There have been several forums and workshops that have occurred as of late on PACE (the forum at the Vermont Law School in October as well as the workshop that took place recently at the annual ‘Vermont Energy and Climate Action Conference.’) This email is a follow up to those events, as well as simply ensuring that those of you who have expressed an interest in PACE or who are actively moving the program forward are aware of some important resources available to support your efforts. This email summarizes some of those resources as well as notes some potential follow-up items for your consideration, including:

2012 Town Meeting:  If your town has not approved establishing a PACE district, we encourage you to organize now to get an item on the 2012 Town Warning.  We have developed some sample language for you to include on your Town Warning, which can be found on the WIKI site at http://pacevermont.wikispaces.com/. We have also developed a guidance document to help you understand the steps in approving a PACE district for your town. That document is attached, though it can also be found on the WIKI site. This has to happen quickly though! January 26th is the last day to get an article on the Town Meeting Day warning…

The WIKI Site:  VEIC has established a PACE “WIKI” site that contains a number of important guidance documents and information about implementing PACE in Vermont.  [A “WIKI” site is merely a webpage that is designed to provide easy access to information for a targeted audience.]  On this site, you will find:

•       On-line forum: Do you have a question about PACE?  Check out the WIKI site to get your questions answered or see what other questions have been raised and addressed.

•      Guidance documents:  We have a number of guidance documents posted on the WIKI site, including a step-by-step guide on “How to Implement PACE in Your Community.

•      Sample ballot language: If your town has not already approved the establishment of a PACE district, we have posted two versions of sample language for your consideration to place on your Town Warning for the 2012 Town Meeting Day.

A Letter of Support for the Program from Vermont Treasurer Beth Pearce: The State Treasurer has been a great supporter of the PACE program. At the October forum Treasurer Pearce outlined the economic and environmental benefits she believes the PACE program can bring to Vermont. To offer her perspective both on the benefits she believes the program will bring as well as the safety mechanisms in place to protect Vermont communities, Treasurer Pearce has also put together a general letter of support of the program. Find that letter on the WIKI site as well and please share it with local officials and other community members to offer that important perspective.

NOTE: All communities that have signed up for the Quick Start Program are granted access to the WIKI site and should have received guidance on how to gain access. To gain access to the WIKI site, click on http://pacevermont.wikispaces.com and enter your ID and password. If you haven’t already set up an account, you will first need to go to http://pacevermont.wikispaces.com/space/join and set one up. You will then receive an e-mail authorizing you. Please contact Peter Adamczyk at VEIC (802-540-7631 or padamczyk@veic.org) if you have any questions about gaining access to the WIKI site.

New PACE law:  As many of you are aware, the Vermont Legislature made changes in 2011 to the PACE program and strengthened the law.  In light of this new legislation, it is unclear whether towns that had previously approved the establishment of a PACE district need to re-submit new language again at their 2012 Town Meeting. In light of this new legislation, towns that had previously approved the establishment of a PACE district may wish to consider whether to re-submit new language again at their 2012 Town Meeting. If so, please use the language we have provided on the WIKI site.

Moving Ahead with PACE implementation: If your town has already approved establishing a PACE district, you are ready to move ahead with implementation. There are series of questions that you will need to answer and then have approved by your selectboard.  These are all spelled out on the “PACE Program Description and Guidelines.” This can be found on the WIKI site in the “Sample Documents” section.

Again, we hope the “Guide to Implementing PACE Districts in Vermont Communities” serves as a useful step-by-step resource for helping those interested in moving a PACE program forward. If you have any questions, please go to the WIKI forum as the first step in getting those questions answered or feel free to contact me at 802-223-2328 ext. 112 or jmiller@vnrc.org or reach Peter Adamczyk at VEIC at 802-540-7631 or padamczyk@veic.org.

Despite the recent cold snap, this has been one of the warmest fall/winters on record.  I hope you will join SERG in resolving to increase your commitment to saving energy and moving toward renewables in this New Year.

Here are a few resources to help you:

• Winter Energy Saving Tips for Homeowners
• LED Discounts for Vermont Businesses

Bob Walker, SERG

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Sunday, January 22: “Gasland”. This film by Josh Fox was nominated for a Best Documentary Oscar in 2011 and won a Special Jury Prize at Sundance. Learn more about the spreading technology to drill for natural gas: hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. The film’s website bills it as “part verite travelogue, part expose, part mystery, part bluegrass banjo meltdown, part showdown.”

Sunday, February 12: “A Sea Change”.  It’s a frightening premise, and it’s happening right now. A Sea Change follows the journey of retired history teacher Sven Huseby on his quest to discover how excess carbon dioxide dissolving in our world’s oceans is changing sea water chemistry and life within.

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Winter Energy Saving Tips for Homeowners

Air leakage is the greatest source of heat loss in most homes.  The greater the temperature differential between inside and outside your house, the faster air leakage takes place and the easier it is to find.  So these cold days can help you in your detective work.

Warm air pushes up and out holes high in your home, but is hard to feel.  So take something that smokes, like incense, and hold it near typical leakage areas to the attic or outside and watch for smoke being pulled out – attic hatch or stairwell, chimney penetrations, through and around recessed lights, ceiling fans, or other plumbing and electrical penetrations.

Cold air is pulled in lower areas of the home, especially in basements and crawl spaces.  There you can usually feel the cold air blowing in on you hand where the sill meets the foundation, around bulkhead doors, basement windows and other penetrations to the outside. Seal all these high and low openings with caulk, spray foam or weatherstipping.  You can view a video that SERG helped produce on how to complete these and other Do-It-Yourself energy-saving measures at http://www.cctv.org/node/82725

Save a lot of energy by turning your thermostat down when you are away during the day or asleep at night.  The general rule of thumb is that for every degree you set your thermostat back for 8 hours every day, you will cut your fuel use by 1%.  So setting your thermostat back 10 degrees 8 hours a day while you are at work and another 8 hours a day while you are asleep, could save you 20% off your fuel bill. A programmable thermostat will help you do this automatically and let you bring the temps back up to a comfortable level by the time you get up or get home. Check out Energy Federation Inc. for programmable thermostats and other weatherization supplies You can also turn the heat off in areas of your home that you do not use during the winter.  Be careful that water pipes do not freeze and condensation does not take place in those rooms.

You can check out other Energy-Saving Tips on their website.  For professional help on Buttoning Up your home check out SERG’s Home Assessment Services.

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LED Discounts for Vermont Businesses!

Efficiency Vermont is offering businesses instant rebates on the purchase of ENERGY STAR rated, energy-efficient LED bulbs.  LEDs use much less energy than conventional bulbs, last much longer, contain no mercury and are all dimmable.

More info about this program at:  http://www.efficiencyvermont.com/for_my_business/ways-to-save-and-rebates/commercial_lighting/commercial_led/general_info/overview.aspx

A list of specific rebates, a list of participating LED vendors, and a downloadable rebate form at:  http://www.efficiencyvermont.com/for_my_business/ways-to-save-and-rebates/commercial_lighting/commercial_led/rebates.aspx

Vendors also have forms and can help you fill them out. Participating Electric Supply distributors in the Upper Valley include, CED Twin State in Wilder, Green Mountain Electric Supply in W. Lebanon and Yankee in Lebanon.

Sustainable Energy Resource Group – SERG  802-785-4126
SERG@Valley.net  www.SERG-info.org  www.UVHEAT.org  www.VECAN.net

We have until 2017! That is FIVE years!!! FIVE!!! The whole world is at stake – nut just Africa!

Tears run down my face in fear – yet we MUST stay strong and Get IT DONE!

What are YOU… yes, YOU doing – not your neighbor?  Don’t wait until it is too late!

Do you even know what to do? Where to start? The answer lies within our Transportation, Buildings, which are the two worst offenders to our emission levels.

Please Don’t drive unless it is absolutely necessary. Never Idle. Car and Van Pool, Use Rideshare to connect!  In Vermont: www.ConnectingCommuters.org  (800-685-RIDE) or www.uppervalleyrideshare.com (802-295-1824 x204). Take the bus, train, ferry, bike, e-bike, walk, ski… and drive energy efficient vehicles. Our future transportation infrastructure needs to start now!

Seal and Insulate your Buildings to reduce the emissions caused from the use of dirty non-renewable fossil fuels. You can’t seal them tight enough!  Zero Energy Buildings ARE achievable. This should be the goal and not to settle for anything less!

Renewable Energy – this is the solution! Clean energy from Solar, Wind, Micro-hydro*…  We need Community Solar and Wind Farms… We can’t get solar installed or wind turbines up fast enough!  It is about TIME!  NOW is the time to G.E.T. going!

Learn more in every issue of Green Energy Times… New Issue coming out on Dec. 15th with a Front page article about the 2017 dilemma directly from the IEA warning, that Anjali Appadurai refers to … The new issue will be online next week, so ck back with us! AND, watch for G.E.T.  at newstands near you or subscribe on this website out and about in VT and NH at the same time!

* Micro-hydro is an untapped goldmine of energy producing power that runs 24 hrs a day and does NOT harm the environment in ANY way. The Federal Gov’t is the only block in making this happen.  It is time to get that changed.  Go to your state representatives and government officials and let’s get the micro-hydro laws changed!

Where? the Toth and Biddle homes featured in the Thetford HEAT information distributed throughout town. The homes have gone through the Home Performance with Energy Star (Toth) and Do-It-Yourself (Biddle) programs.  Both homes cut their energy use more than 30% through these programs.

At each home you will be able to talk with the homeowners about their experience through the process and learn what their home is like after the improvements.

Efficiency Vermont representatives will be at the Toth home to answer questions, provide child-care and award door prizes, including a grand prize drawing of a free home energy assessment open to all Vermont residents who visit!

For directions go to www.googlemaps.com and enter addresses for the Toth’s (139 VT Route 244, Post Mills, Vt 05058) and Biddle’s (1849 Gove Hill Rd., Thetford Center, Vt. 05075). For more information contact SERG@valley.net or 785-4126.

Bob Walker
Sustainable Energy Resource Group
432 Ulman Rd.
Thetford Center, VT 05075
802-785-4126
SERG@Valley.net
www.SERG-info.org
www.UVHEAT.org
www.VECAN.net

by Richard Feasy

What would you think about having a system in place so that every time a home or business was listed for sale in Vermont, buyers would be provided with an energy rating and information on improving the energy efficiency of that building?

Might you consider this a step in the right direction by making sure buyers were made aware of what they were getting into and given guidance on reducing energy costs?  Or would you see this as an excessive mandate?

These seem to be the two extreme perspectives voiced at the Working Group on Building Energy Disclosure that has been meeting regularly since late summer in Montpelier.  This Working Group was established as part of H.47, the “Vermont Energy Act of 2011”, to study “…whether and how to require disclosure of the energy efficiency of commercial and residential buildings in order to make data on building energy performance visible in the marketplace for real property and inform the choice of those who may purchase or rent such property.”

The Act named the composition of the Working Group to include: legislators, certain agency heads (or their designees), a real estate broker, someone from Efficiency Vermont, an appraiser representative, a builder representative, a contractor, an energy rating provider, an energy expert, a local energy committee representative, a lender representative, an attorney, and a heating service representative.  The individuals making up this diverse group bring a wealth of experience and perspectives to the table, and Working Group co-chairs Rep. Margaret Cheney and George Twigg (Efficiency Vermont) provide a fair and balanced approach in making sure that all opinions are aired and heard.

The Working Group has met three times through October 2011, and the three subcommittees that have been formed out of the main Working Group have been meeting multiple times in addition to the full Group meetings.  Focusing on “disclosure recipients and timing”, “markets and properties”, and “rating and audits”, these sub-groups have researched and discussed many of the details that will be necessary to consider if energy disclosure policy is to proceed.  The Working Group has been asked to provide a report and recommendations to the general assembly by December 15, 2011.  The elements of this report are just now starting to emerge.

From an initial “sense of the group” vote taken at the meeting in late October, there appears to be a majority of support for recommending a system that would require a simplified energy rating produced by the seller, their real estate agent, home inspector or other trained contractor at about the time a building is put on the market for sale, prior to the first showing.  There exist such web-based rating systems that could be made available for as inexpensively as free that appear to work quite well.  Buyers could then compare properties with the energy rating information in hand and have some sense of what they could be getting into and what it might take to upgrade that building to more efficient levels.  The Working Group is also looking into recommending a system that would then connect the buyer of a property with a certified building performance contractor who could provide a more detailed and specific energy audit that could be used as part of financing to upgrade the building.  Linking the buyer to actionable information is ultimately the intent of this disclosure initiative, since the objective is for Vermont to improve the energy efficiency of 80,000 buildings 25% by 2020, the goal set out a few years ago by the Vermont legislature.

In an on-going spirit of cooperation, the Working Group will continue to work towards their December 15 report goal.  The meetings are all open to the general public, so if you are interested in attending or receiving more information, you can contact Rachel Levin at rlevin@leg.state.vt.us.

If you want to learn how you can save energy, save money and increase your home comfort,come to the free Home Energy Expo:

Saturday, Nov. 5th from 9am to 2pm at the Thetford Academy gym

Doors open at 9am with main presentations starting at 10

The first 50 at the door win energy-saving door prizes!

• Meet and talk with weatherization contractors, solar and wood dealers and financing representatives.
• Attend workshops and watch demonstrations of various weatherization measures being installed.
• Walk through the Home Energy Makeover trailer to learn how air-sealing and insulation can increase your home’s energy efficiency.
• Pedal bikes that generate lights and blend smoothies.
• And learn from the Parish Players why “Weatherization IS Sexy!”
• The first 50 at the door win door prizes and there will be a drawing for Thetford residents who fill out a home energy survey, including their energy use and size of home, to win a free home energy assessment, worth $450 (see survey link posted at top of www.SERG-info.org).
• The Thetford Academy Environment Club will sell refreshments to raise funds for an energy project at the Academy.

The Home Energy Expo is free and open to all.  For more information contact www.SERG-info.org, SERG@valley.net or 802-785-4126.

Watch for it at a newsstand, supermarket, and local stores and establishments near you – throughout 85% of Vermont & 45% of New Hampshire! Be sure to pick up copies when they first come out or they may be gone when you come back.

If you can’t find it near you – let us know so that we see if we can make it happen… you can also subscribe right from this website on the Advertising/Subscriptions Tab (above).

Enjoy, learn and most of all we hope you find something to help move us forward on our path to energy independence and reducing our carbon emission levels.  Share your stories with us!  We love to hear from you!

www.REVermont.org

September 16, 2011 | Montpelier Vt.

Renewable Energy Vermont (REV) hailed this week’s release of the draft Vermont Comprehensive Energy Plan (CEP). With a call for 90% renewable energy by 2050, the draft plan sends a clear signal that the Green Mountain state is taking bold steps to open its doors for robust economic development and job creation by deploying 21st century energy infrastructure.

With a goal to virtually eliminate Vermont’s dependence on fossil fuel, the plan, drafted by the Department of Public Service, outlines steps for increases in electrical and heating efficiency for homes and businesses, calls for the development of plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) infrastructure and plans for the deployment of Vermont-based renewable energy projects.

“The energy plan addresses the fact that our future approach to energy management must be coordinated, deliberate and involve all Vermonters in meeting the challenges before us,” says REV Executive Director, Gabrielle Stebbins. “With the flooding events caused by Tropical Storm Irene, its clear that Vermont has to pay attention to the affects of global climate change. The plan addresses our need to get off fossil fuels and focuses on in-state development of renewable energy and energy efficiency infrastructure by approaching the challenge from four angles: addressing regulatory policies and structures, developing financing and funding mechanisms, maintaining Vermont’s role as energy innovator and increasing public outreach and education. Ultimately, all four of these areas need to harnessed to meet our energy needs, grow the Vermont energy economy and address critical environmental challenges ahead.”

Still in draft form, the plan is currently open for public review and comment until October 10, 2011. The Plan may be read and downloaded from the CEP website (www.vtenergyplan.vermont.gov). Public hearings have been scheduled for late September into early October throughout the state.

Renewable Energy Vermont will host Department of Public Service Commissioner, Elizabeth Miller at its 10th Annual Vermont Renewable Energy Conference and Expo on October 11 and 12 at the Sheraton Conference Center in Burlington. The Commissioner is slated to speak at 9:20 a.m. on Wednesday, October 12. Miller will outline the vision for the Vermont Comprehensive Energy Plan and participate on a panel discussion with leading energy experts to discuss the plan’s implementation.

About Renewable Energy Vermont (REV), www.REVermont.org

REV is a nonprofit, nonpartisan trade association representing nearly 300 businesses, individuals, colleges and others committed to reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and expanding the availability of renewable sources of energy in Vermont. REV works as the only advocacy organization dedicated solely to advancing renewable energy and efficiency in the state.

For more information contact:

Scott Merriam
Programs & Outreach Manager
Renewable Energy Vermont (REV)
scott@revermont.org
(802) 229-0099 office
(802) 595-3517 mobile