Rosa Hubbard opens the storm door that was installed during the weatherization of her home on Niecy Street. Photo by Dannie Oliveaux
By Dannie Oliveaux | dannieoliveaux@theexaminer.com
Rosa Hubbard’s home was one of six residences recently weatherized in the Charlton-Pollard neighborhood using a $100,000 donation from ExxonMobil Beaumont to the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission’s (SETRPC) Lighthouse Program.
The program serves older residents on fixed incomes, improving energy efficiency through upgrades to doors, windows, air conditioning systems and other components as needed.
Hubbard, who has lived on Niecy Street for 29 years, said she was “happy” with the weatherization of her home.
“I just love it, and they were so nice and friendly while they did the work,” she said. “They cleaned up behind themselves, and I didn’t have to worry about them messing anything up or leaving anything undone. So I’m very, very happy about it.”
She added that her family and neighbors have commented, “I love your windows.”
“They can’t see my attic, but they can see my windows, so I love it,” Hubbard said. “They’re new, and they are clean — easy to open and easy to clean.”
With her home now more energy efficient, Hubbard may eben see a decline in the preset monthly electric bills he pays.
“Everything works fine, but I freeze in here. I keep it on about 78 degrees,” she said. “I don’t like cold.”
When asked about her experience with the program, Hubbard said, “It just makes me know you’re never too old to be blessed.”
Lighthouse Program
Pamela Lewis, a former SETRPC Lighthouse Program manager that headed the program for 21 years, said the program started as a supplemental environmental program through the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
“So, we were eligible to receive part of fines for air quality violations. So in that sense, all of the plants and industry in this area have been part of this program at some time or another,” she said. “But this is the first time that we’ve gotten a very large donation made to the program.”
Lewis said this year was the first time in the program’s history the money was used on Beaumont homes.
“We’ve always worked in Port Arthur for many years through money that we received through the TCEQ,” Lewis said. “I’ve been questioned for two decades about whether we would ever be able to bring the Lighthouse Program to Beaumont. It’s nice that we finally were able to do that.”
She said Hubbard was one of the homeowners chosen to receive energy-efficient rehabilitation through the program.
“We rehab homes of elderly and disabled people so their homes can become more energy efficient,” she said.
Lewis said the program can replace windows, doors, storm doors, air conditioning, heating and attic insulation.
“We can only do things that increase the energy efficiency of the home. So, we don’t do cosmetic things unless it goes along with what we’re doing — painting trim, painting ledges and such,” she said.
At Hubbard’s home, Lewis said all the windows, the storm door, the air conditioning and heating system, all of the ductwork, and insulation were installed in the attic to bring the home up to code.
Lewis said the program began in 2005, and the first home was rehabilitated in 2006. Since then, more than 240 homes have been rehabilitated.
“And hopefully more in the future,” she added. “Not only are we helping our elderly and disabled homeowners, but we are increasing the energy efficiency of homes in this area, which is always good. It’s not just good for the homeowners, but it’s good for the community, and it’s also good for industry in the long run.”
Of the $100,000 from ExxonMobil, no more than $25,000 could be spent per house.
Lewis said some homes did not need new air conditioning and heating and only needed windows, while others needed only air conditioning. In some cases, homes that previously had window units had HVAC systems installed.
“We spend anywhere from $8,000 to $25,000 per house,” Lewis added.
Both the client and the home have to qualify for the program, Lewis said.
To qualify, the home must be a single-family, owner-occupied home.
“They have to qualify based on income — they must be low to moderate income for the Beaumont-Port Arthur Metropolitan Statistical Area,” Lewis said of client qualification. “Then we come out, and if they qualify, my inspector and I take a look at the house and determine whether the house qualifies.”
She said if the house needs a new roof, no work can be done until the roof is repaired. Homes on piers or chain walls must be level because leveling the house later could break the seals on the windows.
Lewis also acknowledged the South End Charlton-Pollard Greater Historic Community Association for “making a lot of the connections in the community.”
Lewis, who retired in March, said Christine Jackson will oversee the Lighthouse Program.
EM donation
Ashley Bean, ExxonMobil Beaumont area public affairs adviser, said the $100,000 was contributed to SETRPC in December 2024 to weatherize six homes.
“We really took that as an opportunity to give back to our nearest neighborhood where we operate,” Bean said. “We thank SETRPC for giving us an avenue not only to give back to our neighbors, but also to hopefully improve their quality of life.”
She said the company listens to feedback from the South End Charlton-Pollard Greater Historic Community Association about the need to weatherize homes.
“Being able to have that relationship with them to really listen to what the needs were was definitely something we valued,” Bean said.
She noted ExxonMobil Beaumont has been an integral part of the Beaumont community for nearly 125 years.
“Being able to give back to our nearest neighbors is not only a priority for us, because we support those values, but we also take pride in strengthening the communities in which we operate,” Bean said.
Bean said ExxonMobil received feedback from several homeowners who reported their electricity and gas bills are lower.
