March 2, 2016

Floyd, Virginia is a naturally beautiful and culturally vibrant community, beloved but also sometimes cursed by residents for its four full seasons that can bring both extreme heat in the summer and bone-chilling temperatures in the winter.

William Simpson, age 87, has been calling the area home since 1974 when he relocated there for work.

“We came here and fell in love with the location; the scenery is very pretty and the people are friendly,” explained Simpson.

What Simpson was not as enthusiastic about were repairs and updates needed on his one-level home, which he moved into two years ago. “I noticed that there were some important ways that this home could be improved,” said Simpson of the circa 1958 house. Simpson, however, was on a fixed-income and not able to take care of some of the needed work.

Fortunately, Simpson met a woman in his community who connected him with CHP’s Weatherization team.  He learned that he qualified for CHP’s weatherization services, which are provided to low-income households such as his own at no cost to the customer. Through the federally-funded Weatherization Assistance Program administered by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, CHP’s weatherization services reduce energy costs for individuals and families by improving the energy efficiency of their homes, while also assessing and eliminating related health and safety issues.

At Simpson’s home, CHP was able to insulate the attic, add insulation underneath the house, and insulate around the doors.  They were also able to replace the furnace, which is something Simpson said was very important to him.

“You could definitely feel the difference in the house after they were here,” Simpson remarked. “It made a big difference. It’s quite warm inside even when it’s cold outside.” Simpson also said he looks forward to the summer months, which he expects will be more comfortable now that the house is better insulated.

When Simpson was asked if he would recommend the program to others, Simpson said, “I would tell people to jump at the opportunity! To have a company like CHP come and make improvements to your home is just like a gift.”