NeighborWorks America Congratulates ENERGY STAR Winners
Washington, D.C – April 22, 2011 – (RealEstateRama) — Today NeighborWorks® America, one of the largest community development corporations in the country, joined the Environmental Protection Agency in applauding the outstanding work done by Community Housing Partners of Christiansburg, Va., and Coachella Valley Housing Coalition of Indio, Calif., for excellence in green housing and community development. Both organizations are members of the NeighborWorks network and are involved in the NeighborWorks Green Initiative for healthy and sustainable communities.
“Coachella Valley Housing Coalition and Community Housing Partners are incredible organizations with clear focus on improving the lives of the families they serve, and at the same time are leaders in the deployment of energy efficient home building and rehab strategies,” said Tom Deyo, NeighborWorks America Director of Real Estate, Community Stabilization and Green Programs.
Coachella Valley Housing Coalition (Indio Calif.) received an ENERGY STAR Award for Excellence from the EPA for its commitment to making housing more affordable for low-income families by constructing ENERGY STAR qualified homes and retrofitting existing housing with ENERGY STAR qualified products. Key accomplishments include:
- Constructing 45 ENERGY STAR qualified affordable single-family homes in 2010 and beginning the development of 205 additional homes, all of which are expected to earn the ENERGY STAR.
- Installing appliances–such as refrigerators, air conditioners, dishwashers, and clothes washers–that have earned the ENERGY STAR in 271 units in two new affordable housing developments.
- Replacing existing appliances with products that have earned the ENERGY STAR in over 80 percent of its rental developments.
- Educating housing clients on the benefits of energy efficiency and how to successfully utilize ENERGY STAR qualified products through post-purchase classes for homeowners and instruction from property management for renters.
Community Housing Partners (Christiansburg, Va.) received an ENERGY STAR Award for Sustained Excellence, recognizing the organization for a sustained commitment to reducing the household energy costs of low-income families. Key accomplishments include:
- Helping low-income families save money through energy efficiency by weatherizing more than 900 homes using ENERGY STAR qualified appliances and equipment in 2010.
- Developing 245 ENERGY STAR qualified low-rise multifamily affordable housing units in 2010–a 36 percent increase over 2009–as well as 10 single-family ENERGY STAR qualified homes which were sold to income qualified homebuyers.
- Providing all CHP clients–homebuyers and renters–a “green” maintenance manual that explains how to maintain energy-efficient features in their homes, how to save money on energy costs, and how to reduce their carbon footprint.
- Opening a state-of-the-art training facility in Virginia, where over 2,800 housing professionals from 17 states received energy efficiency training during the first 9 months of operation.
- Installing ENERGY STAR qualified products in all developments, both new construction and substantial rehab since 2003.
About NeighborWorks America
NeighborWorks® America creates opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated $20 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation’s leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.
Contact:
Erin Collins, 202-220-6317,
Douglas Robinson, 202-220-2360,
