As world leaders gather in Paris to discuss global sustainability goals, NRG Home Solar, a residential solar companies, and Airbnb, the world's leading community-driven hospitality company, announced a new partnership to increase the adoption of rooftop solar by providing incentives to existing and new members of the Airbnb community to further increase the savings from going solar, and travel credits to encourage individuals to experience this more environmentally sustainable method of travel.
Studies have shown that home sharing, in comparison to staying in traditional accommodations, significantly reduces energy and water use, greenhouse gas emissions, and waste generation.
“This is the perfect example of two like-minded companies teaming up to make solar more accessible to a sustainability-minded community, creating a social solution to the societal problem of climate change,” said Steve McBee, CEO & President, NRG Home. “It’s a first for our industry and will allow us to help more Americans generate clean, renewable power and in turn, cut their electricity costs.”
“There is a natural connection between home sharing and using your home to generate energy for your community,” said Joe Gebbia, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Airbnb. “This partnership is a win, win, win: it will allow hosts to generate supplemental income, reduce the carbon footprint for homeowners and provide travelers with a lodging option that is even more sustainable.”
This partnership is part of NRG Home Solar’s and Airbnb’s efforts to develop wide-ranging programs that increase the availability of rooftop solar, enabling more people to join the fight against climate change while reducing their utility bills.
Starting December 1, 2015 this program will be available in California and New York, with an intention to expand the offering to other states in the coming months.
Current Airbnb hosts who go solar with NRG Home Solar through this promotion will receive a rebate on their solar lease. The amount of the lease rebate will vary by location. Homeowners who both go solar and become new Airbnb hosts will receive the lease rebate as well as a travel credit from Airbnb to experience the company’s unique home sharing service. If a current NRG Home Solar customer becomes an Airbnb host, they will also receive a travel credit from Airbnb to use on its platform.