energy efficiency

Avoid winter woes with a little preparation

Avoid winter woes with a little preparation


Crisp air and colorful leaves. Family holidays. Hot cocoa. Snow days. There are plenty of reasons to get excited about fall and winter, but the return of high heating bills doesn’t make that list. There are several things you can do to make your home cozier and more efficient that don’t require any specialized read more...

A LEAP first: Auditing fraternity and sorority houses

A LEAP first: Auditing fraternity and sorority houses


When we were contacted by UVA’s Greener Housing Coalition (GHC) we were impressed. GHC is a University of Virginia student created and led organization dedicated to reducing the carbon footprint of off-grounds housing by working alongside students, renters, property owners, and community members in the Charlottesville area. The group started with an ambitious goal read more...

When the Power Goes Out

When the Power Goes Out


From the Desk of the Executive Director Losing power, especially when your home’s life-preserving systems are reliant on it, such as heating and cooling, is stressful. Many Virginians lost power during the early January storms – not just for 24 hours, but for multiple days, with near-freezing temperatures adding to the challenge. All of read more...

LEAP Utilizing City Workforce Development Grant to Train Time-Served Individuals and Serve Residents

LEAP Utilizing City Workforce Development Grant to Train Time-Served Individuals and Serve Residents


##PRESS RELEASE##For Immediate Release Over the last few months, the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) utilized funding from the City of Charlottesville’s Community Development Block Grant to support the development of its workforce. This included training two new hires as Retrofit Technicians, helping to weatherize local residents’ homes.  “LEAP’s operating budget is tight now, read more...

Musings on the Year Gone By (2021)

Musings on the Year Gone By (2021)


From the Desk of the Executive Director Reflecting on the majority of the year gone by, I’m cautiously optimistic about the new year. As society continues gaining tools to fight COVID-19, LEAP continues implementing new policies and programming to fight climate change and the excessive energy burden facing low-income households. In 2021, LEAP made read more...

LEAP Assists Piedmont Housing Alliance to Replace Old HVAC Systems

LEAP Assists Piedmont Housing Alliance to Replace Old HVAC Systems


##PRESS RELEASE##For Immediate Release Charlottesville, VA Just in time for the winter cold, the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) recently replaced 26 space heating and cooling systems (HVAC) at Monticello Vista and Virnita Courts in the City of Charlottesville. Replacing the apartment building systems will not only save the residents money on their individual read more...

AHIP, Dominion Energy, and LEAP Ramp Up Comfort for Charlottesville Mobile Home

AHIP, Dominion Energy, and LEAP Ramp Up Comfort for Charlottesville Mobile Home


##PRESS RELEASE##For Immediate Release Charlottesville, VA The Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP), Albemarle Housing Improvement Program (AHIP), and Dominion Energy’s EnergyShare program teamed up earlier this year to increase comfort and reduce the energy burden of a local home – and today they collaborated once again to make the home even more livable. Mary read more...

Changing Energy Markets Will Impact Virginia

Changing Energy Markets Will Impact Virginia


From the Desk of the Executive Director The news regarding the energy sector has moved from Texas blackouts, to power outages in Louisiana, to surging natural gas and power prices in the UK and Europe, to blackouts in China, and now to warnings about a likely expensive winter heating season caused by spiking natural read more...

Tree of Life Ministries, Dominion Energy, and the Local Energy Alliance Program Collaborate to Reduce Energy Burden in Transitional Housing

Tree of Life Ministries, Dominion Energy, and the Local Energy Alliance Program Collaborate to Reduce Energy Burden in Transitional Housing


##PRESS RELEASE## For Immediate Release Purcellville, VA The Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) and Dominion Energy have collaborated with Tree of Life Ministries (TOL) to increase comfort and reduce the energy burden of women participating in their transitional housing program. The women and their children living in the apartments provided to them by Tree read more...

Keep Cool Like a Wonk

Keep Cool Like a Wonk


From the Desk of the Executive Director I recently came back from a short trip to the UK (to attend my sister-in-law’s wedding), where the temperatures were much milder. Hot, humid, and uncomfortable late into the day seems to be most days in VA currently and is definitely what hit me as I stepped read more...