Update:
Elder Jerome Johnson has passed away.
We are taken aback with sadness. There was no support for his plight in continuing to do community work. He was very angry going thru the ageing process, and his dream of building community was deferred, and ignored. It is so sad how so many elders are treated. Especially, elders like Mr. Johnson who gave so much. His wish was to have the solar house made into a museum.
Jerome Johnson is 86 years of age. He exemplifies our society’s disregard towards our ageing population. How our ageing population is treated and ignored. As throwaway items in society. Where elder citizens are told you are old and youth is new). They are not appreciated, and their life long work is disrespected and in many cases seen as irrelevant.
Mr. Johnson is a People’s pioneer in how-to create and invent for the everyday citizen and community. He developed the solar cooker in the 70s, and created a demonstration community solar house for the East Flatbush community in Brooklyn.
On Sundays starting in the 80s visitors would come to the Johnson Energy Clinic and Cooperative to learn homesteading and sustainable development. The house is listed as a museum by Community Board 17.
His solar house is being sold from up under him by water bills that do not exist and taxes. He has been catching rain water since the 1980s.
His story is unique, and very timely in that his skills are what we are in need of now in building sustainable communities, urban homesteading, self and community empowerment development, and self- reliance.
His story, his life, a
link between the 70s movement in solar energy conservation. "What did
happen to the 70s solar energy movement, and how did it disappear? As
many young people today think solar renewable energy is something new. And how
was this movement derailed, and the importance in making the historical connection
to solar energy, community know how, etc.
It is sad to be living
in a City (NYC), that claims to be Senior-friendly, while many poor elderly
homeowners are losing their homes to predators.
It is sad again that the life time achievements of our elderly citizens, their knowledge, and usefulness is not appreciated or given outlets to be shared and appreciate. Mr. Johnson’s life history is a wealth of knowledge and experience. Which he freely shares with community about energy conservation, and urban homesteading, etc. for decades.
He is under extreme stress. It is taking a toll on his well-being. It is extremely difficult for someone 86 years old to take on the system with very little support and resources. What he wants most is for his story to be told, detail by detail, how the system works against Elderly poor home owners. And for his solar house to become a museum.
Our seniors, our
elders are valuable assets. This is where our oral history resides.
You can reach me at belrivers@gmail.com.
The marshals are
schedule to evict him in December, 2016.
AGE SHOULD BE ADDED VALUE!
He enjoys sharing and teaching people and his East Flatbush Community in Brooklyn, how to improve and be Self Sufficient and community Sustainable Development.
AGE SHOULD BE ADDED VALUE!
He enjoys sharing and teaching people and his East Flatbush Community in Brooklyn, how to improve and be Self Sufficient and community Sustainable Development.
Jerome Johnson, he is an innovator, and an entrepreneur that uses a do-it
yourself approach to using the power of natural energy to conserve energy. He
harnesses solar power. His home is the first New York City solar-conscious home
in the City, in the East Flatbush section of Brooklyn. he built a do-it
yourself Green home, an energy efficient home model.
His John-Sun-House is a museum. It opened as a research
center in the 70s, called the Johnson Energy Clinic and Cooperative. He held
community workshops during the 1970s energy crisis in
energy conservation. During the 70s there was a renewable energy renaissance
during the oil crises. The house is retrofitted to harness solar energy. He
founded the Johnson Solar Energy Cooperative in 1979.
Jerome Johnson purchased his home in the East Flatbush section
of Brooklyn, New York in 1961. He built the first historic solar home in the
70s. He lived in the house until the 70s until the neighborhood experienced a
rise in crime. He then turned the house into a workshop and research center. He
called the house "John-Sun-House". The house is located at 436 East
53rd Street in Brooklyn, New York. He has no running water since . He collects
rainwater that is collected from his rooftop. He was motivated to create the
Sun house due to the 70s energy crises to start a community research center
where innovations for energy conservation can be used and discussed.
Innovations
·
Reflective wallpaper
on ceilings to refract heat from electric lights
·
Reflective
umbrella-like device that diffuses light
·
Sky lights made from
plastic lids
Legal Battle
The City of New York He has challenged the city
in regards to a water bill. The City of New York claims that he has unpaid
water bills. His says that he has not used City water in over 30 years. He says
that his water supply was shut off in 1982.
EXTERNAL LINKS:
Hello linda. How do we contact Mr Johnson
ReplyDeleteSadly he has been gone for a while. I hope the house and his legacy will remain.
ReplyDelete