White House Solar Power

“Power the House” Social Media Campaign Launches Fuels Momentum to Put Solar Panels Back on the White House

In a rare move for advocacy groups, the SolarontheWhiteHouse.com campaign has created “Power the House,” a fun, engaging way to continue fueling buzz and momentum around the national call for President Obama to put solar panels back on the White House.

Using Brushfire technology, the game is accessed through social media sites Facebook, Twitter, MySpace and FourSquare where solar advocates can earn points by completing solar missions. Players earn points based on how they virally spread the word about the campaign. Player status levels include Solar Maven, Solar Organizer, Solar Senator and Globamanator. The highest scorers will receive glow in the dark Globama t-shirts and other solar merchandise, and in addition to bragging rights through their social networks, the “Ultimate Solar Advocate” will be named in a nation-wide press release when the campaign reaches 10,000 petition signatures.

“As part of our initiative to get solar on the White House we’ve created a fun, social-media-linked site to help fans get involved and spread the word,” said Danny Kennedy, Sungevity Founder. “We like to think of it this as ‘campaign headquarters’ where advocates and supporters can check in daily and get armed to continue to get the message out that solar starts at home.”

The lead company driving the campaign, Sungevity, sent a request to the Obama administration to accept their offer of a free solar power system and launched SolarontheWhiteHouse.com, an electronic petition to urge the President to adopt clean energy and set an example. Several partners have also joined the cause including the Solar Energy Industries Association, the Post Carbon Institute, Solar Nation, Road Not Taken, Cleantechies.com, American Solar Energy Society and media partners Renewable Energy World and Grist magazine.

About Solar on the White House:
Solar panels were first installed on the White House during the Carter administration and then largely removed during the Reagan administration. It’s been nearly 25 years since solar energy has been part of the White House in a meaningful way, and the coalition is urging concerned citizens to sign an online petition, to be sent to the President once it has received 10,000 signatures.

Backed by Sungevity, the petition and campaign is to drive awareness of the ease and affordability now available to homeowners and the dramatic effects it can have on not only slowing global warming, but also saving consumers money on their monthly power bill. Installing a solar panel system is now available with zero money down lease options that save consumers on average 15% from day one. The ordering process can be done online, using satellite imagery to design the system and provide consumers with a firm iQuote.