Impact Story
From Workforce Development to Sustainable Living
Victor Ramos’ journey exemplifies the transformative power of mentorship, education, and sustainable living. Starting as an electrical engineering graduate in 2020, Victor relocated to DC in 2021, where he discovered DCSEU’s Workforce Development Program. This opportunity marked the beginning of a career defined by growth, gratitude, and green energy.
Victor’s introduction to the Workforce Development Program provided him with invaluable guidance and mentorship, particularly from DCSEU Manager, Workforce Development, Gleniss Brown Wade, who he and many other program graduates affectionately refer to as “Mrs. Wade”. Through this program, Victor joined Greenscape Energy. He recalls the inclusive culture at Greenscape, describing it as a family environment where leadership played a hands-on role in his professional growth. The mentorship he received equipped him with the skills and confidence to transition into a project manager role at a utility company.
In addition to professional achievements, Victor’s journey into homeownership his commitment to sustainability. He is the first in his family to buy a house and is dedicated to making it a home. Facing challenges like outdated air conditioning and gas heating and water heating systems, Victor undertook extensive renovations to make his Ward 7 home as energy-efficient and gas-free as possible. As an income-qualified DC homeowner, he was able to qualify for no-cost energy and electrification services through Solar for All (SFA) and the Affordable Home Electrification Program (AHEP) with the DCSEU.
Through Solar for All, he received 36 solar panels paired with a 10 kW Solar Edge battery system as a part of the program’s Fiscal Year 2024 Home Battery Pilot. With the support of the Affordable Home Electrification Program, he transitioned his old gas water heater and furnace to an efficient electric heat pump and heat pump water heater. His home also received an electric panel upgrade, also known as a heavy-up, to increase the electric capacity of his home to be able to install his new equipment. These upgrades not only resolved his home's energy issues but also enabled it to significantly lower his utility bills and environmental footprint despite having higher energy use than normal due to working from home and having relatives stay over.
“There have been family members that come to stay with me for a little bit because I am the first one in my family to buy a house and they want to celebrate that with me. That’s a blessing,” said Ramos. “So, I would say my usage is a little higher now, but my bill is just my administrative fees from PEPCO and it’s only about $5. Almost 100% of my bill has been offset by the panels and battery.”
Victor is particularly enthusiastic about his home battery system features. Its user-friendly interface allows him to monitor energy production and consumption in real time. Notifications and weather alerts help him optimize his energy use, while proactive customer support ensures system reliability.
“The app is amazing because I'm able to see how many kilowatts hours my solar panels are producing, how many kilowatt hours it is sending to the electrical grid, and how many kilowatt hours it is sending to my house.”
From Workforce Development Program graduate to District homeowner, Victor’s story shows that with District green jobs and clean energy programs there’s a pathway to creating a healthy home.