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Why ecoSEMS Outperforms Traditional BMS Platforms
Cass Community Social Services is one of Detroit’s most respected nonprofits, known for providing housing, food, and job programs to underserved communities. For decades, Cass has stretched every dollar to deliver dignity and hope to the city’s most vulnerable residents.
But soaring electricity costs began to threaten that mission:
- In 2023, electricity averaged $0.16/kWh, with annual bills nearly $95,000.
- By 2024, rates climbed to $0.22/kWh, pushing costs past $130,000 a jump of more than 35% in a single year.
For an organization dedicated to people, not utilities, this escalation was unsustainable. Added to that were peak demand penalties and the constant threat of brownouts from Detroit’s aging grid.
Cass needed a game-changing energy solution, one that would stabilize costs, build resiliency, and reflect their values of sustainability and community leadership.
Cass Community Social Services first approached Ecojiva in early 2024 with a vision for clean energy.
Ecojiva implemented two groundbreaking solar projects for Cass Community Social Services:
Project 1 - 54 kW Solar Carport [Location: 2015 Webb St ]
Completed: Year 2024
- Dual Purpose: This solar carport not only generates power but also provides shaded, weather-protected parking for Cass staff and visitors.
- Community-Centric Design: Adds visible, functional infrastructure that symbolizes Detroit’s transition to a cleaner, smarter energy future.
- Energy Independence: Reduces reliance on the grid, lowers utility costs, and cuts exposure to demand charges and penalties.
Project 2 -86 kW Vertical Wall-Mount Solar System
[Location: 11745 Ross Parks Blvd]
Completed: Year 2025
a. First-of-its-kind in Detroit: This bold vertical wall-mounted solar array transforms the Cass Community World Building into a showcase of renewable energy and urban design.
b. Space Optimization: By leveraging unused wall space, Cass gains clean energy without sacrificing roof capacity or ground area.
c. Resiliency: The vertical orientation helps shed snow and withstand Michigan’s harsh winters while producing consistent energy year-round.
Cass Community Social Services and Ecojiva have proven that clean energy and social service go together. By embracing innovative solar solutions Detroit’s first wall-mounted array and a multi-purpose solar carport. Cass is not just reducing costs but inspiring a movement toward sustainability in the heart of Detroit.
Gratitude to Our Donors & Leadership
At Ecojiva, we recognize that visionary projects are never achieved alone.
This milestone would not have been possible without the generosity of donors who believed in bringing clean, reliable energy to Detroit’s communities. Their support is fueling not just solar panels, but hope, resilience, and long-term impact.
We extend our deepest gratitude to Rev. Faith Fowler, Executive Director of Cass Community Social Services, whose leadership at Cass Community Social Services continues to inspire. Her unwavering belief in renewable energy as both a social justice tool and a sustainability strategy has spearheaded this initiative and set a bold example for Detroit and beyond.
Together with donors, Cass leadership, and our Ecojiva team we have transformed a vision into reality. These projects stand as living proof that when community and innovation unite, we can build a cleaner, stronger future.
