Enterprise Home Ownership Partners (EHOP), a program sponsored by Enterprise Community Partners that provides affordable housing to low- and moderate- income first-time homebuyers, showcased the first house retrofitted with photovoltaic panels (solar panels), ceiling and under floor insulation and a tankless water heater through the new Green Grant program designed for homeowners in unincorporated East Los Angeles.
Through Community Development Block Grant funds allocated to the First Supervisorial District, EHOP was granted $600,000 from Los Angeles County Superintendent Gloria Molina to help low-income homeowners in her district to rehabilitate their homes with energy-efficient improvements at no cost to the resident.
"This fantastic program makes greening your home affordable," says Supervisor Molina. "Many homeowners are quite willing to install photovoltaic units — but the cost is simply prohibitive. Through this program, we hope to eliminate that financial impediment and get more homeowners to 'go green'."
After a qualified resident has applied and been allotted a Green Grant, the home is inspected to determine whether the solar panels, ceiling and under floor installation or the tankless water heater would offer the most energy-efficient benefit.
"EHOP has served Los Angeles families with limited resources by helping them achieve homeownership opportunities," says William Jones, director of EHOP — Los Angeles. "With this Green Grant, however, we can help those same families save up to 50 percent on their energy bills and that will keep more of their resources in their households."
Enterprise in Los Angeles is leading the way in assisting to build sustainable, environmentally-friendly and affordable homes through different programs and initiatives. This installation will mark the 50th solar installation completed overall by Enterprise in the Los Angeles region.
