Public Building Energy Program (Status: Ongoing)

The Commission is launching the Public Building Energy Program to advance energy efficiency in municipal buildings. With funding from the Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund and the U.S. Department of Energy, the program will provide an energy audit for one municipal building in every town. The energy audit will prioritize building upgrades offering significant energy and cost savings.  If a municipality has already conducted an energy audit, the Regional Planning Commission will reimburse the town for the cost of that audit. The Regional Planning Commission will select a qualified energy auditor to schedule the energy audit with the contact person you provide. The energy audits began in June 2010. After the audit and written report is complete, energy auditors will be asked to present their findings to the Selectboard, and estimate the potential cost savings from implementing energy efficiency upgrades. 

The Rutland Herald profiled the program on July 3, 2010.

Rutland County Energy Challenge (Status: Ongoing)

Beginning in December 2009, the RRPC has staffed a Steering Committee for the Rutland County Energy Challenge, a multi-year collaborative effort among numerous businesses and organizations to reduce energy use and promote renewable generation throughout the County. Visit the Challenge's website at www.RutlandCountyEnergyChallenge.com.

Municipal Planning and Public Education (Status: Ongoing)

Expanding on the RRPC’s mission to provide local planning assistance, the Commission’s staff is working to integrate energy conservation and renewable energy generation into all aspects of local and regional planning, including land use, transportation, and environmental planning. The Commission has convened free Button Up Workshops to assist local residents reduce energy bills at home, and supports the region’s local energy committees through education and outreach.

Transportation Programs (Status: Ongoing)

RRPC is completing a Regional Park and Ride Needs Assessment to address the region’s underserved commuters. The Commission has expanded its Safe Routes to School program—including the creation of maps and travel plans—to help communities encourage and enable children to walk and bicycle safely. Finally, the RRPC will work with a consultant to study and implement energy efficiency upgrades to public street lighting, a simple way to improve public safety while generating long-term cost savings for municipalities.

Vermont Community Energy Mobilization Project (Status: Completed in May 2010)

The Commission assisted local coordinators in fifteen Rutland County towns organize more than a hundred volunteers to perform two hundred free home energy visits. The visits, conducted in partnership with Efficiency Vermont, provided energy efficient lightbulbs, low-flow showerheads, and other devices to reduce family energy costs. The project also identified homes that are ideal candidates for energy audits and efficiency retrofits. Read Efficiency Vermont's summary.

Way to Go! Commuter Challenge (Status: Completed in May 2010; will return in May 2011)

The Commission is partnering with statewide agencies and local employers to promote energy efficient commuting. The annual program (held each May) encourages “the use of cheaper, healthier, and more earth-friendly transportation alternatives.” Learn more at http://www.waytogovt.org.

Funding for many of these projects comes from the Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund and/or the U.S. Department of Energy under Award Numbers DE-EE0000859 and/or DE-RW0000263.

Disclaimer: This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product or process disclosed, or represents that is use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reverence herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof.