Spring has long been the time when Vermonters Green Up, and this fall, for the first time, Vermonters will be encouraged to ‘Button Up.’ That’s according to Gov. Peter Shumlin, who has officially proclaimed Saturday, October 5th as ‘Button Up’ day in Vermont: a day to help neighbors take actions that will lower their energy bills this winter and reduce their contribution to climate change.
Button up Vermont ‘puts money in our pockets . . . and makes our planet more livable for future generations,’ Shumlin said, urging Vermonters to participate this Saturday.
Modeled after Vermont’s successful ‘Green Up Day’ and building on the familiar Button Up brand, this event will be the first ever grassroots day of action on weatherization in Vermont. The day, which is being spearheaded by the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network (VECAN), is aimed at mobilizing as many volunteers as possible in communities throughout the state to take steps ‘ large and small ‘ to help Vermonters stop wasting energy and become more energy independent. It is also a way to encourage Vermonters to take a serious bite out of their individual and collective contribution to climate change. There is still plenty of time for towns to sign on to the effort, and VECAN will provide support and guidance to help make participating as easy as possible.
‘As winter approaches, we hope to inspire more people to get their friends and neighbors thinking about ‘ and taking action on ‘ tightening up their homes,’ said VECAN Coordinator Johanna Miller. ‘Every year, many Vermont homeowners waste hard-earned dollars because their homes are inefficient and leaky. Button Up Vermont Day of Action is intended to be a fun, collaborative, community-driven effort to arm more people with the information, incentives and path they need to stop wasting energy and start saving money.’
To date, over 30 communities across Vermont have signed up to participate on October 5. Those communities are: Alburgh, Isle la Motte, Grand Isle, North Hero, South Hero, Bennington, Barre, Bradford, Brattleboro, Burlington, Craftsbury, Dummerston, Goshen, Hartland, Hyde Park, Jericho, Middlebury, Montpelier, Morrisville, Norwich, Peru, Putney, Randolph, Richmond, Rockingham, Rutland City, Rutland Town, Salisbury, Sharon, South Burlington, Strafford, Thetford Center, Topsham, Weathersfield and Weybridge.
The events they are undertaking range from going door-to-door with information on energy saving opportunities in Brattleboro to partnering with local hardware stores in Montpelier, Jericho and Middlebury to offer discounts on energy efficiency products. Some communities, like Burlington, are hosting home energy parties, which is a type of ‘open house’ to learn about efficiency improvements people have undertaken and talk with the homeowner and local contractor about the process and its resulting benefits. Other communities are taking the simple but potentially powerful approach of doing a social media blitz.
Jim Merriam, Director of Efficiency Vermont, which is collaborating with VECAN on this year’s Vermont Home Energy Challenge, notes that where energy efficiency is concerned, lots of small actions can add up to a big impact: ‘Vermont has long been a leader on energy efficiency, but we still have a long way to go in meeting our state’s home energy goals,’ he said. ‘Button Up day will be a chance to celebrate our communities ‘ and take real actions to move the state forward while helping Vermonters save money on their energy bills this winter.’
To learn more about Button Up Vermont Day of Action, to sign up your town up or to volunteer a few hours October 5 visit www.vecan.net.
About the Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network ‘ www.vecan.net
The Vermont Energy and Climate Action Network is the network of the state’s 100+ volunteer community energy committees and organizations working to support them. VECAN’s mission is to start and strengthen energy committees as one of the most powerful, proactive-solutions oriented responses to the energy and climate challenges facing Vermont and the world. VECAN works to help energy committees advance and implement efficiency, conservation and renewable energy projects in their communities. VECAN is coordinated by the Vermont Natural Resources Council, which is the state’s oldest, independent environmental nonprofit research, education and advocacy organization.