In London, two artists are spearheading a project that could revolutionize energy generation by empowering communities to take control of their power. Dan Edelstyn and Hilary Powell are raising funds through crowdfunding to install rooftop solar panels on dozens of homes in Walthamstow, London, with some neighbors getting the retrofit upgrade for free.
Their project aims to respond to the government’s lack of action on climate change and the energy crisis and challenge the record profits made by energy firms. With £100,000 already raised, Edelstyn and Powell hope to create a blueprint for ‘solar punk’ activism that could inspire communities across the UK.
The initiative has already inspired a ripple effect, with five nearby schools set to go solar. The pair has also bought and written off payday loan debts, following in the footsteps of similar activism in the US. Through their unconventional approach, Edelstyn and Powell aim to inspire communities and show that working together can achieve meaningful change.
