Tammy Black is on a mission to educate the people of Detroit about going solar.
Last September, he bought a house in Detroit's land bank and built it through the nonprofit Solar Training House. Many companies stepped in to support their mission by donating equipment and manpower.
While Swart is doing what he believes will be good for the community, he says he's faced some obstacles along the way.
The renovation, called the Eastlawn Solar Training House Project, is underway at a home on Eastlawn Avenue in Detroit. Black is the founder and CEO of the Detroit Treehouse Community Center, which helps neighborhoods go solar. He also owns Communities Power, a company that installs solar panels in underserved communities.
The organization received a $75,000 grant from CIV:Lab, a climate change advocacy group, to run a solar energy training program. This will be an area where people can get a solar installation certificate from the North American Board of Certified Energy Professionals (NABCEP) and workplace safety training from the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Mental health services and banking services will also be available. There is also a focus on supporting people with different abilities.
"To give everybody a stake in this industry that they've been pretty much shut out of," Black said. "We want to include everyone in this industry."
The home will be energy efficient, powered by ultrasplit heat pumps and solar power installed by Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US, meaning no gas is used.
"The Eastlawn project is going to turn this neighborhood into a sunny neighborhood," Black said. "If something were to happen in that community, the community could come in and plug in their laptops and cell phones, and they'd have Wi-Fi and any emergency equipment."
When the house was first purchased from the Detroit Land Bank in 2021, it was flattened and the stairs, siding and foundation were in poor condition. When the Free Press visited on September 1, 2022, the door was marked with an "exit" sign.
A year later, on September 27, a new roof was put on the house, plumbing was repaired, windows were installed in the basement, and garbage was removed. But the window frames of the house were embroidered again. The Black Organization purchased and installed the windows in July, but three days later the windows were stolen from the home.
But companies and nonprofits believe in the project and its future impact. After the windows were stolen, the Black Farmers Foundation began donating $2,000 to replace the windows on the second floor. But the windows of the first floor still need to be replaced.
So far, the house has been demolished, windows have been installed in the basement and roof, improvements have been made and a veranda has been built. After the house's foundation is completely repaired, the children who work in the community treehouse will be able to learn from contractors and real estate agents. They will see how plumbers and carpenters work, and will be trained by electricians.
"It lets me know that there are people out there who care about what's happening to our environment, what we're doing while we're working with kids in the community," Black said. "These are people and businesses who care about our community."
Swart expects the home to be completed in the summer of 2024. He's still looking for a carpenter to dedicate time to the project, as well as someone to donate new plaster, remodel the kitchen and bathroom, and help with the basement. He will also redo the steps and have a carpenter create an ADA compliant wheelchair ramp. Solar panels will also be installed on the ground to power the house.
Merger of companies
Glass Block Express, a Detroit-based company owned by Sonny McCoy, donated six window blocks for the basement. The donation is approximately $2,000 to $2,500.
“Times are changing, the supply chain and the ability to provide services to people,” McCoy said. "But I think it's definitely going to be important to keep solving the problem, not being part of the problem, and certainly doing different projects."
Gulfeagle Supply is a national company with a branch in Sterling Heights. The company supplies the siding for the home and Sureteed is the siding manufacturer. The company also deals with wall insulation. The cost of the materials will be about 10,000 USD.
Charles Bauer, regional manager for Gulfeagle Supply in Michigan, hopes that the children involved in the community center renovation will be able to see that "this world is all about opportunity." Once served, they will be able to enjoy it.
"I'm glad there are people who will invest their time and effort to help the community," Power said.
Matt Ely of Ridgecon Inc., a Shelby-based roofing company. The co-owner of the company donated the roof, which was installed on the house last year. The company is donating about $8,000 in materials and labor.
While Ely walked around the house and took pictures of it, he later said the house was in a "really run down state" during the Sept. 1 interview. But he thinks it's a great way for kids to learn to make amends.
“It's really an opportunity for me to have a canvas to work on so these kids can put down new floorboards and start above ground when he finishes building the building behind him and the porch, and the kids will be plastering and plastering. ."
Riverbend Community Association President J. V. Henderson announced that his son's subsidiaries contributed to the diversification of projects with innovation, menu, home layout, development and visualization for holidays.
"Mrs. Black and I usually work well together," Henderson said. The house is next to it. “He said he was doing the project, so I told him we would support him and do it as much as we could, when we could, with whatever he might need.
Here are some of the companies, nonprofits, and individuals who have donated to the program:
The Adamo Group:
Corey Johnson
Lawn Care Sale
David Johnson II, pastor of the Covenant Kingdom Church
David true love
Express glass block
Gulf Eagle Delivery
Habitat for Humanity Volunteers
Hammond Climate Solutions Solar Moonshot Program
International Brotherhood of Electricians
Eastern Michigan Distribution Company
Lowe's Home Improvement
Ridgecon Incorporated
Riverbend Community Association
Terrell Wagner
Yo, snapback
Wayne Metro Community Action Agency
Wayne Bruce, climate activist
Building a better society
This is not Swart's only current project. In 2021, Black's nonprofit organization installed solar systems on 25 homes in the Jefferson Chalmers neighborhood.
"Not only does Jefferson Chalmers need sustainable renewable energy and help with environmental conservation, but other communities need it and don't know how to get it," Black said. "If we can work with J. along with other people in Henderson and other communities to do this in their communities, we would be very happy to do that."
Black is also building an actual public arboretum nearby. The tree-planting project was originally supposed to cost $300,000, but that amount ballooned to $700,000 due to supply chain shortages and high construction costs. The organization is $500,000 away from its goal. But if the price reaches another 135 thousand dollars, they plan to start construction.
"We have commitments this year that could bring us all of $500,000," Black said. "But we really want to have a fundraiser." He plans to try to get the city of Detroit to support the fundraiser, as well as the disability organizations he works with.
GM plans to support the organization, which will be an open community kitchen for cooking classes and pop-ups. The organization will also deliver food to the elderly twice a month.
Through all of his contributions to the city, Swart hopes to "carry the torch" to the next generation.
"If I can't leave a legacy for people who can do something positive after I'm gone, why am I here?" "That's why I said Communities Power solar is not about me," Black said. "I want to make at least 25 millionaires using the power of communities, young millionaires, so they can pass it on to the next young people."
This article was originally published in the Detroit Free Press.
