College - Author 1
College of Architecture and Environmental Design
Department - Author 1
Construction Management Department
Degree Name - Author 1
BS in Construction Management
Date
6-2025
Primary Advisor/Subject Matter Expert (SME)
Joseph Cleary, College of Architecture and Environmental Design, Construction Management Department
Abstract/Summary
Skip the Grid is an interdisciplinary service project through California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly), aimed at providing sustainable energy solutions to underserved communities. In Spring 2025, I participated as a rooftop safety lead and solar installer in Chinle, Arizona, where our team partnered with SOLV Energy, Goal Zero, and Heart of America to bring solar power to 40 off-grid homes across the Navajo Nation. As a member of Red Team #3, I was directly responsible for ensuring safe ladder setup, supervising rooftop work, mounting solar panels, and managing exterior cable routing for 8 successful installations. Beyond the technical work, this project served as an eye-opening experience that underscored the severe infrastructure inequities facing Native communities just beyond our state’s borders. I gained hands-on field experience in photovoltaic system installation, applied real-world safety protocols, and learned to adapt in remote, resource-limited environments.
URL: https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/cmsp/896
Poster Board
Included in
Construction Engineering and Management Commons, Cultural Resource Management and Policy Analysis Commons