Virginia nonprofit LEAP celebrates 1,000 home energy upgrades

Last week, we reported on Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP), a nonprofit energy services organization based in Virginia that helps fund cost-effective home inspections and green technology renovations for local property owners. According to a March 31 article from Charlottesville Tomorrow, a regional news outlet, LEAP recently celebrated its 1,000-home milestone. 

For three years now, the program has been giving homeowners an opportunity to save significant amounts of money on their monthly utility bills. Wendy Roberman and Ted Millich, recipients of one of the organization's first audits, told the source that they are paying less each month and living in a more comfortable house thanks to the help of the folks at LEAP.

"There are a lot of people overpaying on their energy bills and there are little things they can do to save significantly. We find many homeowners know nothing about the internal systems in their house," said  Rebecca Cardwell of the University of Virginia Community Credit Union, one of LEAP's financial partners. "Its amazing how many people don't know how to change their filters, or even where they are, and that's the No. 1 maintenance item. The big thing is saving money. We want them to take that savings and put it into their retirement."

Going forward, LEAP has plans to implement a new program to ensure that the air quality inside Virginia residences is not only energy-efficient, but provides a healthy living environment for individuals who suffer from allergies and asthma.

If you're interested in making energy-efficient upgrades to your home, you'll be happy to hear that the state of Maryland provides multiple rebate offerings, including those from Pepco and Potomac Edison, which make the initial implementation more cost-effective. To get started, contact a home inspection contractor to perform an energy audit.