ICAST

ICAST (International Center for Appropriate and Sustainable Technology) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to providing economic, environmental, and social benefits to communities by building local capacity. Founded in 2002 by Ravi Malhotra as an initiative of the Engineering School of the University of Colorado at Boulder, ICAST initially focused on a service-learning model where students executed projects under the guidance of experienced professionals. The organization registered as an independent entity shortly thereafter, eventually establishing its Denver office in 2007. Over the years, ICAST has designed and launched a variety of programs aimed at creating triple bottom line impacts, with a particular focus on underserved and disadvantaged communities. These initiatives include work in sustainable technology, clean energy, energy efficiency, and affordable housing.

ICAST's mission is to deliver creative real-world solutions at scale, consistently and efficiently, while educating and training residents to build local capacity. The organization has a history of impactful projects, such as founding Main Street Power, a solar power company that completed over $200 million in solar PV projects before its acquisition by AES Corporation in 2015. ICAST has also been involved in international projects, including developing a job skills program in Tunisia focused on sustainable technology and renewable energy, and launching an initiative for Anaerobic Digesters at dairy farms in Tanzania and Kenya. Domestically, ICAST has managed demand-side utility programs, like the one for Pepco in Washington, D.C., which provided holistic energy-saving retrofits to low-income families, resulting in significant utility cost savings. ICAST's programs aim to create sustainable jobs, invest in local economies, increase property values, reduce carbon emissions, eliminate water waste, preserve affordable housing, and create healthier homes. The organization remains committed to fostering diversity and inclusion within its own structure and in the communities it serves.