User:Iowhy/1BOG

1BOG (“One Block Off the Grid”) is a San Francisco, California based company which organizes community buying of solar power to make the process more affordable and transparent for residential consumers, and to foster an environment of community activism and responsibility. 1BOG is managed by Virgance, a San Francisco based company composed of several social activist campaigns.

Name

The name “One Block Off the Grid” is a metaphor for freeing the world from its dependency on non-renewable power sources one block at a time.

1BOG is often mistakenly referred to as iBOG, possibly due to confusion with “i-products” (iPod, iPhone, etc.).

Key People

Virgance’s CEO is Steve Newcomb, who is also the chairman of Serious Business and the founder of SF Green, Powerset (now MFST) and Loudfire (now Nokia). Steve Newcomb sits on the policy committee for the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce.

1BOG’s co-founder/general manager is Dave Llorens.

History

1BOG was founded in 2008 by Sylvia Ventura, Dan Barahona and Dave Llorens.

In 2008 1BOG was acquired by San Francisco-based Virgance, a company that promotes large-scale social activism through market-based methods.

In 2009 1BOG formed an alliance with SunRun to offer financing options aimed at lowering the upfront costs traditionally associated with solar.

Process

1BOG uses community organizing techniques such as house parties, canvassing, and volunteer recruitment in addition to social networking and traditional marketing techniques to obtain a critical mass of consumers in a given city.

1BOG then holds a request for proposal (RFP) for solar installers in the area, choosing a partner company on the criteria of service and price.

After selecting a solar provider, 1BOG continues to advise and aid consumers throughout the installation process. 1BOG helps consumers to navigate solar tax incentives, provides financing options and holds educational events.

Campaigns

1BOG’s first Bay Area campaign in 2008 organized 41 solar consumers and obtained a group-purchase discount of 20 percent from Real Goods Solar, a local installer.

In addition to the Bay Area, 1BOG currently has campaigns at various stages in Los Angeles, San Diego, New Orleans, Denver, Phoenix, Sacramento, Washington, Aspen, Austin, Bergen County (New Jersey), Boston, Brooklyn, Las Vegas, Miami, Portland and Seattle.

1BOG is currently working with a variety of solar providers, and has plans to branch out into solar thermal installations and home energy conservation.