Year-long sprint set to help Vermonters reduce their
heating bills
On Feb. 21, Gov. Peter Shumlin officially kicked off an effort that
has the potential to save Vermonters more than $2.6 million on
their heating bills over the next year. Appearing at a home that
has seen a significant reduction in heating oil usage, the Governor
highlighted the benefits of energy efficiency to Vermont's economy
and congratulated the 75 towns that have so far signed on to the
Vermont Home Energy Challenge.
"Dollar for dollar, we know that energy efficiency is one of the
best investments there is," said Gov. Shumlin. "It cuts energy
bills, keeps more money in our state's economy, and creates jobs
for builders and contractors around the state. That's a great story
for Vermonters to share with their friends and neighbors as they
mobilize for the 2013 Home Energy Challenge."
The Challenge is being spearheaded by Efficiency Vermont, in
partnership with the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network
(VECAN). It is designed to help the state meet its energy and
climate goals by making homes more energy efficient. 75 local
energy groups have signed up to lead grassroots efforts in their
communities to encourage friends and neighbors to weatherize their
homes through Efficiency Vermont's Home Performance with Energy
Star program.
Over the course of the year, participants will be able to
measure their progress and that of other towns throughout the state
in an effort to improve the efficiency of more than 3,500 homes and
save more than $2.6 million in heating costs every year. In terms
of greenhouse gas emissions that is the equivalent of taking more
than 1,300 cars off the road, and it will save enough energy to
heat more than 650 homes for an entire year.
"Time and again, we have seen that even small actions on energy
efficiency can add up to a big impact. In fact, over the last
decade our state has saved enough electricity to power every home
in the state for more than two years," said Jim Merriam, Director
of Efficiency Vermont. "With the Home Energy Challenge, we'll be
working with local energy committees to develop new tools for
engaging communities, and keep adding to Vermont's impressive
results."
The last five years have seen a burst of interest in local
efforts on sustainable energy, and there are now energy committees
or energy coordinators in more than half of Vermont's towns. "There
is no question that our small state is a leader on community energy
initiatives and grassroots engagement," said Johanna Miller,
Coordinator of VECAN and Energy Program Director with the Vermont
Natural Resources Council. "We are really excited about the
Challenge's potential to put even more momentum behind those
efforts, and, importantly, help Vermonters stop wasting heat and
money."
To learn more about the Challenge, take a pledge to reduce
energy usage in your home, or see how your community is doing in
meeting its goals, visit
www.efficiencyvermont.com/homeenergychallenge.
