Commercial Project Profile
Piedmont Housing Alliance – Hickory Hope Apartments at Southwood Community
Client: Piedmont Housing Alliance
Location: Charlottesville, VA
Completion: November 2025 – February 2026
Tiger Solar partnered with local nonprofit Piedmont Housing Alliance (PHA) to install solar across two multi-family buildings consisting of 121 units at Hickory Hope Apartments, located in the broader Southwood Community in Charlottesville, Virginia. As part of a larger neighborhood redevelopment by Habitat for Humanity, this project supports long-term sustainability and energy efficiency for affordable housing residents. This installation also aligns with broader initiatives led by Habitat for Humanity to expand access to solar energy across affordable housing communities. Through partnerships with organizations like GiveSolar, these efforts aim to reduce energy costs and increase long-term housing stability for residents across the Commonwealth. Ultimately, this project reflects a shared commitment to creating resilient, forward-thinking communities that prioritize both environmental responsibility and resident well-being.
The Hickory Hope Apartments installation spans two buildings within the Southwood Community, designed to maximize energy production while aligning with the structural needs of multi-family housing. Building A features an 87.26-kilowatt system comprised of 182 modules paired with a single inverter. Building B includes a 101.28-kilowatt system utilizing 211 total modules and a single inverter. Both systems were installed on roofing using a ballast racking approach, preserving the integrity of the rooftops.
The solar installations across Hickory Hope Apartments ultimately contributes to the long-term sustainability goals of the Southwood Community redevelopment, helping reduce environmental impact while contributing to long-term, energy efficient housing. Using PVWatts modeling, the combined systems are projected to generate approximately 177,000 kilowatt-hours annually, delivering impactful onsite renewable energy across both buildings. This project is part of a larger, statewide effort to expand access to solar within affordable housing communities. Through initiatives led by Habitat for Humanity and partners like GiveSolar, solar is being integrated as a meaningful tool to help lower ongoing energy costs and improve housing stability for residents. By incorporating solar across multiple buildings, PHA continues to take a forward-thinking approach to community development, prioritizing solutions that are both environmentally responsible and impactful for the community members who live there. This project highlights how strong partnerships and thoughtful planning can bring renewable energy into multi-family housing in a way that is both scalable and community-centered.
Tiger Solar’s Role Included:
- System design and engineering.
- Collaboration with partners at Piedmont Housing Alliance, Habitat for Humanity, and GiveSolar.
- Integration of solar within a broader community redevelopment initiative.
- Procurement of high quality solar equipment and materials.
- Rooftop installation.
- Permitting and utility interconnection.
- Final inspection, commissioning, and system activation.