In 2020 Vermont’s Energy Action Network formed a Weatherization at Scale action team, with the goal of weatherizing every home owned or rented by low-to-moderate income Vermonters by 2030. The coalition, which includes Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA), successfully urged Vermont lawmakers and the Governor to invest more than $20 million towards weatherization in the FY 2022 state budget. This includes a $9 million pilot tariffed to-the-meter financing home weatherization program to be administered by VHFA.
Energy
VHFA launches car sharing initiative
VHFA recently began partnering with CarShare Vermont to offer its staff access to shared vehicles for business travel. This initiative will allow the Agency to reduce its carbon footprint while making travel more convenient and more affordable for its staff.
VHFA has long encouraged housing development in downtown, walkable areas, with the goal of connecting Vermont renters with jobs, schools and amenities, reducing reliance on cars and decreasing harmful emissions. However, going without a personal vehicle in Vermont can be challenging. Even if Vermonters are able to go without a car or reduce the number of cars in their household, it is often necessary to travel to rural areas that don’t have robust public transportation.
How we heat our homes matters
This commentary by VHFA Executive Director Maura Collins appeared recently on VTDigger
There is only so much room in our budgets for housing, heating, and transportation, and when we sit down to pay our bills it’s clear how inextricably linked each of these are.
When thinking about our budgets, too many Vermonters are faced with an affordability crisis. Volatile fossil fuel prices and old, leaky homes combine to make winters uncertain and uncomfortable.
Parkview Apartments in Newport receive energy-efficient updates
Residents of Parkview Apartments in Newport celebrated energy-efficient improvements to their apartment complex at a ribbon-cutting ceremony held last week. The $3.1 million project was overseen by RuralEdge, which owns the twelve affordable units. The project was supported by Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA), which awarded state and federal tax credits as well as a construction loan.
2017 Green Real Estate Symposium
Join us this Wednesday, October 25, 2017 for the Green Real Estate Symposium hosted by our friends at Vermont Realtors.
The event will include information on three main topics. First, appraisers will be educated on how to accurately evaluate a house for its energy efficiency. They'll also learn how to point out areas that could be performing better.
Next, market research on green energy will show us why we are measuring sustainable energy in the first place.
Finally, the symposium will cover guided techniques and phrases for articulating the true value of a green home to prospective residents.
McKnight Lane exemplifies Vermont's bold steps toward energy independence
The 14-unit McKnight Lane rental housing neighborhood in Addison County captured national attention this week as the New York Times spotlighted the bold initiatives of Green Mountain Power to reduce its customers' dependence on the electrical grid.
Elm Place ribbon cutting
Governor Phil Scott joined by Executive Director Sarah Carpenter and others on June 5, cut the ribbon on the newly-constructed, 28,000 square foot Elm Place, an affordable residence for seniors, located in Milton.
Elm Place is considered a “passive house” due to its impressive energy savings. Some of these savings come from its cold climate air source heat pumps, a rooftop solar array and LED lighting. A few of Elm Place amenities include an elevator, exercise room, on-site storage, kitchen, lounge, laundry facilities, covered parking and an outdoor courtyard, including garden beds for resident use.
VHFA and Housing Vermont celebrate 2016 Carbon Throwdown
Yesterday was pay up day for our friends at Housing Vermont who graciously served VHFA staff a delicious lunch in honor of our 2016 Way to Go Challenge Carbon Throwdown win.
The friendly competition resulted in estimated savings of 6,475 miles of driving as 43 staff from the two agencies used alternative means of transportation during the 2-week competition in October.
Way to go!
Even with our combination of ingenuity, determination and, resolution to lead on climate and clean energy, a real need exists for even greater innovation. Where do we go from here, as we head toward an election that may bring unprecedented change not just at home but throughout the nation?
At the Renewable Energy Vermont 2016 Conference & Expo, you'll hear from four leaders at the forefront of our energy transformation during a special plenary session entitled, 2026: Envisioning Our Energy Future.
Upcoming appraisal courses follow recent studies of energy efficient homes
In light of research documenting the lower default risks of mortgages for energy-efficient homes, the Vermont Green Home Alliance invites lenders and appraisers to consider two exciting courses scheduled for October 13-14, 2016 in Concord, New Hampshire: