Equity and climate
Bringing Climate Solutions to Our Community
Caetano de Campos Lopes asks Southwood residents about the rising cost of energy bills
Ensuring an equitable transition to clean energy and a sustainable future means addressing the needs of all members of our community. That’s why our C3 team aims to infuse inclusion, diversity, and equity into each of our programs and our policy work. From convening social justice groups to engaging communities where they are, our team strives to listen to the needs of all community members and works to increase access to climate action.
Uncovering Energy Inequity
The Community Climate Collaborative sought to understand which neighborhoods in Charlottesville, Virginia, are most at risk of bearing unsustainable energy costs, and what key factors must be considered when advancing energy equity in the City. By closely examining energy burden levels, important energy inequities were uncovered and paths for equitably tackling climate change and the housing crisis started to take a clearer shape. Check out the key findings of our report and how we are embarking on community dialogue and partnerships to alleviate these disparities on our webpage dedicated to this topic.
Solutions Exist
VEEP Program
C3 and the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) along with the Charlottesville Housing Authority teamed up to develop The Housing Voucher and Energy Efficiency Program (VEEP). This pilot program offers financial incentives to landlords who accept housing vouchers to make energy efficient upgrades to their rental properties, in turn, creating more rental options for families with housing vouchers and lowering their energy costs. Read more about this housing and energy efficiency initiative on our blog. Interested in participating in this pilot program? Visit LEAP’s website to request more information.
WEATHERIZATION PROGRAM
Our community partner LEAP (the Local Energy Alliance Program) and the City of Charlottesville provide weatherization services such as weatherstripping and adding attic insulation for income-qualifying households. These energy efficiency upgrades can help reduce energy bills. Learn more at LEAP Weatherization Services for Income-Qualifying Households.
Better Business Challenge Mini-Grants
Leslie Gourdet of LG’s Elixirs (2019 Grant Recipient) using his new Energy Star dishwasher to recycle his Elixir bottles.
In partnership with the ACE program at the City of Charlottesville’s Economic Development Office, C3 is proud to support the sustainability efforts of small, lower-income business owners in the City of Charlottesville through our mini-grants program. These grants are awarded to businesses participating in the Better Business Challenge to support sustainable business practices that would otherwise not be possible due to financial constraints. To learn more about the mini-grants or how to become a Better Business Challenge participant, Email Us!
Climate Connections
Jeanette Abi-Nader, Executive Director of Cultivate Charlottesville sees the connection between food justice and climate.
Climate change affects people across all areas of our community. C3 believes that highlighting these connections can serve to bridge the gap between climate and social justice through photography and storytelling, bringing lived experiences into a relatable light. In partnership with the talented local Charlottesville artist, Lilly Bechtel, we are building awareness of how climate impacts are connected to our homes, our work, our food, and our community. Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to see these Climate Connections.