As the salesforce.com Sustainability Intern this summer, I was excited to hear about the opportunity to volunteer for two Grid Alternative Solarthon events. Installing solar panels combined my love of building communities from my past with Habitat for Humanity and my passion for the environment.  It was also a great way to escape my frigid cubicle and get some fresh air!

On the first day, our salesforce.com team installed railings on the roof of a home in West Oakland. Adorned in bright yellow harnesses, we armed ourselves with drills, bolts, washers, chalk lines, and more to set up the straightest and most stable solar panel railings in the neighborhood. Although slightly discouraged from a lack of supplies, we bonded through water breaks and listening to Brian, our team leader, gab about the wonders of his new smart phone.

On the second day, our group of volunteers split up to install solar panels on the roof and an inverter module inside the house.  With a few other salesforce.com employees, I worked on drilling holes and leveling a module that converts DC to AC inside the garage of a house.  Throughout the day, we struggled with mounting the inverter, cut and stripped wires to connect the electric circuitry, and locked down enormous solar panels for roof delivery.

Overall, the experiences were one-of-a-kind and exciting.  I am happy that the salesforce.com Foundation gave me the opportunity to give back to the community, meet fantastic salesforce.com employees, and make the world more sustainable.