LEAP partners with Piedmont Housing Alliance to Upgrade Woods Edge Apartments

February 13, 2018

LEAP at Woods Edge — Ryan Van Patten, Solar Program Manager/Building Analyst and Wilson Ratliff, Technical Director

Another Piedmont Housing Alliance property is receiving energy efficiency upgrades from a local partner, the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP). On a cold and wet winter’s day, Wilson Ratliff and Ryan Van Patten are warming up the inside of Woods Edge, a senior living community comprised of 97 one- and two-bedroom units in Albemarle County, replacing old, incandescent light bulbs with new, energy efficient LED light bulbs and installing energy-saving faucet aerators and shower heads in every apartment. LEAP, who has been serving our community for over nine years, works together with businesses and homeowners to implement energy efficient technologies that promote cost savings typically around 30%.

“Everyone here at Woods Edge has been very friendly and nice to work with,” said Wilson, LEAP’s technical director. Wilson has performed hundreds of energy audits and spent more than three years helping diverse clients.

LEAP has worked with Piedmont Housing Alliance to implement many different energy upgrades including new attic insulation and air sealing at its Crozet Meadows community, and new hot water pipe insulation, water-saving features, and new LED light bulbs at Monticello Vista Apartments in Charlottesville. These cost-saving methods align with Piedmont Housing Alliance’s affordable housing mission and also help the environment.

LEAP at Woods Edge 2 — Ryan replaces the old light bulbs in the bathroom with newer energy efficient LEDs.

We are very grateful for our partnership and the work completed by LEAP at our properties as we strive to provide our residents and the community with the most affordable, comfortable, and sustainable housing options. Doing our part in local climate action and working towards energy solutions makes the Charlottesville area an even better place to raise our families and grow our businesses. To learn more about LEAP, visit https://leap-va.org/. There is also a non-profit in Charlottesville called C3 that is passionate about helping educate households and businesses on how to take meaningful steps that help reduce climate pollution. To learn more about them, visit: https://www.cvilleclimate.org/