Filbert Grove Cooperative in Springfield, Oregon, is a special place to live. Five years ago, this 55-and-older manufactured home community was in danger of being sold and turned into a mixed-use development, wiping out affordable housing for the residents in the process. With support from Community and Shelter Assistance Corp (CASA) and Network for Oregon Affordable Housing (NOAH), the residents came together to purchase the park, and Filbert Grove Cooperative became Lane County’s first resident-owned community.
The transformation into a cooperative was a win for the residents, but the park faced challenges. Most of the manufactured homes and community spaces were built in the 1970s, and many were without air conditioning. With climate-related weather events becoming more common, operations manager Phil Renshaw understood that extreme heat posed a serious threat to this senior community, and he knew he had to act.
“I spent 30 years as a volunteer firefighter and EMT,” said Renshaw. “I wasn’t going to have anyone die on my watch.”
Renshaw heard about Energy Trust’s Landlord Provided Cooling Space initiative and looked into the details. This program provides funding and resources so multifamily properties can create shared cooling spaces for their residents during extreme heat events. In Filbert Grove Cooperative’s case, the community clubhouse was a perfect fit.
“Our clubhouse was built in 1974. It had a gas heater, but no air conditioning. We used portable A/C units, but it often wasn’t enough to make the large space comfortable during heat waves.”
Renshaw worked with the Energy Trust team to determine the best equipment for the clubhouse. Based on the size of the space and anticipated occupancy, a 2.5-ton heat pump was installed to cool the space. Energy Trust incentives covered over $7,000 of the total project costs.
“This was a no-brainer for me,” said Renshaw. “My advice to anyone considering this program is to advocate for your community and work with Energy Trust to get the system you need to keep your residents safe.”
The Landlord Provided Cooling Space initiative is designed to support a wide range of multifamily residences, from mobile home parks to single-room occupancy buildings. Incentives cover up to $1,400 for two portable A/C units or up to $7,000 for ductless heat pumps, heat pumps, and hard-wired air conditioners.
“Our goal is to provide cooling to as many people as possible,” said Energy Trust program manager Themba Mutepfa. “Any multifamily site in Oregon is eligible for this program and our team is there to support property owners or managers through every step of the process.”
Filbert Grove Cooperative residents are thrilled to have a safe and comfortable place to gather when temperatures rise. Since the air conditioner was installed, the clubhouse has been used in the summer for quilting groups, birthday parties, and other events—something that would not have been possible without the new cooling system.
Need answers or assistance?
We’re here to help. You can contact an energy advisor for technical and cooling system capacity guide assistance, contractor referrals or any other questions you have about the offering.
Visit www.energytrust.org/coolingspace for more information or Email us at community.cooling@energytrust.org or call 1.888.889.0018