Islanders Caring for the Environment Vt-ICE.groupsite.com

Welcome to the ICE Groupsite.

ICE is a grassroots organization that identifies opportunities and implements ways to reduce Islanders impact on the environment. ICE is a community effort seeking to reduce our carbon footprint as individuals and as a community. ICE now serves all of the Grand Isle County.

ICE is an information resource about energy use, energy saving techniques, and alternative energy ideas. We are working to reduce energy use in all municipal buildings.

CONTACT: ICE-Vt@Hotmail.com
Follow us on Front Porch Forum

Up Coming Events:

Northwest Regional Energy Fair  Saturday June 16th, 9-2 at St Albans Taylor Park


Next Meeting - Thursday June 7th, 7:00 pm at So Hero Town Office

Agenda:
Renewables in Grand Isle County
Visits to Select Boards and Town Offices
Go Vermont Car and Van Pooling
Public Transportation
Open discussion

Alternative Energy Options Discussion held May 7th

Over 90 people participated at the Alternative Energy Options hosted by the So Hero Congregational Church. Panelists included Betsy Hardy of Vt Interfaith Power and Light (vtipl.org), Gabrielle Stebbins and Julie Bellino of Renewable Energy Vt (revermont.org), Caleb Elder of All Earth Renewables (allearthrenewables.com), Chuck Reiss of Reiss Building and Renovation (reissbuilding.com), Dwayne Cormier and Ben Gordesky of DC Energy Innovations (dcenergyinnovations.com), Brent Whitney of I Land Energy (ilandenergy.biz), and Bob Buermann of ICE (Islanders Caring for the Environment: VT-ICE.groupsite.com).

The discussion started with Gabrielle reviewing the Vermont energy use landscape. One third of the energy is used for transportation and the state strategy is to move towards more electric and biofuels. Another third of energy is used for heating with a strategy to continue weatherization and conservation programs. The final third of energy is used for electricity and the state strategy is to develop smart grid/smart metering, renewables such as wind, photovoltaics, methane generation, geothermal, and hydro generation.

Julie presented an overview of how solar photovoltaics, solar hot water, wind generation, and geothermal heating work. (copy of this presentation will be available on the ICE groupsite).

Members of the panel emphasized the importance of first performing weatherization and electrical reduction activities, as they have the most pay back for amount invested and result in less energy necessary to be supplied by renewable methods.

The question and answer portion resulted in discussions about tax credits (there are 15% state and 30% federal credits available), the effectiveness of wind and solar in our island environment (both can be feasible), and how geothermal can be applied here.

We briefly discussed how PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) can be used to pay back weatherization and renewables loans though an extra charge on the borrowers property tax bill. None of the Grand Isle County towns currently allow PACE, as it must be approved through a town wide vote. There is no additional cost to the town to participate in the process.

We also discussed Smart Meters and the current Vt Electric Co-op WattWatchers (vermontelectric.coop/watt-watchers), where all users can monitor their hourly energy use.

Thanks to Phil Reynolds and the members of the So Hero Congregational Church for coordinating and inviting the community to participate.



Activity Status

Climate Change Grant:
South Hero Office lighting change has saved $269 in the last year. The total cost was $1,749, the grant supplied $1,250, the rebate from Eff Vt was $360, so the cost to So Hero was $139. We have already saved more then we spent. The furnace and doors cost $12,162 and the grant covered $10,750. We will have a comparison of oil usage later this fall. Our report to the State is in the documents section.


  Municipal Building Energy Audits:
The Audit reports for South Hero Town Office, Garage, and Museum are posted in the documents section. The Garage lighting has already been upgraded. We are getting bids for weatherization work in the Town Office 2nd floor and attic. Audits have also been completed in Grand Isle and updates have been completed in the Town Office building.  The work is partially paid using a grant administered by the Northwest Regional Planning Energy Committee.


 Community Catalyst Fund Grant from Clean Air Cool Planet:
ICE has received $2,112 to be help in our County wide expansion. We have purchased 500 CFL bulbs to distribute through out the county. We now have a canopy and tables for outside events and four new banners.


 Alternative Energy and Energy Star projects in Grand Isle County
ICE is developing a list of locations in town that have implemented alternative energy items (photovoltaic, solar hot water, wind turbine, Energy Star rated, etc). We will make a photo demonstration of what works in our area. Please contact ICE if you have suggestions. Only people who agree to be on the list will be included

ICE members are participating in the Northwest Regional Planning Energy Committee.

Button Up VT Weatherization:
ICE has a number of Button Up VT videos demonstrating simple home weatherization activities. Contact us if you want to borrow one.


Plans for 2012:
1) Implement recommendations from Town Office, Garage, and Museum Energy Audits.
2) Investigate grants for Folsom School (furnace, lights, weatherization, No Idling program?)
3) Grow ICE to have more town involvement
4) Prepare draft information for potential grant applications

Potential Future Activities:

Develop demonstration projects for  Hot Water Solar, Solar Electricity, Wind Turbine
  Host Island Tour of alternative energy and Energy Star rated homes.
Host lecture/workshop related to Environment or Energy
Bulk purchase or supply LED lights, CFL, or weatherization materials
Clearing house resource for simple weatherization activities for residents
Proactive planning/engineering/design for future municipal buildings to be energy and environmentally efficient

Reduce county wide fossil fuel usage by 10% by 2012 and 50% by 2020

REFERENCES:
ICE http://vt-ice.groupsite.com/
Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network (VECAN) http://vecan.net/
Efficiency Vermont http://www.efficiencyvermont.com/pages/
EPA New England Community Energy Challenge http://epa.gov/region1/eco/energy/energy-challenge.html
EFI - Energy Federation Inc (energy products) http://efi.org/
10% Challenge http://www.10percentchallenge.org/
Clean Air/Cool Planet http://www.cleanair-coolplanet.org

SERG - Sustainable Energy Resource Group http://www.serg-info.org/
Vt Interfaith Power and Light   vtipl.org
Renewable Energy Vt     revermont.org

Northwest Vt Solid Waste District - http://www.nwswd.org/
Northwest Regional Planning Commission - http://www.nrpcvt.com/
http://www.350.org
Energize Vermont http://www.energizevermont.org
Vt State Wide Environmental Education Program http://www.vermontsweep.org/
Environmental Literacy Vt http://environmentalliteracyvt.org/
New England Environmental Education Alliance http://neeea.org/

Way to Go Commuter Challenge http://www.waytogovt.org/
Go Vermont Ride share and commuting http://www.connectingcommuters.org/
Nature Conservancy Invasives information http://www.nature.org/vermont/weeds
Vermont Energy Atlas http://www.vtenergyatlas.com