Red Cloud Renewable

TO ORGANIZE RENEWABLE ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE LIVING PROJECTS, AND PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL TRAINING FOR NATIVE AMERICANS AGROSS THE COUNTRY.

SUSTAINABLE AND AFFORDABLE HOMES (LAKOTA THIYUHA PROJECT): THE HOUSING CRISIS ON THE PINE RIDGE RESERVATION IS EXTREME. IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR UPWARDS OF A DOZEN FAMILY MEMBERS FROM MULTIPLE GENERATIONS TO LIVE IN A SINGLE TRAILER TOGETHER, MANY OF WHICH ARE LEFTOVER HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT UNITS FROM THE 1970S. IN ADDITION TO THE POOR QUALITY OF HOUSING AVAILABLE ON PINE RIDGE, AN ESTIMATED 4,000 NEW HOUSING UNITS ARE NEEDED FOR THE 35,000 TRIBAL RESIDENTS. THE PARTNERS OF THE ORGANIZATION AT INOURHANDS HAVE DEVELOPED A SUSTAINABLE AND AFFORDABLE HOME CONSTRUCTION DESIGN WHICH OFFERS 500 SQ FT OF LIVING SPACE AND CAN BE ERECTED IN 48 HOURS AND COMPLETELY FINISHED WITHIN TWO WEEKS. THESE INNOVATIVE DESIGNS ARE CONSTRUCTED USING "CELLULAR CONCRETE," WHICH MIXES 80% AIR WITH 20% CEMENT FOR A HYPER-EFFICIENT, HIGHLY-INSULATING, TORNADO-PROOF, HURRICANE-PROOF, PEST-PROOF, AND FIRE-PROOF HOME. THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM UNDER THE TITLE "LAKOTA THIYUHA PROJECT" EQUIPS INDIVIDUALS WITH THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE OF THIS DESIGN THROUGH HOME CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IN AND AROUND THE PINE RIDGE RESERVATION IN HOPES THAT THIS SUSTAINABLE AND AFFORDABLE "DOME HOME" DESIGN WILL REVOLUTIONIZE SOLUTIONS TO HOUSING CRISES EVERYWHERE.

HOME WEATHERIZATION: FAR TOO MANY HOMES ON THE PINE RIDGE RESERVATION, WHERE THE ORGANIZATION IS LOCATED, ARE IN POOR AND DILAPIDATED CONDITIONS. HOMEOWNERS REGULARLY SPEND UPWARDS OF $400 PER MONTH ON HEATING BILLS IN THE WINTER. ADDITIONALLY, THE COMMUNITY REGULARLY HEARS ABOUT A NEIGHBOR WHO SUCCUMBED TO THE EXTREME TEMPERATURES AND PASSED AWAY. THE ORGANIZATION, WITH HELP FROM VARIOUS PARTNERS, IS TRAINING ITS FIRST WEATHERIZATION CREW TO HELP ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. THE TRAINEES RECEIVE HUNDREDS OF HOURS OF TRAINING AND REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCE. THEY WORK WITH EXPERT PROFESSIONALS TO IDENTIFY THE BIGGEST INEFFICIENCIES AND NEEDS OF HOMES AND THEN SEAL-UP CRACKS, BLOW-INSULATION, AND INSTALL NEW ENERGY EFFICIENT APPLIANCES. THIS NOT ONLY HELPS BRING DIGNITY AND WELLBEING TO THE COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO SUPPORTS THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION OF REDUCING CARBON EMISSIONS AND ENCOURAGING THE COMMUNITY TOWARD ENERGY INDEPENDENCE THROUGH RENEWABLE ENERGY INIATIVES. THE TRAINEES WILL LEAVE THE PROGRAM WITH A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF HOME WEATHERIZATION AND THE ABILITY TO FIND EMPLOYMENT IN A VARIETY OF POSITIONS.

SOLAR ENERGY WORKFORCE EDUCATION (PRE-APPRENTICESHIP READINESS PROGRAM): NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY PARTICIPATE IN THREE WEEK COURSES AT OUR RED CLOUD RENEWABLE ENERGY CENTER (RCREC). THIS CENTER IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND, AS A LIVE-IN RENEWABLE ENERGY WORKFORCE TRAINING CENTER LOCATED ON A TRIBAL RESERVATION. THIS PROGRAM OFFERS A MIXTURE OF CLASSROOM AND HANDS-ON LEARNING, WITH OUR MOCK ROOF AND FUNCTIONING STAND-ALONE SOLAR PANELS. GRADUATES OF THIS PROGRAM RECEIVE COURSEWORK TO PREPARE THEM FOR THE NABCEP CERTIFICATION, AS WELL AS FUTURE "UPSKILLING" OPPORTUNITIES, IN WHICH THEY CAN PARTICIPATE IN A REAL SOLAR PANEL INSTALLATION ON A TRIBAL MEMBER'S HOME FOR CAREER DEVELOPMENT AND EXPERIENCE. THESE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CLASSES ARE COMPLETELY FUNDED BY SCHOLARSHIPS FOR NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENTS WHO TRAVEL FROM FAR AND WIDE SEEKING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AND CAREER TRAINING.