Partner Spotlight: Community Housing Partners
Virginia Energy Sense recently connected with Everett Brubaker at Community Housing Partners (CHP) to learn how his organization is helping Virginia families save energy. The exchange has been lightly edited for clarity.
Tell us a little about CHP’s energy efficiency efforts.
CHP Energy Solutions, a division of CHP, provides no-cost energy efficiency and home improvements for qualifying renters and homeowners across the Commonwealth. Additionally, the CHP Energy Solutions Research and Training Center trains and certifies thousands of weatherization and energy professionals across the United States. Since 1999, the Training Center has reached more than 50,000 students across the United States, Canada, and Latin America.
How is sustainability woven into CHP’s mission and operations?
Sustainability has been at the heart of CHP’s mission since our establishment in 1975. We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit working to create homes and communities that are healthy, sustainable, and affordable. We integrate environmentally conscious and sustainable design and construction practices into all our multifamily development efforts and are dedicated to implementing operational practices that minimize our environmental impact. We have also pledged as an organization to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions through both the Better Climate™ Challenge and the Better Buildings® Challenge.
How does CHP’s work help Virginians reduce their energy consumption?
In addition to providing sustainable development and innovative partnerships — like our shared solar agreement with Dominion Energy — to help our residents reduce their energy consumption, CHP Energy Solutions serves four distinct localities across Virginia as a Weatherization Assistance Program provider. Established in the 1970s, this federal weatherization program helps age- and income-qualifying households reduce their energy consumption and increase the energy efficiency, healthfulness, and safety of their homes. Alongside more-recent utility-sponsored energy efficiency programs, CHP Energy Solutions reduces the energy burden of thousands of households every year across the Commonwealth. This work is especially important for vulnerable residents and those in high-energy-burden housing, including elderly or disabled residents; those living in older buildings, multifamily properties, or mobile homes; and those who are part of historically marginalized and disadvantaged communities. CHP Energy Solutions partners with individuals, organizations, contractors, and localities across the Commonwealth to ensure that these programs reach the households that need them most.
How can Virginians get involved with CHP?
To see whether you, a family member, or a client qualifies for these programs, call our team at 888-229-3714 or visit the CHP Weatherization webpage.