You’ve received an architectural application for a rooftop solar installation so what do you do next? Aesthetics are often the focus of solar installations in HOAs, but there are technical issues to be taken under consideration when the board of directors or architectural committee evaluates an application for a solar installation. Is the board or architectural committee prepared for the task?
First and foremost, governing documents pertaining to solar installations need to be reviewed by the board of directors together with the association’s attorney to ensure the governing documents are up to date. The solar industry is a rapidly changing industry with new advancements in solar technology being made regularly. Keeping the governing documents concurrent with Civil Code and solar technology developments can provide HOA management, board and architectural committee members with a solid foundation with which to evaluate solar applications and navigate the review process.
HOAs with shared roofs such as town homes, multi-story buildings or carports may also wish to work with the HOA attorney to develop guidelines regarding which roofs solar modules are allowed to be installed and how the shared roof space will be allocated. Including a solar installation expert in the rules development process in order to help your association determine which portion of the roof is suitable for solar installations is a prudent decision. Required setbacks, obstructions, shading, roof shape, tilt and which direction the roof faces all impact the solar potential of a roof. Due to site factors and code requirements, some roofs may have little or no solar potential while other roofs may have amazing solar potential. It would be beneficial for the association to determine how to handle these issues ahead of time and address how to equitably divide up the roof space to avoid unnecessary conflict. Creating a map to document the usable roof space with good solar potential and allocation of that space would aid interpretation of the HOA guidelines.
Makello works with non profits and HOAs to create maps that meet organizational needs.
Education for HOA managers, board and architectural committee members is also a good idea. It isn’t necessary to take a course in photovoltaics suited to solar industry professionals. There are free or low cost introductory courses that provide information on the basics of solar to help the non-professional or consumer understand the fundamentals of solar systems with minimal time commitment. Understanding the jargon and electrical concepts can help managers, HOA board, and architectural committee members feel more comfortable when reviewing an owner’s architectural submission for a solar installation. Being comfortable with the requirements and having a basic understanding of solar principles helps the association avoid missteps and misunderstandings.
The SDGE Energy Innovation Center has free or low cost courses, https://www.sdge.com/energy-innovation-center. Solar Energy International, https://www.solarenergy.org/, is another resource for online introductory courses in solar energy. A third resource for solar education is Heatspring, https://www.heatspring.com. A final resource in North American Board of Certified Energy Professionals, https://www.nabcep.org, or NABCEP for short. NABCEP is mostly geared to professionals but they do periodically offer free introductory webinars or training for the non-professional or consumer.
An empowered HOA Board or Committee Member discussing solar energy.
There are a few things homeowners in HOAs can do to make the approval process for solar installations be less stressful.
Number one is to make sure you have the current version of all HOA governing documents that include the rules regarding installing solar i.e. the Rules & Regs. Architectural Guidelines and application and/or CC&Rs. Be ready to provide the rules to your solar installer because the installer needs to be aware of HOA specific issues pertaining to the installation that may impact system design.
Find out whether or not your contractor needs to indemnify the association and how much insurance the contractor needs to carry. Confirm your contractor meets the requirements. Not all contractors are willing to indemnify the association or wish to insure for the amount the association requires.
Make sure you understand who is going to be responsible for maintenance and repair of the roof under the solar installation as well as maintaining insurance for the solar installation on common area roofs. This may impact your decision to proceed with the solar installation. It is also a good idea to find out if the association is going to be conducting roof repairs in the near future that may impact your solar installation. You may be responsible for covering the cost of removing and re-installation of your solar system so the association can conduct roof repairs.
Give yourself time to obtain and evaluate bids, fill out HOA forms and gather supporting documents. Find out what the submission procedures and deadlines are for your architectural application. Solar installations are complex and not likely to be successfully submitted in a day or two.
Together Everyone Achieves More
Additionally, don’t forget to check the insurance and licensing of the installer on the California State Contractors License Board https://www.cslb.ca.gov.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and HOA owners can be divided in their opinion on the aesthetics of solar installations. Being prepared with knowledge about solar and having the correct procedures in place can help minimize issues and take the stress out of architectural applications for solar system installation.
Makello is an authorized distributor for Green Energy EPC CA Lic #978836
What comes to mind when you think of the average electric vehicle owner? Where do they live and what is their economic status? These are excellent questions to ask when assessing where to build EV charging infrastructure, but are impressions correct and rooted in reality? Are community resources being distributed equitably or are misconceptions leaving communities under served?
Makello decided to look at the data. We downloaded the City of San Diego 2019 Climate Equity Report, California Energy Commission 2020 ZEV and Infrastructure Stats for Vehicle Population, and the US Dept. of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center CSV Alternative Fuels Data Center: Alternative Fueling Station Locator data, and we used the data to create some maps.
First, we reviewed the Median Household Income data from the City of San Diego 2019 Climate Equity Report to get an idea about income levels of residents within the City. The City of San Diego 2019 Climate Equity Report used the Census Tract as the smallest area to determine report indicators. The vehicle sales data uses zip codes as the unit for determining area of sales so we have overlaid the zip code outline over the map of Census Tract Median Income data for easier comparison.
Median household income as reported in the San Diego 2019 Climate Equity Report. Median Household Income data reported by US Census Block with an outline of zip codes overlaid data. Click on map to view larger in another window.
Are there unexpected communities purchasing EV and PHEV vehicles? We sorted the 2020 vehicle sales data by fuel type to select the Battery Electric Vehicle (EV) and Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) sales and joined the resulting tables with the zip code shapefile downloaded from the SanDAG Data Warehouse. This enabled us to show the 2020 vehicle sales by zip code on a map. The map of median income was then compared to EV and PHEV sales. Starting with EV sales, we looked at four zip codes with census tracts identified as higher income areas and four zip codes in an area identified in the San Diego 2019 Climate Equity Report as communities with less access to opportunities. Those zip codes are 92037, 92102, 92105, 92113, 9211, 92127, 92129, 92130.
Find out how much you can save with Electric Vehicles and discount utility rates.
This map is showing the zip codes chosen for comparison, 92037, 92102, 92105, 92113, 9211, 92127, 92129, 92130, including zip codes in Chollas Creek, Logan Heights, La Jolla, Carmel Valley, Rancho Penasquitos, Black Mountain Ranch, Encanto, City Heights, Barrio Logan. Click on map to view larger in another window.
Now that we have determined which areas we wished to compare, we created a map by sorting the 2020 vehicle sales data by fuel type to select the Battery Electric Vehicle (EV) and Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) sales and joined the resulting tables with the zip code shapefile downloaded from the SanDAG Data Warehouse. This enabled us to show the 2020 EV vehicle sales by zip code on a map as indicated by the symbol showing the number of vehicles sold shown here
These two maps show a closer view of the median household income and the number of new battery electric vehicle (BEV, EV) sales in 2020. Click on map to view larger in another window.
As you can see from the map, the highest EV sales are in and around the neighborhoods with the top range for median income. The top three EV purchasers in San Diego County are living in 92130, 92129 and 92037 respectively. Surprisingly, and more interestingly, the zip codes we chose to look at that are in areas identified as having less access to equity in San Diego show residents in these areas are purchasing electric vehicles in fair quantities.
The other 3 zip codes near 92113 have double the EV sales with 92114 residents purchasing 140 EV, 92102 residents purchasing 149 EV and 92105 residents purchasing 172 EV. The median income for the nearby residents are overall in the next higher income bracket. This shows that as vehicles become available that are priced attractively to the residents in these neighborhoods, they will make the purchase. There is an interest in greener options and a willingness to adopt technology at the right price point and feature package.
What about Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) Sales? Makello mapped 2020 PHEV sales using the same procedure for 2020 EV Sales.
These two maps show a closer view of the median household income and the number of new plug-in electric hybrid vehicle (PHEV) sales in 2020.
The map indicates PHEV purchases are more level across the City but there is one very unexpected find. PHEV sales are half as many as the EV sales in the 92113 zip code. Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles are generally considered to be the more affordable option but they do not seem to be as enticing as the full battery electric vehicles for the residents in the 92113 zip code. This is contrary to conventional wisdom especially considering 2020 was a Pandemic Year and large numbers of the population were facing additional income stressors.
The final question is how are the public charging stations distributed and how does the distribution compare to the vehicle purchases? Are communities under served? Makello created a map of the public charging stations using data downloaded from the US Dept. of Energy Fuel Stations locator map https://afdc.energy.gov/stations/#/find/nearest. Station data is imported daily directly from the networks of Blink, ChargePoint, Electrify America, EVgo, FLO, Greenlots, OpConnect, SemaConnect, and Webasto into the Station Locator.
Red markers showing the distribution of public electric vehicle charging stations and the zip codes chosen for comparison. Click on map to view larger in another window.
Generally, it is common for someone to think public charging stations are installed where people who purchase EV and PHEV vehicles live but this is not always the case. Types of housing such as single family housing or multi-family housing, housing density, commercial properties with retail and office space, and property owner interest are all additional factors that impact where public charging stations are installed. The Makello map shows there are several of the zip codes we chose to examine that do not have good access to public charging stations. It was surprising that there are gaps in access to public charging in the more affluent zip codes we examined. Below is a chart summarizing the statistics of the eight zip codes we examined.
Zip Code
Median Income Range
EV- 2020 Sales
PHEV- 2020 Sales
Public Chargers
92102
$0- $114,985
149
112
0
92105
$0- $76,657
172
212
1
92037
$76,657- $191,642
1283
506
26
92113
$0- $76,657
64
36
3
92114
$38,328- $114,985
140
119
1
92127
$76,657- $153,314
1694
578
6
92129
$38,328- $191,642
979
533
1
92130
$38,328- $191,642
2275
808
23
Table containing the zip code, information for each zip code including medium household income range, 2020 EV and PHEV new vehicle sales and public charging stations.
As you can see from the table, the residents in only one zip code we examined showed a preference for plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. Residents in all other zip codes preferred the battery electric vehicles. It is obvious from the chart that there are very few public chargers available compared to the number of vehicles in the zip codes. Presumably, the residents in these zip codes would like to be able to use a charger while they run errands around their neighborhood and have difficulty with the current number of available public charging stations.
Public Electric Charging Station distribution in San Diego County indicated by the red markers. Heat map showing the concentration of the public electric charging stations in San Diego County. Lighter colors in the heat map equal higher density of public electric charging stations. Click on map to view larger in another window.
The final map above that Makello created is a heat map to highlight the distribution of public charging stations county wide. All of the charging stations are located in the western part of the county in the urban areas. There aren’t any charging stations listed in the data we downloaded in remote fueling stations or recreation areas.
The map of the charging station locations shows the stations tend to be clumped in proximity to other charging stations. This may be due to one commercial property owner sees neighbors installing charging stations then they decide to install. The most concentrated collection of public charging stations are located in downtown San Diego and around UC San Diego. Clearly, there are many areas of San Diego County that do not have access to public charging in their neighborhoods.
The maps Makello created show there are gaps in access to public vehicle charging stations. That lack of access may present many residents with obstacles to adoption of sustainable technology but the lack of access to public charging stations is not stopping all residents from purchasing battery electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. This indicates an interest in the technology and when the opportunity presents itself to purchase EV or PHEV vheicles, many residents are making the decision to make that purchase.
Commercial property owners should use data when making the decision whether or not to install a charging station on their property rather than rely on perceptions because as we have shown, perceptions that residents in one area or another are not purchasing EV and PHEV may run counter to “common sense”.
Did you know that, whether or not you have an existing solar energy system, you can tap into a combination of up-front incentives, financing, to build up your savings into a 6-Month Emergency Fund and lower monthly costs?
Once-considered luxury items, such as Solar Power, Plug-In Vehicles, and Energy Storage, now payback quickly for cash purchases and are within reach for most homeowners, due to up-front incentives and lower total monthly costs from loan or Property Assessed Clean Energy financing.
Makello can provide you with a FREE Energy Savings Estimate! If you share your utility data with us we can create a solar energy system that is specific to your needs. We will NOT share your data.
Our model can also show the cost saving benefits of a Plug-In Vehicle or Energy Storage system, or both, in addition to your solar system. All of our team works to get you the most comprehensive, thorough Energy Analysis in the San Diego area as quickly as possible.
The software engineers are constantly updating our computer model to reflect the most current utility rates and product costs. We have a dedicated GIS analyst who can qualify you for as many rebates and incentives possible. Our Energy Efficiency experts can also provide other solutions to reduce energy costs such as appliance changes or switching utility rates. Press one of the buttons to see how much you can save!
Makello’s display at the entrance of the KRA San Diego Career Centers career fair. Credit: KRA
Skyline showcases are difficult to manage. At the September 18, 2019 “Job-I-Con” Hiring Event, held at the San Diego Library, 9th floor, the window walls stand 25’ tall, on 3 sides. The east wall and roof shade cast the entire room into heavy contrast between 10 AM and 12 PM.
Companies arriving early secure perimeter tables, leaving shaded tables close to the entrance unoccupied.
Book a FREE 15 minute appointment to: 1) Find out how Makello can help you. 2) Discuss your energy needs. 3) Get a FREE Energy Savings Estimate.
Makello understands what daily solar progression, heat gain, glare and backlighting issues from floor to ceiling windows can do to participation at a trade show. For greatest exposure to candidates before they break a sweat, sometimes a good location choice is near the entrance.
The aisles surrounding our table pass by Makello video displays, where “Why Makello?” and “What We Do” plays on repeat, next to our job postings. Engineers drawn to the videos of Solar Power, Plug-In Vehicles, and Energy Storage soon create noise and crowding in front of our table.
Makello reaches out into the aisle to welcome potential candidates as they pass the video introduction, to join us in a face to face conversation behind the table display.
If pictures are worth a thousand words, it makes sense why our visitors often arrive with a good understanding about our mission, our vision and our purpose. When job seekers are able to relate their goals and experiences to the company as a whole, it is possible to go beyond the currently open positions and find added value or new opportunities.
Despite her initial reservations about the match between a solar company and her interest in GIS Maps, Linda Boisvert stands out among the 60 visitors. Makello Research Assistant position adapts to a GIS mapping focus. An On-The-Job training program by San Diego Workforce Partnership makes it possible for Makello to invest in Linda’s skill development, using her Associates degree and lab work, to solve business technological challenges. Linda’s background in Anthropology and Drafting/CAD, along with 11 years of HOA Management experience, helps Makello discover new potential revenue streams.
Linda’s mapping accomplishments shine in Makello’s Service Areas and in blog articles, such as “African Americans Concentrated in Diverse Redlined San Diego”, which highlight issues of Environmental and Social Justice, Transportation, and Health. Makello receives recognition from several non-profit organizations for our educational webinars and board presentation of the map and analysis. We look forward to continuing to support community development programs and hospitals throughout San Diego with valuable interactive research maps.
Linda’s demographic and incentives maps uncovers an “Energy Upgrade LIFELINE” program for low income and medical care qualified residents, and for fire-threat communities. Thousands of San Diego homes and businesses can qualify for up to 100% incentives on Solar Power, Plug-In Vehicles, and Energy Storage. Affordable Energy Independence!
Metro Career Centers and the San Diego Workforce Partnership empowers the San Diego community by connecting jobs to qualified applicants. Makello encourages San Diego companies to get outside of the bubble and make valuable connections at workforce.org.
Recently, a solar powered homeowner inquired about adding a Level 2 charger for a 2013 Nissan Leaf, typically a $400 installation. Most solar companies would refuse the job due to low profit.
In Case of Emergency, An “Energy Upgrades Lifeline” Pays For Itself.
Makello rose to the challenge and used our Energy Analysis tool to present an “Energy Upgrades Lifeline” option that improves the homeowner’s cash flow and can provides a “6 Month Emergency Fund”.
Parcel level GIS mapping software made by Makello, is used to determine eligibility qualifications for a wide variety of energy upgrade grants, rebates, discounts, credits and deductions.
Makello works with non profits and other agencies to create maps for Environmental Justice initiatives.
The rooftop solar on the home was installed for free in 2012 by Grid Alternatives through the SASH program, for qualified low-income residential California homes. An Energy Upgrade Lifeline can work even if the property already has solar.
One of the homeowners was temporarily laid off due to the pandemic. An Energy Upgrade Lifeline can qualify for financing by the State of California based on prior year tax return.
Makello’s Ethical Energy & Cost Savings Analysis provides $23,448 Incentives upfront for adding more solar, energy storage, a 2nd EV and a Level 2 charger.
What makes the solution possible is a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing method that does not appear on the credit report, is not a loan, does not trigger a property reassessment and can transfer to the next home buyer.
PACE financing ranges from 5 to 30 years term for solar, 10 years for energy storage, and can be used for other energy efficiency improvements. PACE can be as low as $0 down, it provides tax deductible interest, there are no pre-payment fees, and no credit minimum.
The PACE program is intended for use by those that can demonstrate the ability to pay. There are safeguards to protect against abuse, such as a soft pull credit check, income verification from a recent paycheck or tax return, and a requirement that the energy efficiency project is cash flow positive, as it is here:
Click to Enlarge
What makes the solution a “Lifeline” is that the incentives payments can be used as a reserve. In an emergency, the basic expenses such as mortgage payment, food, and medicine are met. The system is designed to be cash flow positive, meaning lower cost monthly and annually, than the baseline status quo.
Makello’s “Lifeline” Incentive Payment timing gives the homeowner flexibility to make decisions on what to do with the money and when to put the reserve to use. In this case, after 6 months, the homeowner can decide to use some or all of the Incentives to purchase a Plug-In Vehicle to further increase energy cost savings, or for another important use.
Simple Payback is possible in 3.7 years through Annual Energy Cost Savings. That means it’s a good deal for a cash purchase or loan. For those on a fixed income, traditional loans might not be a viable option. In the cases where PACE financing is Cash Flow Positive, we can present the PACE option as an alternative.
(Click to enlarge) As you can see in the savings over time graph, the system is cash flow positive every year through the 10 year PACE financing and then savings accelerates.
Book a FREE 15 minute appointment to: 1) Find out how Makello can help you. 2) Discuss your energy needs. 3) Get a FREE Energy Savings Estimate.
Makello’s Optimal Cost Savings Plan has other benefits for California in 2020, such as emergency backup power for home and vehicles, water pumps, air-conditioning, air-purifying and fire-fighting equipment.
Makello is ethical in our approach, offering full disclosure about PACE terms and program information, bank and credit union loan alternatives.
Maps are used for more than directions, and at Makello, we are creating maps to highlight communities within our Service Areas. We have a gallery of maps with community insights and tips regarding solar and electric vehicle adoption.
Makello maps can be used for a variety of reasons. The map above shows Public Electric Vehicle Charging Stations throughout San Diego County and outlines cities and CDPs (census-designated places) that make up East County San Diego. Individuals can use this map to locate where they could charge their electric vehicles. Non profits and other agencies can depict social inequity in regards to electric vehicle adoption, which could lead to funding. Many people may not realize how big San Diego County is! Can you think of anything else this and future maps might be used for?
Makello has maps to help prospective Plug-In Vehicle owners determine the current and future availability of public electric vehicle charging stations, in the areas where they work and live. Federal and State programs can provide up to 100% incentives for DC Fast Charging for San Diego, so we built a place where you can pin a location to “Request A Public EV Charger” installation. Our customers find this information very useful in the decision to adopt electric vehicle technology. After all, who wants to run out of battery while running errands or driving home after work?
Book an appointment to receive Makello’s Ethical Energy Savings Report, which is the result of a detailed trade-off study of discount utility rates, grants, rebates, tax credits, and equipment options, to determine the fastest payback and highest return on investment to meet your home, business and vehicle energy needs.
The fee for the Ethical Energy Savings Report is refundable (less the 3rd-Party $15 utility data access charge) or credited towards our installation services, after you attend the presentation meeting and complete a 5 minute survey after permission to operate.
Includes up to 5 hours research by the Makello team, and 1 hour Q&A, by Makello’s Ethical Energy Efficiency Expert.
Many of our clients are concerned about air quality in their community and want to take actions to make improvements where they can be made. In many communities, there are a variety of sources for diesel particulate matter such as trucks, farm and construction equipment, emergency generators, industrial equipment, or older model cars. Makello has utilized the CalEnviroscore data to show our clients where concentrations of particulate matter occur and help those customers adopt solar and battery energy storage for emergencies, reducing the need for diesel generators.
Click on maps and they will open in a new tab at larger resolution. The map shown here shows the diesel particulate matter in cities and CDPs in North County San Diego.
Vehicles with gasoline engines are a significant source of air pollution in urban areas, and although we have adopted high pollution control standards in California, vehicle pollution can still be an issue in many communities.
Vehicle pollution contains many toxic chemicals and plays a role in the formation of smog. There are many health concerns related to smog pollution, including asthma, heart disease, and lung disease; all are conditions that worsen the outcomes for COVID-19. Health risks increase with proximity to freeways and heavily trafficked roads, for fine particulate matter that can enter the bloodstream and lung tissues. Vehicle traffic can also be a source of excessive noise and vibrations, which contribute to stress and high blood pressure, or injuries to pedestrians.
At Makello we strive to accommodate all our customers needs and provide equal access to information for everyone. Our maps are color coded specifically to be able to be interpreted by those who are color blind as well. This map shows traffic density in cities and CDPs of South County San Diego.
Gasoline engines idling in traffic achieve lower miles per gallon and produce pollution. Traffic density represents the number of vehicles in an area producing pollution. Areas with high volumes of traffic have more pollution. Electric vehicles are a great way to reduce pollution on your daily commute or while you are out on the town.
Book a FREE 15 minute appointment to: 1) Find out how Makello can help you. 2) Discuss your energy needs. 3) Get a FREE Energy Savings Estimate.
Jet engines are another source of pollution. The aviation industry is working on electric airplanes and efficiency improvements for new designs. For now, residents in communities impacted by air overflight can take advantage of incentives to purchase new or used Plug-In Vehicles and install solar panels with energy storage batteries. The energy cost savings can be used for indoor air filtration and water purification, among other methods to improve health.
Our maps use a variety of symbols, outlines, colors, labels, etc. to easily depict information. Above, mini airplanes show the flight paths over the Chollas Creek Watershed. Residents under the flight paths are more prone to air and pollution related illnesses.
The rebate programs can be confusing, and finding all the correct data and maps to check for eligibility can be time consuming and prone to errors or misunderstandings. Makello researched the programs and data used to determine eligibility, then developed a program eligibility map for parcel level qualifications. We’ve eliminated several steps and are able to easily show a customer their property’s location in relation to the program criteria. Check out our Service Areas link and get a Free Energy Savings Estimate today.
Up to 100% SGIP Rebate and Tax Incentives qualifiers: Level 2 or 3 High Fire Threat District; Disadvantaged or Low Income Communities; electric well pump; SDG&E Public Safety Power Shut-off events.
Makello is developing GIS services and creating maps useful to the solar power, electric vehicle, and energy storage industries, as well as for our teaming companies, including several non-profit organizations. Maps are an important method for analyzing and presenting data.
We will examine redlining and clean-air technology access by the San Diego African American community in this blog. See the editor’s note below on how we will be using the Census Bureau term African American as defined by the Census Bureau: Race for Residents of African ancestry or birth including both US Citizens and non-US Citizens. For more info on data sources and terminology, references are provided at the end of this article.
Makello works with non profits and other agencies to create maps for Environmental Justice initiatives.
Editors Note: Click to view Makello’s commitment to finding words and methods to accurately represent data while conveying inclusion of the appropriate demographic.
Makello began using maps to analyze data and learn about our community in 2019. From time to time, we intend to share some of the maps we’ve developed but there are challenges to presenting the data accurately and transparently, especially with regards to designations for Race, Identity and Ethnicity.
The US Census counts all people living within the Boundaries of the United States and Territories. The data collected is by Race, not citizenship status. The Census data uses terminology that can easily be misunderstood because of common usage of terms vs. the Census Bureau definition. The Census Bureau meaning of the term is often lost as the data filters down to the public through agencies and businesses.
The Census Bureau uses the terms African American, Asian American, Native American, Hispanic, White and Other to define Race. Citizenship or immigration status is not counted. The loss of context of these words may prevent accurate and full understanding of data. People may feel invisible or may be unintentionally misled.
You may have noted a few potential difficulties in the short list of the terms presented. That is where the struggle lies when attempting to represent residents without being US-Centric or Ethno-centric. Acceptable terminology changes through time, is understood differently in separate regions and countries, by different cultures and ethnicities. Individuals infuse meaning in words based on their life experiences, making classifications difficult.
Maps may focus on a specific demographic for any number of reasons. It can be difficult to adequately portray diversity on the map with charts or graphs. Please refer to the two examples below.
Makello is committed to the difficult task of finding words and methods to accurately represent data while conveying inclusion of the appropriate demographic. We make great effort to research and vet language. Language and identities change. Unfortunately, there is no all encompassing, perfect language for describing people. What one person thinks is a great label and strongly identifies with, the next person may reject or find offensive. We accept open and honest feedback and hope you enjoy the information we present.
African Americans in San Diego are concentrated in southwestern San Diego County.
The first question to answer is where are the communities with 10% or more of the African American residents? A map of the demographic data from the CalEnviroscreen 3.0 is the simplest method of discovery. CalEnviroscreen obtained demographic data from the US Census Bureau and retained the US Census Bureau demographic descriptors in their report. Our map above shows the population is largely concentrated in the area to the east of Downtown San Diego which will be the area we focus on for the purpose of this blog.
Why is the population so heavily concentrated in this area? With a special thanks to University of Richmond’s Digital Scholarship Lab, a look at the 1930s New Deal Era Home Owners’ Loan Corporation Redline Maps may help to answer this question.
The Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (H.O.L.C.) was created during the Great Depression New Deal Era and the program trained many home appraisers in the 1930s. The H.O.L.C. created a neighborhood ranking system known today as redlining. Grades were assigned to residential neighborhoods by local real estate developers and appraisers in over 200 cities. These maps and neighborhood ratings set the rules for decades of real estate practices. The grades ranged from A to D.
The Green Area- Grade A = Best: Always upper-middle-class to upper class White neighborhoods defined as posing minimal risk for banks and other mortgage lenders, as they were “ethnically homogeneous” and had room to be further developed.
The Blue Area- Grade B= Still Desirable: Neighborhoods with all or mostly White, U.S. born residents were defined as sound investments for mortgage lenders.
The Yellow Area- Grade C =Declining: Residential neighborhoods with working class and/or first or second generation immigrants from Europe. The housing stock was typically older and often lacking the current utilities of the day.
The Red Area- Grade D= Hazardous: These neighborhoods were considered to be “infiltrated” with “undesirable populations” such as Jewish, Asian, Mexican, and Black families. The neighborhoods were more likely to be located near industrial areas and the housing stock consisted of older, less well maintained buildings.
Are you ready to save money on solar power, EV charging or Energy Storage? Get an instant quote from Makello!
These grades formed the basis for federally backed mortgages. Many banks refused to lend to areas with the lowest grade, making it impossible for people in these neighborhoods to become homeowners and preventing them from building generational wealth.
As you can see from the map, many of the areas that were labeled undesirable in the 1930s are still the areas where African Americans are concentrated. The practice of redlining has had a long term impact on segments of our community that has yet to be resolved.
1930s redlining still impacts African American communities 90 years later.
Makello is an advocate of green transportation options, providing FREE Energy Savings Estimate services including an analysis of potential electric vehicles to fit your needs, so it was only natural we take a look access to public charging stations African Americans have in the former redlined areas. The results were………….. well, see for yourself.
Less than 10 public electric vehicle charging stations are located within the African American communities.
The data from the US Dept. of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center may be mapped and compared to the CalEnviroscreen Demographic Data. The neighborhoods with the highest concentrations of African American Residents do not have easy access to public electric vehicle charging stations. One consequence is this discourages San Diegans with electric vehicles living outside these communities from driving to businesses in these neighborhoods and spending money. The lack of access to public charging stations also discourages the residents of these neighborhoods from purchasing electric vehicles because they don’t have the ability to conveniently charge their vehicle. This is especially true for multi-unit dwellers where there are structural and parking challenges to overcome when installing EV charging stations. This creates additional barriers to EV ownership, keeping the community from reducing pollution, developing business opportunities, and creating jobs in their neighborhoods.
Book an appointment to receive Makello’s Ethical Energy Savings Report, which is the result of a detailed trade-off study of discount utility rates, grants, rebates, tax credits, and equipment options, to determine the fastest payback and highest return on investment to meet your home, business and vehicle energy needs.
The fee for the Ethical Energy Savings Report is refundable (less the 3rd-Party $15 utility data access charge) or credited towards our installation services, after you attend the presentation meeting and complete a 5 minute survey after permission to operate.
Includes up to 5 hours research by the Makello team, and 1 hour Q&A, by Makello’s Ethical Energy Efficiency Expert.
We’re shifting gears now and will be examining the energy cost burden in the City of San Diego. The energy cost burden data was obtained from the 2019 San Diego Climate Equity Report and overlaid the demographic data from the CalEnviroscreen 3.0. Generally speaking, the energy cost burden was calculated as a weighted average for each census tract and divided by the median household income for each census tract to obtain the energy cost burden score. For more detailed explanation of the energy cost burden, please visit the San Diego Climate Equity Report page.
The white outlined areas in the map posted below have the lowest energy cost as a percentage of Median Household Income and the dark green areas have the highest energy cost burden. Most of the African American San Diegans are in the minty green areas and have an energy cost burden of 1.3%- 2.7%. There is one area with 18-28% of the African American residents and a 4-5.4% energy cost burden.
This cost puts an additional financial strain on those residents with more modest incomes and often prevents the residents from using air conditioning or heaters in bad weather, increasing some health risks especially for elderly and health challenged individuals. Or the residents may use older, less energy efficient equipment, increasing energy cost and pollution.
Energy cost impacting African American communities.
One potential solution for reducing the energy cost burden and pollution is solar energy and battery storage. We mapped solar adoption rates from the San Diego 2019 Climate Equity Index report and again, overlaid the demographic data from CalEnviroscreen 3.0. The areas outlined in white have the least access to solar energy. Many African Americans are living in areas where at best, there are per capita 0.05 solar photovoltaic systems resulting in these residents having a low ability to decrease pollution due to electricity production and consumption in the home, reducing overall energy cost, and protecting against power outages.
African American communities in San Diego have low access to solar energy systems.
Returning to redlining, banks’ historical unwillingness to loan money in these communities have left many residents underbanked and underserved. Solar Systems, Electric Vehicles, Battery Storage Systems are investments that can improve personal finances and the quality of life for anyone that can afford a purchase, or qualify for financing. Beyond traditional loans or leases, community members can use the State of California’s Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing for home upgrades and energy upgrades. PACE is not a loan and does not appear on an individual’s credit report. PACE funds are repaid on the annual property tax bill.
This concludes our discussion for now. Please stay tuned for additional articles where we take a look at other issues and demographic segments of San Diego Residents.
