Letter to my future self (post 1)

Dear Timothy in the future,

Hello and welcome to your summer in Detroit! By this point, I am done with my first few days on the job and can say I am becoming more acclimated to the atmosphere and dynamic of the EcoWorks organization; I am very excited to see where the summer takes me. For the most part, my tasks and duties are well defined, although the exact structure and schedule are seeming to operate on a looser timeframe. My job this summer is going to be working with Community Energy Management – working with different organizations on strategies for implementation and financing of different energy saving projects (energy efficiency, clean energy, etc.) As for my supervisors and coworkers, everyone has been really friendly and have been helpful in answering any questions I’ve had. I know coming into the program I was slightly worried about the transition to an office type setting; this is my first experience working in this kind of environment, but so far the transition has been for the most part smooth.

I hope this summer gives me a lot of great experience in the field that I can use going forward. Reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions is a particular interest and passion of mine, but I am finding more how truly important the economic side of this work is. Every increase in efficiency directly correlates to increased savings, which considering the economic profile of the area, is critical. On my second day, I got to go on a site visit where we did an assessment of a resident’s water bill and were able to provide more efficient equipment as well as provide information for a free replacement of their dated refrigerator. Not only will this save water and electricity, but also save the resident a lot on their monthly bill. Seeing their reaction to these changes shows how tangible and important the results are.

I’ve been reading about the revitalization of Detroit for years without having a real chance to experience it. Living in Midtown and close to Downtown means I will be able to explore all the great things the city has to offer; however, working out by 7 Mile reminds me that this breath of fresh air is not equally distributed across the city. While I am still excited to see all the cool new things within the city, one must remember that this growth comes at a cost to the residents who have stayed and stuck out the storm. I think it is important to integrate myself into the city this summer while remaining respectful of those who call it home.

See you on the other side,
Timothy from right now