For one Norfolk family, home should have been a place of comfort and stability. Instead, years of dealing with a failing HVAC system, rising energy bills, and inconsistent temperatures had made daily life more challenging.
As a Navy veteran, husband, and father, Angel Santos wanted a better living environment for his family but was unsure where to turn for help. After researching available resources, he connected with CHP Energy Solutions and Dominion Energy’s EnergyShare Program, opening the door to a life-changing opportunity.
Through Dominion Energy’s EnergyShare Program, CHP Energy Solutions conducted a comprehensive energy audit and developed a plan to improve comfort, safety, and efficiency. CHP then contacted one of its trusted contractors, Advanced Energy Solutions (AES). The AES team installed a variety of energy-saving measures, including a new heat pump, replacement of electric baseboard heaters, a new thermostat, HVAC air filters, air sealing improvements, floor insulation, LED lighting upgrades, a water heater tank wrap, a refrigerator replacement, and carbon monoxide detectors.
In total, the project provided $23,731 in upgrades to the Santos family’s home, with estimated annual savings of $1,561 and an estimated annual reduction in energy use of 9,187 kilowatt-hours. These improvements were designed to reduce energy consumption, lower utility costs, enhance safety, and provide lasting comfort for the family.
“We’re so appreciative of this program and everyone who came out today to help our family,” Santos said. “And we can’t wait for a lower utility bill!”
For years, the family lived with the challenges of an aging and unreliable HVAC system, rising energy costs, and inconsistent temperatures throughout their home. What may seem like everyday inconveniences can create significant stress for families trying to maintain a safe and comfortable living environment.
Thanks to the EnergyShare Program, the family now has access to reliable heating and cooling, improved insulation, energy-efficient appliances, and enhanced safety measures that will provide lasting benefits. More than just reducing energy usage, these improvements offer greater peace of mind and help create a healthier, more comfortable home where the family can focus on what matters most.
A Volunteer Effort
But this project was about more than energy efficiency. On the day of the project, employees from Dominion Energy and CHP Energy Solutions volunteered their time to help improve the exterior of the home. Working side by side, volunteers created new landscape islands in the front yard and planted a variety of shrubs and flowers to enhance the property’s appearance and create a more welcoming environment. In the backyard, volunteers transformed a worn patio area by raising and leveling it with pavers, helping eliminate a tripping hazard while creating a safer and more attractive outdoor gathering space for the family.
At the same time, crews from AES continued installing energy-efficiency measures throughout the home, ensuring that both the inside and outside of the property reflected the investment being made in the family’s future. “The most rewarding part of this work is knowing that, through our partnership with Dominion Energy and CHP, we’re helping families build a more comfortable and affordable future,” said David Alexander of AES.
The project highlighted how each partner brought unique strengths to the effort. Dominion Energy provided resources through its EnergyShare Program, CHP Energy Solutions delivered program management and weatherization expertise, AES completed critical upgrades, and employee volunteers contributed their own time and effort to improve the property.
For CHP Energy Solutions, projects like this underscore the importance of strong partnerships in addressing the needs of vulnerable households. Every day, families across Virginia face difficult choices between paying utility bills and meeting other essential needs. Programs like EnergyShare help bridge that gap by providing meaningful improvements that reduce energy burdens, improve health and safety, and create more comfortable living environments.
The effort also received support through a broader community partnership involving the Cousinz Festival. While local leaders, community members, and festival founders Pusha T and Fam-Lay helped bring awareness to the importance of these initiatives, the true success story remained centered on the family whose home was transformed through the project. (Download the full Energy Solutions case study on this initiative.)
Founded in 1975, Community Housing Partners (CHP) provides quality-built, responsibly managed, service-enriched homes for low-income individuals and families across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Through its mission to create homes and communities that are healthy, sustainable, and affordable, CHP has been a leading advocate of affordable housing development for 50 years. CHP’s activities include real estate development, construction, energy services and training, asset management, property management, realty and homeownership, and comprehensive resident services.