the first step toward energy independence. Contact our Clean Energy team at cleanenergy@terrafuture.org or call (555) 312-8800.