Dummerston Energy Committee

e-mail: energy (at) dummerston (dot) org

About the Committee

The Dummerston Energy Committee (DEC) was formed late in 2007 and consists of members appointed by the Selectboard.

The committee supports the town in monitoring locally important energy issues and developments, and promoting energy conservation, efficiency, and increased use of renewable resources. Using education, projects, and advocacy, the DEC will help Dummerston and its residents reduce their reliance on polluting forms of energy and achieve reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

With the marvelous help of Stan Howe and his crew we have replaced the lighting for the covered bridge. The committee is also recommending that the Town of Dummerston look into the possibility of participating in the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program. We are also working to create signage to promote the Town of Dummerston's anti-idling ordinance.

Other activities have included: selling energy-efficient lighting and handing out educational materials at the 2008 Town Meeting; publishing a weekly column Energy Solutions in the Brattleboro Reformer (authored by committee member Alex Wilson); holding a series of evening lectures; co-sponsoring with the Putney Energy Committee a Button-up Workshop; developing a kilowatt-meter lending program; and producing a tax bill insert outlining energy saving tips that residents can implement quickly.

A major project has been to try and become familiar with and coordinate with the various energy-related regional and statewide organizations that exist — a veritable alphabet soup of acronyms, all with regular meetings and programs. We have tried to discern where committee members’ limited time would be best spent in coordinating with various agencies and organizations without duplication of effort and in ways that can most benefit Dummerston residents. We are also in contact with the town Planning Commission and the Housing Commission, as appropriate.

Visitors to our meetings have presented intriguing questions and requests. For example, the West Street metal halide outdoor lighting experiment grew out of an amateur astronomer’s proposal to reduce light pollution. One resident asked us to look into the possibility of micro-hydro, which apparently existed years ago in Dummerston. A local contractor brought to our attention a cellulose insulation resource in town, and another resident asked for advice in reducing energy use in a campground. Our local House representatives Deen and Mrowicki have visited as well, helping us better understand the recent energy legislation and potential for implementation.

Outreach via the Views of Dummerston and this Web site is an ongoing effort. Submissions to this site — resources for energy conservation and technology, links to excellent energy-related Web sites, etc. — will be gratefully received. Simply e-mail us at energy (at) dummerston (dot) org and we will consider your information for inclusion.

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Energy Solutions

Articles by Alex Wilson in the Brattleboro Reformer.

January 31: Resilient Design: Water in a Drought-Prone Era
"Periodic drought is something that a significant portion of the U.S. will have to get used to in the coming decades. Climate scientists tell us that while precipitation will increase overall with climate change, certain regions, including the American West, will see increased frequency of drought.

I certainly saw that last year, when I spent six weeks bicycling through the Southwest, from San Diego to Houston. Most of the 1,900 miles I covered had seen barely a drop of rain since the previous fall. Statewide, Texas had an average of just 15 inches of rain in 2011--barely half of the typical rainfall." More ...

See all the archived Energy Solutions articles here.

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