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:
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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.
