Frequently Asked Questions

The Organization

• What is LEAP?

The Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP) is a community-based non-profit in Central Virginia that provides local residents and property owners with a one-stop shop of who to call, what to do, and how to pay for it when it comes to creating a more comfortable, efficient and affordable home or building.

LEAP’s mission is to lead the effort in our local community to conserve water and energy in buildings and promote cost savings, job creation, sustainability, local economic development and environmental stewardship. Through financing and the bundling of existing incentives from all levels of government and local utilities, LEAP helps home and building owners invest in efficiency.

• What is the “Alliance” element of LEAP?

Fundamental to the LEAP model is an alliance of key stakeholders in the community. LEAP’s Governance Board includes representatives from: the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Dominion Power, University of Virginia, and Piedmont Virginia Community College. The Technical Advisory Committee, Nonprofit Advisory Committee and Municipal Advisory Committee also ensure the voice of contractors, area non-profits and local government staff are represented.

• What counties does LEAP serve?

LEAP services the City of Charlottesville and the surrounding counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson.

• When was LEAP started?

LEAP was formed in 2009 and launched the Home Performance with Energy Star program for homeowners in 2010.

• What was the Home Energy Makeover Contest and will there be another?

The Home Energy Makeover Contest was held in the summer of 2010. More than 1,100 homeowners in the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County entered the contest. Ten finalists were selected to receive free home energy performance assessments valued at $400, and the two winning families received “energy makeovers” valued at up to $10,000 each. LEAP does not currently have plans to run the same contest, but there will be plenty of opportunities for homeowners to take advantage of other contests and deals. Learn more about the Home Energy Makeover Contest.

• How is LEAP involved with the Home Energy Score pilot program?

In November 2010, Vice President Biden convened a meeting of the administration’s Middle Class Task Force during which he announced the Department of Energy’s innovative Home Energy Score program, similar to the miles-per-gallon label for cars. The Greater Charlottesville region was selected as one of just 10 communities nationwide to test out and improve the program in the coming months before it is rolled out nationally. LEAP will administer the pilot. Learn more.

• Is LEAP part of local government?

No. LEAP is a separate, non-profit organization that works closely with the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County. LEAP’s start-up capital came from a $500,000 competitive grant initially awarded to the City and County from the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance. City and County elected officials both sit on LEAP’s Governance Board.

• Is LEAP affiliated with a political party?

No. LEAP is a non-partisan, non-profit organization. People of all political persuasions and income levels live and work in buildings. Energy efficiency has been embraced by Virginia’s Republican Governor McDonnell and Democratic President Obama. Conserving energy, saving money, and improving the health and durability of our homes is just a smart investment.

• Where does LEAP get its funding?

LEAP’s start-up capital came from a $500,000 competitive grant initially awarded to the City and County from the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA). Recognizing the multitude of advantages to having a third-party entity serve as an independent operating company for the implementation of energy efficiency, the City and County created a Memorandum of Understanding which gave SEEA the authority to award the grant dollars instead to a worthy organization: LEAP.

Recently LEAP was awarded two grants to help low-income residents – one for multifamily housing from the Department of Energy and one for single family City homeowners from the City of Charlottesville. LEAP has received approximately $1 million in stimulus funding through the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, almost all of which will go back to the taxpayer through rebates.

The Work

• When and how can I get a home energy performance assessment (sometimes known as an “energy audit”) and home energy improvements for my home?

LEAP can help you get started today. Learn more.

• Are there incentives or rebates I can access?


Yes, there are! Please visit this page for more information.

• What kind of financing does LEAP offer?


LEAP is excited by the loan products we have developed with the University of Virginia Community Credit Union. Learn more about the Green $ense lending program.

• I'm a contractor and want to participate in this program - what do I need to do?


Contact LEAP to find out more information. There is a pre-qualification process, and for energy auditors, a Building Performance Institute Building Analyst certification requirement.

• What is the cost and payback period for common energy efficiency measures?

Cost and payback have everything to do with the size of your home and how you interact with it. Some folks replace an inefficient refrigerator with an ENERGY STAR model and then move the old one to the basement or garage and plug it in there. Ultimately, this will not do much to help their bills! Nor will installing the home energy improvements and increasing or decreasing the thermostat temperature relative to where you usually set it. That being said, air and duct sealing, adding attic insulation, and upgrading a major mechanical system like a furnace or heat pump can cost around $8000 before rebates or other incentives. Payback for a full retrofit can be as short as 5 - 6 years depending on how high your energy bills were to begin with.

• How does energy efficiency help economic development or create jobs here locally?

Retrofitting a home for energy performance cannot be off-shored or out-sourced. It has to be done here locally and thus the money which pays for it likely stays in our community, much like the money saved on utility bills will as well. When local residents are getting paid a living wage to do valuable work or can put more of their already hard-earned dollars in their bank accounts, they are more likely to spend it at local businesses, thus increasing the prosperity for us all.

• How can commercial property owners get involved?

LEAP is developing a commercial program for launch in early 2011. Email us to let us know of your interest and we will be back in touch with details soon.

• How can renters get involved?

LEAP periodically offers low and no cost home energy improvements seminars, which are great for renters as well as homeowners to attend. Sign up for our e-newsletter to be alerted when the next free seminar is announced.

• How do I find a LEAP-certified contractor?

Click here to view our list of participating contractors.

• If I do the home energy performance assessment but don’t follow through with the retrofit, can I still get a rebate on the audit?

LEAP offers the rebates for the audit only after a work order has been signed with a LEAP-certified contractor.

• What are some simple things I can do to make my home more energy efficient?

Check out this interactive graphic created by ENERGY STAR for tips on improving your home’s energy performance. While the do-it-yourself measures are important, LEAP encourages all homeowners to take a “whole house” approach where you analyze the costs and benefits of specific actions and develop a prioritized plan of action in consultation with specialists.