Collaboration Connects LexHAB Tenants to Energy Savings
And Supports Local Business
LexHAB tenants gathered at the Community Center for the first annual Tenant Appreciation Event in December to receive a bundle of goodies from local businesses and learn about programs to reduce energy costs while increasing environmental sustainability. The event was a unique collaboration among a wide variety of local organizations including local foundations, local businesses, nonprofits, volunteers, and town departments.
A grant from the Community Endowment of Lexington enabled LexHAB to provide each household a gift bag containing a ceramic house ornament made by a local artist, a $30 gift certificate to any local business member of the Lexington Chamber of Commerce as well as gift certificates to the Lexington Farmer’s Market and LexFarm’s local community farm store. In addition, Cambridge Savings Bank donated $20 gift certificates to Stop and Shop for every household member- a gift totaling over $4,000. Further community contributions included information on LexEat Together’s free meal delivery program for all Lexington residents and student volunteers from LABBB Collaborative at Lexington High School who assembled the gift bags for each household. Stop and Shop donated baked goods for the event and Sustainable Lexington provided reusable cups and containers. The event was a true community collaboration!
In addition to the gifts, tenants learned how to save money on their energy bills with an information session on available winter heating bill assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP); reduced energy rates through Eversource and National Grid; cheaper, greener electricity options through Lexington’s Community Choice Program; and further cost saving opportunities with Community Solar projects. Maggie Peard, Lexington’s Sustainability & Resilience Officer, along with Cindy Arens, Chair of the Sustainable Lexington Committee, and Ricki Pappo, Chair of the Lexington Climate Action Network (LexCAN), led the information session and collaborated with LexHAB Executive Director, Sarah Morrison and Housing Director, Pearlene Varjabedian to organize the event. Representatives from SunWealth and Peregrine Energy helped tenants sign up for Community Solar and Lexington’s Community Choice Program at the event. As energy costs continue to increase, this information is vital, particularly for lower income households.
LexHAB is grateful for the support of all those who made the event possible: Community Endowment of Lexington, Cambridge Savings Bank, Lexington Sustainability Office, Sustainable Lexington Committee, Lexington Climate Action Network, Lexington Chamber of Commerce, Lexington Farmer’s Market, LexFarm, Stop and Shop, Lexington LABBB Collaborative, Lexington Community Center.
If your business or organization would like to get involved with next year’s event, contact Sarah Morrison, Executive Director of LexHAB at director@lexhab.org.