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Steve Bender

One Plate, One Planet: A Global Invitation to Act with Steve Bender

How Rotary, EARTHx, and plant-rich eating are turning climate concern into practical action

As climate impacts intensify and communities search for meaningful solutions, a growing coalition of business leaders, Rotary members, and environmental advocates is focusing on something surprisingly simple: what’s on our plates.

At a recent Earth Talks gathering, sustainability leader Steve Bender, Chairman of the US Green Chamber of Commerce, shared a bold vision linking food, collaboration, and global environmental action. From launching the largest Rotary environmental experience at EARTHx to promoting a 15-day plant-rich challenge, his message was clear: we don’t need perfection—we need participation.

Food: The Climate Solution Hiding in Plain Sight Jeff Heie

One of the most powerful climate actions available today doesn’t require new technology. It requires awareness.

Bender points to research from Project Drawdown, a science-based organization that ranks climate solutions by impact. Food production and food waste consistently appear among the top contributors to greenhouse gas emissions.

“Food production and food waste are two of the top issues with climate,” Bender said. “We’re not trying to take anyone’s meat away. We’re trying to help everybody get healthier—including the planet.”

The idea behind One Plate, One Planet is simple: small dietary shifts—like eating plant-based meals once or twice a week—can reduce emissions, conserve water, protect biodiversity, and improve health.

Bender speaks from experience. Raised on a cattle farm in Kansas, he enjoys steak as much as anyone. But when he reduced processed meats and embraced more plant-rich meals, he saw measurable health improvements.

“If we can just take the first three steps,” he said, referencing his 750-mile Camino walk, “everything changes.”

The goal is progress, not perfection.




The 15-Day Plant-Rich Challenge

To make change accessible, Earth Talks leaders are inviting individuals and Rotary clubs to join a 15-day Plant-Rich Diet Challenge beginning March 1.

Participants receive daily emails filled with:

  • Easy recipes

  • Expert presentations

  • Cooking demonstrations

  • Medical insights on reversing chronic disease

  • Real-life transformation stories

It’s designed to be practical and affordable. No one is asked to go fully vegan. Instead, participants are encouraged to try one plant-based meal at a time.

As one presenter described it, plant-rich eating is the “Swiss Army knife” of environmental action. It positively affects climate, land use, water conservation, and pollution—while improving personal health.

Three meals a day offer three opportunities to make a difference.



Rotary’s Environmental Experience at EARTHx

Food is only part of the story.

From April 20–22, Rotary will host what Bender calls the largest Rotary environmental conference in the world inside the broader EARTHx event in Dallas, Texas. The Rotary Environmental Experience will occupy 30,000 square feet within a 75,000-square-foot expo space.

The event brings together:

  • Rotary districts from around the globe

  • Environmental innovators

  • Nobel laureates

  • Business leaders

  • Youth activists

  • Sustainability entrepreneurs

Rotary International President Barry Rassin, who has spoken about climate risks facing island nations, will participate. Leaders from Africa, South Asia, Europe, and Latin America are expected to attend.

But this is not just a conference—it’s a launchpad.

“We want this to be the beginning of what we accomplish over the next year,” Bender said.



100 Projects in 100 Countries

One of the event’s most ambitious initiatives is 100 Projects in 100 Countries.

Rotary clubs worldwide are invited to submit photos, videos, and descriptions of environmental projects. These will be showcased on screens throughout the event and shared through media partnerships.

The aim is twofold:

  1. Inspire replication of successful projects.

  2. Attract new members—especially younger generations.

“If you want to recruit younger members,” Bender noted, “you better be doing environmental projects.”

Rotary operates in more than 200 countries and regions. By amplifying stories of reforestation, coral reef restoration, clean water access, and renewable energy initiatives, organizers hope to break down silos and encourage collaboration.



Beyond Food: Regenerative Housing and Circular Design

Sustainability extends beyond diet.

At EARTHx, attendees will also tour the winning home from an international Design & Build Experience competition. The structure demonstrates how smaller, energy-efficient homes—built with recycled and circular materials—can redefine modern living.

“I’ve toured more than 200 sustainable and tiny homes this year,” Bender said. “This one is in a class of its own.”

From recycled materials to advanced insulation and steel framing, the home showcases how thoughtful design can reduce resource use without sacrificing comfort.

It’s a reminder that sustainability is not about deprivation. It’s about smarter systems



The Role of Business: Green Chambers of Commerce

As Chairman of the US Green Chamber of Commerce, Bender is also working to help traditional chambers transition toward sustainability.

The Green Chamber model:

  • Shares best practices

  • Helps businesses reduce environmental impact

  • Encourages green certifications

  • Promotes collaboration across sectors

“We can’t depend on governments alone,” Bender said. “We have to depend on ourselves.”

By partnering with local and international chambers, restaurants, and entrepreneurs, the goal is to make sustainable business the norm—not the niche.



Participation Without Travel

Recognizing carbon concerns and travel costs, organizers are prioritizing digital access.

Sessions will be live-streamed. Projects will be showcased online. Clubs worldwide can participate remotely in the 100 Projects initiative and the Plant-Rich challenge.

The emphasis is inclusion.

Whether you attend in person, tune in virtually, or simply adopt Meatless Mondays, you are part of the movement.



Practical Takeaways & Implications

This Earth Talk highlights a powerful truth: climate action is not confined to policymakers or scientists. It belongs to communities.

Here’s what you can do:

  1. Start with your plate.
     Try one plant-rich meal per week. Explore new recipes. Reduce food waste.
  2. Share your story.
     If your Rotary club runs an environmental project, document it and submit it for global visibility.
  3. Build partnerships.
     Connect with local businesses, chambers of commerce, and nonprofits to amplify impact.
  4. Think collaboration, not competition.
     Break down silos. Share lessons learned. Invite others in.

The path to sustainability does not require sweeping overnight change. It begins with three steps—taken together.

As Bender reminds us, Rotary may be “the best organization in the world.” The opportunity now is to make sure the world knows it.



Key Takeaways

Key Takeaways

  • Food production and waste are top climate drivers—diet shifts matter.

  • Small plant-rich changes can improve health and reduce emissions.

  • 100 Projects in 100 Countries showcases Rotary’s global impact.

  • Sustainable housing proves circular design is practical today.

  • Collaboration across business and community accelerates solutions.

About This Earth Talk

Speaker: Steve Bender
 Chairman of the US Green Chamber of Commerce and global sustainability leader. Bender advises organizations worldwide on building responsible, resilient growth strategies and launching environmental initiatives.

Date Presented: 19 February 2026

🎥 Watch on YouTube 

🎧 Listen as a Podcast

🌱 Learn more / Project links




VA Habitat Solar Project Event - For-Web-1049

Habitat for Humanity National Solar Program with Jeff Heie

As electricity prices rise and housing costs strain family budgets, a new national effort aims to ensure affordable housing is also affordable to operate. The Habitat for Humanity National Solar Program, led by Jeff Heie of GiveSolar, plans to bring solar power to 10,000 Habitat homes across the U.S. and Puerto Rico in the next five years—cutting bills, building resilience, and expanding clean energy access.

For decades, Habitat for Humanity has helped families achieve the dream of homeownership. But in today’s economy, owning a home is only part of the equation. The real challenge is affording to live in it.

“Housing affordability isn’t just about the mortgage,” Jeff Heie told Earth Talks. “It’s about what it costs to operate the home over time.”

That insight is driving a bold new collaboration: pairing affordable housing with rooftop solar to reduce energy burdens for working families. What began as a small pilot in Virginia has grown into a national initiative with a $40 million fundraising goal—and a vision to transform how affordable housing is built in America.

Energy Burden Is a Hidden Housing Crisis

Many low-income households spend between 10% and 20% of their income on energy bills—an “energy burden” that experts consider unsustainable. Habitat families typically earn 80% or less of their area’s median income, and many fall closer to 60%.

Meanwhile, electricity prices have climbed sharply. Since 2020, U.S. residential electricity rates have risen by roughly 35%. For families already stretched by rising food, insurance, and housing costs, every dollar matters.

Housing affordability includes what it costs to operate the home. Jeff Heie

Solar offers a practical solution.

In Virginia, GiveSolar’s pilot projects installed systems averaging 12 panels per home (about 4.8 kilowatts of capacity). After a year of monitoring, the results were encouraging:

  • Solar systems offset about 65% of annual electricity use.
  • Families saved an average of $73 per month.
  • Savings are projected to continue for 25–30 years.

The program’s national benchmark is ambitious: reduce homeowners’ electricity bills by at least 50%.

“If we can cut electricity bills in half, that changes lives.” — Jeff Heie

Practical Takeaways & Implications

  • Affordable housing must include operating costs. A lower mortgage may not help if utility bills are overwhelming.
  • Solar is financially viable today. The economics of solar clearly justify the up-front investment even for low-income households. Even modest systems can offset 50–65% of electricity use.
  • Local partnerships unlock scale. Habitat’s national network allows rapid replication once funding and proof points are established.
  • Flexible models expand access. Rooftop, ground-mounted, community, and plug-in solar options make adoption possible across varied regulatory environments.
  • New donor audiences are emerging. Environmentally focused funders are supporting affordable housing through a climate lens.

For communities, Rotary clubs, nonprofits, and civic leaders, the message is clear: solar isn’t a luxury add-on. It’s a practical tool for economic justice and climate resilience.

Jeff Heie headshot - Jeff Heie

From Local Pilot to National Movement

The effort began in Harrisonburg, Virginia, where Heie launched GiveSolar in 2018 to help nonprofits access solar energy. Many nonprofits can’t directly benefit from federal tax credits, limiting their ability to install solar systems.

Partnering with a local Habitat affiliate in 2020, Heie raised $10,000 for the first solar installation. Encouraged by community response, the team set a $100,000 goal—and surpassed it within months.

A pivotal moment came when the American Institute of Architects contacted GiveSolar while planning a major headquarters renovation in Washington DC. Seeking to offset the “embodied carbon” (the emissions created by producing building materials), the organization donated $500,000 to install solar on Habitat homes in Virginia.

That investment funded 78 solar installations which were completed by December of 2025.

Momentum continued. In September 2025, GiveSolar formally launched the national expansion, aiming to serve 10,000 Habitat families in five years.

If we can cut electricity bills in half, that changes lives. Jeff Heie

The program now works through Habitat’s statewide support organizations to aggregate projects and negotiate better pricing. By batching installations—10 to 20 homes at a time—costs can be reduced through economies of scale.

So far, $3.8 million has been raised to support early-stage programs in multiple states, including Kansas, Minnesota, Alabama, Wisconsin, and Puerto Rico.

Multiple Pathways to Solar Access

Not every home can accommodate rooftop panels. That’s why the national program uses a flexible toolkit:

Rooftop Solar:
The primary focus—ideal for new builds and unshaded roofs.

Ground-Mounted Solar:
Used when rooftops aren’t suitable, though lot size can limit options.

Plug-In (Balcony) Solar:
An emerging, lower-cost system that plugs directly into a household outlet—no complex permitting or interconnection required in some states.

Community Solar:
Families subscribe to a shared solar farm and receive bill credits, useful where rooftop installation isn’t viable or utility rules are restrictive.

In states with unstable grids, such as Puerto Rico, battery storage may also be considered to improve resilience. However, where net metering (a billing system that credits solar customers at the retail rate for excess energy sent to the grid) is available, batteries aren’t always necessary.

The guiding principle is simple: reduce bills in the most practical way available in each region.

Convincing a Decentralized Network

Habitat operates through more than 1,000 local affiliates in the U.S., each with its own leadership and board. Adding solar can feel like one more complexity in an already challenging housing landscape.

Construction costs, land prices, and labor shortages already strain affiliates. Adding a $15,000 solar system requires additional fundraising and coordination.

Heie understands the hesitation.

“Habitat has so many barriers to overcome when it comes to building affordable housing,” he acknowledged. “Adding solar can feel like one more box to check.”

The solution? Reduce the burden on affiliates by providing project management support through the national solar program.

Empowering working families with solar savings. Jeff Heie

The national program provides technical assistance, solar screening, fundraising support, and data tracking. Early adopters serve as demonstration sites and proof of concept, with performance data shared statewide to cultivate interest and build confidence.

Importantly, solar funding is largely sourced from environmentally focused donors—new supporters who may not have previously contributed to Habitat. That alignment reduces competition with core home-building fundraising.

A Broader Vision of Equity and Climate Action

At its heart, the National Solar Program is about empowerment.

Solar panels not only reduce monthly bills; they protect families from future rate hikes. Over two decades, electricity prices have risen an average of 3% annually—sometimes much more.

For families without generational wealth, predictability matters. A lower, stable energy bill provides breathing room for groceries, healthcare, education, and savings.

The initiative has also drawn endorsement from national organizations including the American Institute of Architects and the Solar Energy Industries Association. Supporters see the model as a blueprint for integrating climate solutions into mainstream housing policy.

Heie sums up the mission in one line:

“Empowering working families with solar savings.”

If successful, the program could redefine what affordable housing means—not just lower upfront costs, but long-term financial resilience.

And for thousands of families, that means a roof overhead powered by the sun.

About This Earth Talk

Speaker: Jeff Heie, Founder and Director of GiveSolar. Jeff leads a mission-driven nonprofit expanding solar access for low-income households through partnerships with Habitat for Humanity.

Date Presented: February 12, 2026

🎥 Watch on YouTube
🎧 Listen as a Podcast
🌱 Learn more: GiveSolar | Habitat for Humanity National Solar Program