Carbon Credit For Solar Power and Clean Water

Hello Everyone, 

Today, I’m writing to inform you of an organizational error on ATC’s part for our Carbon Credit projects here on GlobalGiving. This iteration is a copy of a previous version of a currently active project, so we will be closing this version, “Carbon Credit for Solar Power and Clean Water,” on GlobalGiving. 

To ameliorate our mistake and connect you to our currently-active project, Carbon Credit for Humanitarian Solar Power, the Appropriate Technology Collaborative will be donating $10 in your name! This donation will be connected to your email, continuing to share our important project reports. We hope we can still rely on your support!  

We are dedicated to ensuring that our collective efforts yield positive and measurable results.  Since 2021, we’ve completed 14 new solar projects in Guatemala, representing 100 tons of atmospheric CO2 evaded through our work.  Now that we’ve reactivated the project, we'll be sending you updates a few times per year to share stories and photos of what else we are accomplishing! To learn more about Appropriate Technology Collaborative’s partnerships, team, and projects, explore our website. We’re also on Instagram and Facebook! 

Best Wishes, 

Gracie Strobel 

Appropriate Technology Collaborative, Assistant Executive Director

Subject: Lighting Up Lives and Saving the Planet - Your Impact in Guatemala!

Dear Carbon Crusaders,

We hope this update finds you well and excited about the positive changes your support has ignited in the lives of families in rural Guatemala. Today, we want to introduce you to someone special – meet María Bacilia (not her full name), a beautiful soul living in the rural mountains of central Guatemala.

The Power of Your Donation: Shining Brighter and Lasting LongerThanks to your contributions to our Carbon Credits program, María and her family now enjoy a state-of-the-art solar power system and a reliable water filter. Our award-winning American Made Solar Prize design ensures that their lights stay on longer, and the batteries last longer, making every moment illuminated.

But it's not just about the lights – the water filter guarantees several years of clean water, protecting María's children from parasites and providing a foundation for a healthy future.

The Ripple Effect of Your Support: Dollars, Nutrition, and Education: Your impact goes beyond technology; it's about transforming lives. Here's what you've made possible for María's family:

• Savings of over $3.60 USD per week, once spent on candles, now directed towards better and more nutritious food for their children.
• Extended study hours for the children, fostering a brighter academic future.
• Especially for the girls, longer school attendance, as they no longer need to travel to the next village to charge the family cell phone.
• Any You Are Superheroes for the Planet: You've Saved Carbon and provided a family a better life!

Your commitment to reducing carbon emissions is nothing short of heroic. By providing solar power to families like María's, you've helped save the planet tons of CO2e (Carbon Dioxide Equivalent) annually. That's a significant step towards a greener, more sustainable world.

A New Focus: Welcoming New Lives with Solar Power and Clean Water: In 2023, our program took a meaningful turn. We are now prioritizing families expecting babies, aligning with the World Health Organization's emphasis on good nutrition in the first 1,000 days of a child's life. Our focus is laser-sharp on these families, creating a positive impact on generations to come.

On the Ground: A Personal Connection with María's Family: This month, I had the privilege of personally installing the solar power system with María and her family. We shared moments, laughed with the kids playing who were kicking around an old water bottle, and worked together to bring light to their home. María's husband, a day laborer on nearby coffee farms, contributed his skills to the solar installation.

María's family lives in what we call "past the last mile" – an area untouched by government or nonprofit assistance. The trek was challenging, but with the help of kind neighbors, we made it, highlighting the resilience and warmth of the community.

Numbers and Trends: Toward a Sustainable Future: Our program is based on peer-reviewed research, crediting one ton of CO2e per year per household for five years. Yet, our recent data indicates that our solar power systems often last longer than five years, extending their positive impact. We're also evaluating the carbon savings associated with water filters, a critical aspect we're committed to updating you on.

While our ultimate goal is for carbon credits to cover the full cost of providing solar power and clean water to remote homes, we currently rely on donations. However, the numbers are promising, and your continued support is propelling us toward achieving solar for all in exchange for reduced carbon emissions.

Thank You from the Heart

In closing, we extend a heartfelt thanks for your unwavering support. Your generosity is the driving force behind the transformative changes happening in the lives of families like María's.

Together, let's continue to light up lives and save the planet, one solar panel at a time.

Warm regards,

John Barrie

Executive Director, Appropriate Technology Collaborative