Town Report for
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FY15 [July 2014 – June 2015] projects by the NEC continued to target energy efficiency and solar installations.
NEC members gave out information on home energy audits at the winter Norwich Farmer's Market and Dan & Whit's general store. They provided contact information for HEAT Squad (http://heatsquad.org/), which offers professional energy audits at a significant discount. HEAT Squad staff reported that the NEC provided them with the most referrals of any Windsor County Energy Committee and second in the entire state. The NEC urged the Selectboard to pursue a highly energy-efficient building for new police/fire facilities and supported Article II in the May special town meeting. This article, for spending to ensure that the building's energy needs could be supplied entirely by renewable sources, was approved by a 52% vote. In support of Vermont's goal of having 90% of its energy needs met in 2050 by renewable energy, the NEC targets 36 homes going solar annually. In 2014, the NEC's Solarize Norwich campaign resulted in 54 additional Norwich households going solar. In 2015, the NEC continued to work with Norwich-based installers Norwich Technologies and Solaflect. The NEC updated its website (NorwichEnergyCommittee.weebly.com) to include case studies from selected Norwich solar homeowners, a map of solar installations throughout town, and an online form to request a site visit. The 2015 campaign ran officially May-June. Activities included outreach at the dump, at Dan & Whit's, and solar open houses. Inquiries and commitments are ongoing throughout the year. As of fall 2015, 21 Norwich households are newly solar. Other activities: * NEC members attended the 2014 VECAN conference * NEC members attended a planning workshop for energy committees * the NEC cosponsored a workshop on community solar The NEC meets regularly on the fourth Tuesday of every month, at 7 pm at Tracy Hall. For more information, contact Linda Gray (649-2032, [email protected]). Chair: Linda Gray (term ends 3/2018) Vice-Chair: Norm Levy (3/2018) Jamie Hess (3/2016) Sarah Drew Reeves (3/2017) Rob Sydney (3/2017) Meghan Wilson (3/2016) |