392:, and is notable for some unique features like its "grow-through car" tree grove and its self-proclaimed "weird restrooms" made from recycled plastic bottles and repurposed toilet tank lids. A solar photovoltaic system on the property produces approximately 160,000 kW-hours of electricity annually. The SLC receives as many as 200,000 visitors each year. The SLC is also home to an observation
223:(DPO), selling stock directly to its customers, and raised $ 1 million. The following year, Real Goods declared a National Off-The-Grid Day - which became the National Tour of Solar Homes - during which the public could see solar-powered living firsthand. Real Goods held its second stock offering in 1993. In 1994, the company used those funds to break ground on the
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and stock. In
January 2008, Real Goods Solar purchased Hemet, California-based Carlson Solar for $ 3.2 million in cash and stock. In August 2008, Real Goods Solar acquired Santa Cruz, California-based Independent Energy Systems for $ 3.6 million. In October 2008, Real Goods Solar acquired Campbell, California-based Regrid Power for $ 3.8 million in cash and stock.
166:. As one of the few members of the community with a vehicle and a commute, he became the designated person to pick up supplies for the community. In 1978, Schaeffer took $ 3,000 in savings and a $ 5,000 loan from his father and bought a 50% share of an alternative energy store Open Circle from Steve Troy in
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principles and practices. By 1985, the three Real Goods stores had closed. Steve Troy left Real Goods and focused his company Jade
Mountain (founded in 1979) on appropriate technology and renewable energy systems. He sold half of that business in 1999 to Gaiam and worked on creating Gaiam Energy Tech
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Between 2007 and 2008, Real Goods Solar, led by
Schaeffer as its CEO, acquired four solar panel installation companies in California and became one of the nation's largest solar installers. In November 2007, Real Goods Solar acquired San Rafael, California-based Marin Solar for $ 3.2 million in cash
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All sales and customer support personnel from Real Goods were retained by altE during the acquisition and continue to promote, sell, inventory, ship, and support solar energy and energy storage solutions out of
Northern California. Real Goods continues to operate under the Real Goods name, serving
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and catalog trim size, and by reducing the number of catalogs mailed by driving more business to its website, as exemplified by the "Don't Buy From This
Catalog" campaign the company ran in its Spring/Summer 2010 and Fall/Holiday 2010 catalogs. Real Goods customers were also asked to reduce the
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On
September 4, 2019, The Alternative Energy Store Inc. (altE) acquired the Real Goods Trading Corporation assets from John Schaeffer, with altE CEO Sascha Deri being named Real Goods CEO. Deri has stated that "As a teenager, I actually remember reading the Real Goods catalog and Solar Living
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On
December 20, 2011, Real Goods Solar completed a merger agreement with Connecticut-based renewable energy installer Earth Friendly Energy Group Holdings, LLC, d/b/a Alteris Renewables. The combined company retained the Real Goods Solar name, Nasdaq ticker RSOL, and Louisville, Colorado
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whose mission is to promote sustainable living through inspirational environmental education. The Solar Living
Institute is headquartered at the Solar Living Center along with the Real Goods retail store. It offers classes and workshops to the public and a year-round internship program.
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In
December 2014, John Schaeffer purchased 100% of the Real Goods retail, catalog, and e-commerce business from RGS Energy for $ 1 million. Schaeffer, along with his wife Nantzy Hensley, is now once again the sole owner of Real Goods, as he was before the merger with Gaiam.
474:). The company tracked its progress through regular updates in its mail order catalogs, and in 1997 the goal was completed three years early. In 2005, Real Goods set another Billion Pound Goal to be reached by 2010, and in 2008 that goal was reached two years early.
558:'s Small Business Person of the Year in 1994. Schaeffer also received the 2007 Green Power Pioneer Award, and was inducted into the International Green Industry Hall of Fame in March 2013. Real Goods has received three Rodale Awards, as well as news coverage in
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principles so that it requires little additional heat and light beyond what is provided by the sun. The Real Goods retail store is open to the public for shopping, and also houses Real Goods' e-commerce and order fulfillment operations.
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product shipping program called Go Zero. Real Goods made a contribution that allowed Go Zero to plant nearly 1,500 trees, which offset the company's operations at its headquarters and fulfillment center for that year.
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the same customer base of renewable energy users and enthusiasts, both on and off the grid. Together, Real Goods and altE have sold renewable energy systems to over 120,000 customers across all seven continents.
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and began using solar power itself with a 100 kW solar photovoltaic system installed by Real Goods Solar. The
Louisville headquarters featured a number of other environmentally-friendly features including
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in Hopland, California. It is also home to the nonprofit Solar Living Institute and the Real Goods retail store. The SLC was founded by John Schaeffer in 1994 on land that was formerly a landfill for the
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after he sold the second half of Jade Mountain to Gaiam in 2001. John Schaeffer invested his last $ 3,000 in a 16-page catalog, successfully reinventing the company as a
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headquarters. Alteris equity holders were issued 8.7 million shares of Real Goods Solar Class A common stock in exchange for 100% of Alteris' outstanding equity.
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and John Schaeffer then changed the name from Open Circle to Real Goods Trading Company. that sold all the "real goods" for off-grid living at fair prices.
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Morris, Stephen (Spring/Summer 2008). "30 Years of Solar: How Real Goods and the Solar Industry Have Grown Together Over Three Decades".
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In January 2014, Real Goods Solar announced a combining of its residential and commercial solar installation divisions, a company-wide
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content for its catalogs from 20% to 30%. From 2008 to 2010, Real Goods lowered its paper and printing impact another 75% by reducing
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from entering the atmosphere by 2000 through changes to its business practices and customer purchases of products that reduce CO
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under the symbol RSOL. Through holding 100% of Real Goods Solar's Class B shares, Gaiam maintained control of the company.
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for $ 600 each and sold them for $ 900 each to people interested in getting their electricity from a source other than an
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paint, bamboo flooring and cabinetry, environmentally-friendly carpet and glue, recycled office cubicles, and an office
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The Real Goods retail store was located at the center of the SLC grounds. It was a 5,000 square foot building made of
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from the Gaiam merger behind it, Real Goods opened a residential solar panel installation division in 2002 called
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In 2008, Real Goods - with Gaiam as its majority shareholder - moved into new corporate headquarters in
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number of catalogs they requested, and catalogs were mailed based on past purchase activity.
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on 100% post-consumer content recycled paper, there are more than 600,000 copies of the
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for each 10 shares of Real Goods stock owned, and Real Goods' headquarters moved to
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640:"Real Goods and Gaiam Move to New, Green Headquarters". (Fall/Holiday 2008).
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magazine's Top 500 Fastest Growing Companies list and John Schaeffer was the
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In 1990, Real Goods set a Billion Pound Goal to prevent a billion pounds of
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in 1982. It was written as a comprehensive resource for information about
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agreement, Real Goods shareholders received one share of Gaiam's Class A
725:"RGS Energy Divests The Real Goods Store to Focus on Residential Solar"
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777:"Want to Live Greener? The Solar Living Institute is Your University"
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collection. Many Real Goods company parties were zero-waste events.
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842:. Gabriola Island, BC, Canada: New Society Publishers. p. vi.
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The Solar Living Center (SLC) is a 12-acre living demonstration of
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and raised $ 55 million. Real Goods Solar began trading on the
741:"Solar distributor altE acquires off-grid veterans Real Goods"
693:"Real Goods Solar completes merger with Alteris Renewables"
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In 1998, Schaeffer formed the Solar Living Institute, a
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Initial Public Offering and Solar Installation Expansion
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Partnership with Gaiam and the Birth of Real Goods Solar
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By 1982, Real Goods had opened two additional stores in
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emission (calculated using a formula developed by the
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During the store's first year, They bought 100 9-Watt
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systems and resources for people interested in living
862:"John Schaeffer Wins 2007 Green Power Pioneer Award"
824:"Don't Buy From This Catalog!" (Spring/Summer 2010).
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259:in a stock swap worth $ 8.7 million. Per the
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864:Real Goods Spring/Summer 2008 Resource Guide
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654:"Real Goods Solar (RSOL) IPO Prices at $ 10"
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532:. Now in its 14th edition and printed using
154:In 1977, Real Goods President and cofounder
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919:Solar energy companies of the United States
876:"Fresno nonprofit recognized green leaders"
677:"Real Goods Solar, Inc. Form 10-K for 2008"
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540:in print in 44 English-speaking countries.
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709:"Real Goods Solar Rebrands as RGS Energy"
503:In 2006, Gaiam/Real Goods partnered with
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363:Sourcebook and being inspired by them."
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219:In 1991, Real Goods held its first
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757:"20 Years of altE Store – Part I"
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784:Gaiam Life
681:RGS Energy
580:References
438:strawbales
348:RGS Energy
344:rebranding
243:business.
241:e-commerce
214:mail order
201:Steve Troy
171:Steve Troy
127:e-commerce
123:Real Goods
90:Key people
68:Steve Troy
20:Real Goods
761:altE blog
422:501(c)(3)
402:labyrinth
318:(IPO) as
300:recycling
255:company
160:off-grid
99:Products
60:Founders
567:Fortune
534:soy ink
499:Go Zero
394:beehive
304:compost
276:capital
107:Website
52:Founded
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324:Nasdaq
261:merger
257:Gaiam
44:Genre
844:ISBN
573:Time
551:Inc.
528:and
440:and
398:hops
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