The Energy Committee’s purpose is to:
Execute action items in the current draft Energy Element for the Wardsboro Town Plan. The action items support the goals to reduce total energy use, reduce transportation demand, and establish renewable energy generation in Wardsboro.
The Energy Committee meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 3:35 at the Town Hall.
Hello neighbors
The Wardsboro Energy Committee is here to help our community navigate the often confusing world of energy, heating, and weatherization. We work to support Wardsboro’s energy goals (as set by the state) by providing resources and guidance to residents. Here in Vermont, we know how much our energy and heating costs can be affected by our weather. We can all save money and improve our comfort by making smart choices about appliances, lightbulbs, windows, and insulation. With so much information available, it can be hard to know where to start, and that’s where we come in.
The state of Vermont has set goals for energy needs that we must try to meet. To that end, we have been working closely with various state and citizen organizations to get the information we need to help our town meet its energy goals. To recap for everyone, our goals are to reduce fossil fuel use, limit the ecological impact of recreational vehicles and transportation vehicles so as to retain our natural hunting, fishing, and foraging rights, as well as maintaining our ecological health and diversity, encourage economic growth and resource stability. We also have goals for personal health and active lifestyles (encouraging and building bike trails for instance), ensuring good air quality, and maintaining our water quality.
We don’t have a magic solution for you that will suddenly put us at net-zero emissions. There is no sudden invention that gives us effortless green power. But what we do have is a history of doing the right thing, caring about the future generations, and a heck of a lot of resources to help you find the best technology or way to accomplish your goals. We have advice and options for reducing power costs, switching to renewables, and help for finding contractors. There are several organizations helping and supporting us in our endeavors for a healthier, more financially secure, and more energy secure Wardsboro, and we can put you in touch with whoever can answer your questions if it is beyond the Committees scope.
Here in Vermont we are well accustomed to taking nature into consideration. Proper forestry and land management is crucial for us all to enjoy the area we love so much. We are used to “using up, making do, or doing without”. We are resourceful, and care deeply about our woods. Many of the methods other people are being forced to adopt are things we have already looked into, and adopted ourselves on a state wide level. Solar panels powering a cattle fence, using rainwater to irrigate fields, gardening techniques that we learned from the Native Americans that increase yields without additives, foraging our own ramps, fiddleheads, and mushrooms. We fish, we hunt, we grow. None of this is new to us, but what IS new is the fact that the State mandates support these activities, and as far as energy is concerned, we can help people streamline or update systems they have been using for generations.
Check our calendar for upcoming events, and explore the Efficiency Vermont website (https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/) for helpful information and resources. You can also contact Efficiency Vermont directly for personalized advice on improving your home.
If you have questions for the committee or are interested in volunteering your time or expertise, please contact us at Leo.Wardsboro@gmail.com. We are currently looking to expand our membership and welcome your involvement!
Efficiency Vermont
https://www.efficiencyvermont.com/
Efficiency Vermont provides energy efficiency services, rebates, no-cost consulting & sustainable energy solutions for all VT homeowners & businesses.