It was a day of new beginnings for David and Daniela. Just several hours after their son, Mateo, was born, the new parents found themselves filling out an online form expressing their interest in becoming Habitat for Humanity of Greater Fresno Area homeowners. Before they even left the hospital with their bundle of joy, the couple received a call from the affiliate saying they were strong candidates. Shortly after the family of three joined Habitat’s homeownership program and embraced taking homebuyer education classes and helping to build their own home.

After moving in, David nicknamed their home “base of operations.” The 32-year-old U.S. Army veteran and high school teacher says one of the ways their Habitat home has helped his family build stability is through its energy-efficient solar panels. 

The solar panels have drastically reduced what the family pays for electricity. In warmer months, they pay half or even less than half of what they used to pay to cool their old apartment. And in colder weather, when they rely on gas to heat their home, they often don’t owe anything on their electric bill or even get a credit from their utility company.

“Having these solar panels is life-changing in the sense that now we actually have a chance to start saving,” David says. 

Maximizing savings by building better 

Habitat is dedicated to building energy-efficient and resilient homes, and David and Daniela’s solar panels were funded by a grant through Habitat’s BuildBetter with Whirlpool program. The program helps U.S. homeowners better withstand increasing weather hazards and lower their costs through more energy-efficient and disaster-resilient homebuilding.

“Our goal is to make sustainable homebuilding choices that maximize cost savings for families,” says Habitat Greater Fresno Area CEO Ashley Hedemann. “This grant from Whirlpool was a huge part of making David and Daniela’s home both energy-efficient and affordable.”

David and Daniela also have a donated Whirlpool range and refrigerator that have helped make their home more affordable. As part of the Habitat-Whirlpool relationship, Whirlpool Corporation has donated more than 250,000 major home appliances since 1999 to Habitat. Every Habitat home in the U.S. is eligible for a Whirlpool range, refrigerator and garbage disposal, and other home appliances are also available through Habitat’s donated product program. 

In addition to their kitchen appliances, David and Daniela have a donated Whirlpool washer and dryer and dishwasher. “Those appliances are our main electric draws, and since they are energy efficient, we do save quite a bit,” David says.

Fruits, veggies and future plans

In their Habitat home, David, Daniela and 4-year-old Mateo are blossoming – and their backyard is too. With cost savings from the solar panels, the couple made home improvements like adding outdoor lighting, landscaping and fencing. 

The family hopes to plant a fruit and vegetable garden in the future and do even more to make their home an oasis. They’ve also started a college fund for Mateo using the cost savings from their solar-powered home, which David says is truly a blessing.

It’s difficult for Richard to climb the stairs to his bedroom and his home’s only bathroom. The 79-year-old has limited mobility due to several health issues. Richard’s wife, 78-year-old Carolyn, has mobility issues, too. She was determined to remain in their beloved family home, but not having a safe way to access the second floor made that dream feel impossible.

Habitat for Humanity works to help homeowners like Richard and Carolyn make home repairs and modifications that can accommodate their evolving needs as they age. We help them stay in the homes they love and the communities that they care about because we know that older adults who age in place have a better quality of life and better health outcomes.

Crafting a plan for home accessibility

Safer homes, fuller lives

With more than 19 million older adults in the U.S. like Richard and Carolyn living in homes that no longer adequately meet their needs, Lowe’s and Habitat have committed to ensuring that residents receive the help they need to make their homes safe and livable. Together, in 2024, we repaired 364 homes across the U.S. Much of this work included critical home repairs and home modifications to help older adults.