HARDWICK AREA — A new energy efficiency group called $ave Energy NEK was formed at the start of 2024 by community members from the six neighboring towns of Albany, Craftsbury, Glover, Greensboro, Hardwick and Stannard.
photo by Chris Steel
Each town had been awarded a $4,000 Municipal Energy Resilience Program (MERP) capacity building mini-grant in 2023. They decided to pool their resources and work collaboratively on a number of initiatives to raise awareness of energy efficiencies through home weatherization.
$ave Energy NEK produced an information flyer outlining a weatherization “Home Action Checklist,” which was mailed to households across the six communities.
A thermal energy workshop at the Greensboro Free Library looked at the different ways we lose heat in our homes. A panel discussion was held in Fellowship Hall of the Greensboro United Church of Christ, where local energy efficiency experts shared insights and tips with homeowners on home weatherization activities.
Craftsbury hosted a summer tour of three homes that incorporated energy efficiency improvements and looked at income-assessed financing options with NETO, a non-profit providing weatherization to income eligible residents of the Northeast Kingdom (NEK). There was also a farmers market “Sustainable Living” series in Greensboro, featuring Efficiency Vermont, Drive-electric Vermont and Vermont Energy Audits.
This fall, each town worked on submitting an application for a full MERP Implementation grant. Significant awards have been received by all six towns..
Greensboro has been awarded $121,546 to upgrade the energy efficiency of the Greensboro Free Library, adding heat pumps to reduce oil usage, installing a backup battery, improving ventilation and replacing windows.
Hardwick received a $250,455 award to address energy efficiency issues in the Public Safety and Senior Center building, which will become net-zero and fossil-fuel free.
A $393,412 award to Craftsbury will cover air sealing, insulation and improved HVAC work at both the town hall, town garage and fire station. An additional solar array with battery backup systems and a Level 2 EV charging station are covered too.
Stannard has been awarded $285,575 to increase energy efficiency and weatherization at its town garage and town hall, including new high efficiency heat sources, replacing windows, improved air ventilation and a solar array to produce electricity for both buildings.
Albany will see $387,034 to cover weatherization, insulation, mechanical and other energy efficiency upgrades to the town hall-library, town garage, fire station and the town clerk’s office.
Glover’s $460,283 award will pay for improved energy efficiency at its town hall, municipal building and fire station. Upgrades will include air sealing and HVAC improvements in all three buildings and reconstruction of the old roof on the fire station with the addition of a solar array and a battery backup system. Level 2 EV charging stations will be added at two of the sites.
Commenting on the success of the $ave Energy NEK group, Robert Small, energy advisor in Stannard, said: “Everyone in our NEK energy group worked really well together to get the word out to folks in our towns about the benefits of home weatherization, and our collaboration definitely increased our impact.”
Representatives from each of the towns participating in $ave Energy NEK include, Bill Chidsey in Hardwick, Beth Meachem, Liz Steel and Mark Snyder in Greensboro; Small in Stannard; Craig Taylor in Craftsbury; Rob Dewees and Chris Jacobs in Albany and Mariel Hess Glover. Find more information about the group and upcoming activities at greensborofreelibrary.org/save-energy-nek/
Liz Steel is the chair of the Greensboro Energy & Climate Action Committee
Liz Steel
