There is more than one way to mitigate heat inside Texas prisons. Here’s a message I sent to Reps Sherman and Canales, the two elected officials who have advocated most strongly for humane prison conditions.
PRISON HEAT – A PROPOSAL
“My home does not include a carport or garage. Not enough shade either. So when I get in my car these days, the steering wheel can get so hot I don’t want to touch it, not to mention the temperature inside. If I had a carport, the heat issue would go way down. And building a carport is a lot cheaper than building a garage.
Prisons are like cars in the Texas sun…..way overheated. So let’s explore the idea of a prison port. TDCJ has the knowledge, manpower and facilities to construct a secondary roof that would act like a carport. Some design work would be needed to retrofit prisons with a prisonport. Once the structure is fabricated and installed by TDCJ residents, it would be covered with solar panels. Thus in addition to providing shade for a building, electricity would be generated to that has obvious use.
My guess is an architect/engineering firm could be found to donate the required specifications. It’s worth exploring whether a solar panel company might be willing to provide the panels, other parts, and installation at cost, or a marginal profit as a public service.(maybe even a tax break!) Select TDCJ residents could be simultaneousl;y trained in solar panel installation.
We all know something needs to change. Ideally it would be done at a limited cost to taxpayers. This proposal has the potential to provide some serious heat mitigation plus other benefits. It’s time to think outside the box!
Your relentless advocacy for providing TDCJ residents with humane living conditions is greatly appreciated by residents and their family and friends!!!”