Energy-Saving Resources
Energy Solutions — www.greenbuildingadvisor.com
The complete source for building, designing, and remodeling
green homes.
Putney Energy Committee Web Site — pec.putney.net
A very good resource for energy saving and green / net zero building.
Publicizes excellent resources for
home energy audits, renewable energy system installers, and much
more. There is also a blog on
which you can ask questions and get additional information.
Heating Fuel Cost Calculator
Some heating fuels that used to be quite affordable, such as heating
oil, have risen in price dramatically, making competing energy
sources such as electricity relatively less expensive. In parts
of the Northeast and Upper Midwest, even the most expensive form
of electric heat — electric-resistance baseboard heat — is
now less expensive than fuel oil.
The challenge in comparing fuel costs is the fact that most fuels
are purchased by volume or weight, rather than energy content.
It's hard to compare gallons of fuel oil with hundreds of cubic-feet
(ccf) of natural gas and kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity. Adding
to the complexity, there are big differences in how efficiently
energy sources are converted into heat and how efficiently that
heat is distributed throughout a building.
To
accurately compare the costs of different energy sources,
we need to look at the price per delivered unit of heat. If we
compare fuel costs on the basis of dollars per million British
thermal units (Btus) of delivered heat, we are comparing apples
to apples.
BuildingGreen's
online fuel-cost calculator considers the heat
content of each fuel, the efficiency of combustion by the heating
equipment, and the efficiency of distribution. With furnaces and
forced-air distribution, there are often very significant distribution
losses that raise the cost per million Btus of delivered heat.
The BuildingGreen calculator provides default (average) efficiencies
but allows users to enter different values if they are known.
Solar Brochures available at Dummerston Town Offices
Funded by a Community Catalyst Fund/Clean Air - Cool Planet grant
submitted by Diana Lischer-Goodband and produced by the Dummerston
Energy Committee’s SCA Intern, a solar brochure to assist
residents in making decisions to use solar energy is available
at the Dummerston
Town Offices. For a personal solar coaching session, please leave
a message for the Dummerston Energy Committee at the town offices
by calling 257-1496 or by e-mailing energy (at) dummerston
(dot) org. A DEC member will get back to you as soon as possible,
since there
are a number
of
tax credits available until December 31 and time is of the essence.
ACORE: American
Council on Renewable Energy — www.acore.org
The American Council On Renewable Energy (ACORE) works to bring
all forms of renewable energy into the mainstream of America’s
economy and lifestyle.
ACORE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Washington,
D.C. with paying members from every aspect and sector of the renewable
energy industries and their trade associations, including wind,
solar, geothermal, biomass and biofuels, hydropower tidal/current
energy and waste energy. The scope of ACORE’s membership
also spans — among
others — financial
institutions, government leaders, educators, end-users, professional
service
providers, and allied non-profit groups.
Report: Renewable Energy in America: Markets, Economic Development
and Policy in the 50 States, August 2010
This interactive
report is
intended to provide decision-makers an executive summary on
the status of renewable energy implementation
at the state-level. Compiling financial, renewable energy resource
potentials, market and policy information in one easily-accessed,
online format, the report is intended to be an executive summary
for all who are interested in the highlights of the renewable
energy sector in every state.
SEVCA (Southeastern Vermont Community Action) — www.sevca.org
Provides programs and services to low-income people, including
help with weatherization.
VECAN (Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network) — www.vecan.net
VECAN helps start and support town energy and climate action committees
in their efforts to save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions
and advance renewable energy projects. The site also provides a list of
Vermont's town energy committees.
Renewable Energy Vermont — www.revermont.org (solar,
wind projects)
Renewable Energy Vermont (REV) is working to bring about an intelligent
transformation from a foreign fossil fuel based economy to an economy
increasingly based on our own renewable energy.
Efficiency Vermont — www.EfficiencyVermont.org
Efficiency Vermont provides technical assistance and financial
incentives to Vermont households and businesses, to help them reduce
their energy costs with energy-efficient equipment and lighting
and with energy-efficient approaches to construction and renovation.
Co-op Power
— www.cooppower.coop
Co-op Power supports the development of community-owned wind,
solar, hydro, biomass, and biofuel plants and green jobs — helping
local communities form and capitalize these new businesses, distribute
the energy produced, and sustain these businesses over time.
Energy Star — www.energystar.gov
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money
and protect the environment through energy efficient products and
practices.
Energy Star — Guide to Sealing and
Insulating Houses
Here is
an excellent do-it-yourself guide to sealing and insulating houses
(PDF, 2.01 MB).
Vermont RideShare — www.VermontRideShare.org
Go Vermont is a resource for commuters who want to reduce the
cost and environmental impact of driving. The program features
a free carpool/vanpool matching service, ridesharing tips, and
other practical information on getting around by biking, walking,
bus, train and ferry.
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Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency
Home Improvements
Tax credits are available at 30% of the cost, up to $1,500, in 2009 & 2010
(for existing homes only) for: windows and doors, insulation, roofs
(metal and asphalt), HVAC water heaters (non-solar), and biomass
stoves. Click here for
more details.
Efficient Cars
Tax credits are available to buyers of hybrid gasoline-electric,
diesel, battery-electric, alternative fuel, and fuel cell vehicles.
The tax credit amount is based on a formula determined by vehicle
weight, technology, and fuel economy compared to base year models.
These credits are available for vehicles placed in service starting
January 1, 2006. For hybrid and diesel vehicles made by each manufacturer,
the credit will be phased out over 15 months starting after that
manufacturer has sold 60,000 eligible vehicles. For vehicles made
by manufacturers that have not reached the end of the phase-out,
the credits will end for vehicles placed in service after December
31, 2010. (Click here for
up-to-date information.)
Solar Energy Systems
Tax credits are available at 30% of the cost, with no upper limit
through 2016 (for existing homes & new construction) for geothermal
heat pumps, solar panels, solar water heaters, small wind energy
systems, and fuel cells. Click here for
more details.
Fuel Cells
An investment in clean and efficient technologies On August 8, 2005,
President Bush signed into law the highly anticipated Energy Policy
Act of 2005. In addition to the research and development, demonstration
and market transition programs for fuel cells and hydrogen, the law
contains new incentives for the purchase of fuel cells. One of these
incentives, the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), has been as a top priority
for the industry and is seen as a key step in the commercialization
of fuel cell technology. See the US
Fuel Cell Council publication (PDF) for more details.
Tax Credits for Home Builders (IRS Form 8908)
Home builders are eligible for a $2,000 tax credit for a new energy
efficient home that achieves 50% energy savings for heating and cooling
over the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and supplements.
At least 1/5 of the energy savings must come from building envelope
improvements. See IRS
Form 8908 (PDF) for details.
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