Net Zero Energy Burlington VT

Burlington Electric Department Policy and Equity Analyst Ita Meno discusses an exciting new multi-lingual video library designed to demystify household energy decisions. Funded by an American Public Power Association DEED grant, this project translates crucial information on weatherization, efficient heating and cooling, electric appliances, and transportation alternatives into 18 different langua...

Chris Burns, the Director of Energy Services at Burlington Electric Department, joins the podcast to share the fascinating history and future of the city’s Energy Efficiency Utility. Discover how BED establishes deep community trust, goes across the threshold to assist local homes and businesses, and partners with Vermont Gas to deliver unified energy solutions. Learn how strategic beneficial elec...

Chad Farrell, the founder and president of Encore Renewable Energy, joins the podcast to break down the evolving world of solar energy. Discover how Vermont’s recently doubled Renewable Energy Standard is reshaping the local grid and paving the way for larger, more economical multi-megawatt projects. This episode explores the challenges of modern energy permitting, the spatial constraints of urban...

Darren Springer, General Manager of Burlington Electric Department, joins the program to share the latest progress on the city’s Net Zero Energy roadmap. This episode explores a remarkable 24.3% reduction in local fossil fuel consumption for ground transportation. Discover how expanded electric vehicle incentives and thousands of heat pump installations are transforming Burlington into a sustainab...

Deb Sachs, Director of Net Zero Vermont and Project Manager of the Walk to Shop program, returns to discuss sustainable transit. Discover how modern shopping trolleys are helping Burlington reach its Net Zero Energy goals by replacing short car trips with active walking. Learn about the "Show Me Your Steps" coffee campaign launching this May, offering incentives for residents to track their progre...

Join Jigar Shah, co-founder of Multiplier and former DOE Loan Program Office Director, and Navneet Trivedi, co-founder of Vrinda, as they discuss Vermont's path to a sustainable future. Explore the transition from pilot programs to full-scale electrification during this global energy crisis. Learn why financing solutions and battery storage are critical for Burlington residents, including renters....

Much of Vermont's housing stock is old and needs weatherization. Weatherization makes homes less expensive to heat and cool and makes them more comfortable. It is essential in electrifying our housing on our path to Net Zero Energy. Mia Watson, Special Programs Manager for Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA), and Tina Lesem, a participant in the Weatherization Repayment Assistance Program (WRAP)...

WindowDressers makes insulating homes affordable and community oriented. Their low-cost insulating window inserts that function as custom, interior-mounted storm windows are assembled by volunteers all over northern New England including a group here in Burlington. Our guests Damon Lane and Karen Bates have volunteered with WindowDressers and talk about why this is such a great solution for Vermon...

Peter Sterling, Executive Director of Renewable Energy Vermont (REV), joins us to talk about the challenges and opportunities we face to meet Vermont's Renewable Energy Standard. REV aims to make these goals attainable while keeping an eye on affordability and equity for all Vermonters.

Heather Ferrell, Burlington City Arts' (BCA) Curator and Director of Exhibitions, joins us today to talk about the upcoming Human Impact: Contemporary Art and Our Environment exhibit that runs from March 13to June 20, 2026. Human Impact focuses on the pressing issues facing the natural environment of New England and the global world. Featuring a group of national and internationally recognized art...

Dwight DeCoster is Program Manager for Champlain Valley Weatherization with the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO). The organization offers homeowners AND renters weatherization services to improve home energy efficiency and comfort, and to decrease heating bills at little or no cost to qualifying residents.

Laurie Fielder is the Vice President of Green Lending at EastRise, a credit union with offices in Burlington, South Burlington, Williston, and throughout the state. Laurie talks about the ways customers can get competitive rates on special loans for making your home more energy efficient and using less fossil fuel from EastRise and other banks in Vermont

Cara Robechek, Deputy Director and Network Manager for Energy Action Network, shares the findings in this year's 2025 Annual Progress Report for Vermont on Energy, Affordability, and Emissions. The report provides an in-depth analysis of where Vermont stands relative to its climate commitments and energy goals. This year’s report highlights the theme of affordability.

Alicia Taylor, Director of Community Engagement at CarShare Vermont, shares her family's journey to being car-free. She, her husband, and two kids have found many benefits in making the switch.

Executive Director for VEEP and NHEEP Sophia Donforth returns to the podcast to share her experiences over the last 4 years and the many great energy education services offered to schools by the organization in Vermont and New Hampshire.

Retiring Chief Forester Betsy Lesnikoski reflects on the changes and advances she has seen over her 42 years with Burlington Electric Department.

Heating season is here. Is your heat pump or heat pump water heater ready for the cold months ahead? Brandon Hayes from VGS joins us today to talk about maintaining your heat pump to help it work at peak efficiency and for many years to come.

Dave Roberts of Drive Electric Vermont joins to talk about the state of EVs and EV incentives.

Darren Springer, Burlington Electric Department General Manager, discusses the state of electric vehicle incentives at the Federal level and how BED is responding with enhanced rebates for our customers.

How are today's schoolchildren dealing with news surrounding our climate? Aziza Malik, 5th grade teacher at Champlain Elementary and Teacher of the Year 2024, and Jen Cirillo, Director of Professional Learning at Shelburne Farms talk about the strategies and realities of guiding students through this topic.

Christina Erickson, Executive Director with Local Motion, joins us to talk about the 25-year history of the organization, the Bike Ferry and the bridge over the Winooski River, their state-wide advocacy work, advocating for Safe Routes to School Program including a call for more crossing guards, and more.

Zoe Richards, Director and Founder of Burlington Wildways. Zoe is a Wildlife Biologist and currently chairs Burlington's Conservation Board. Wildways is a partnership that cares for the wild places and paths of Burlington, Vermont.

Burlington City Arborist V.J. Comai talks with us about the Emerald Ash Borer, the history, variety, and age of Burlington's canopy, lessons learned from the 1998 ice storm, and plans for Main Street and Church Street.

Nour El-Naboulsi shares the exciting - and at one point harrowing - story of converting a shipping container into the home of Village Hydroponics. The all-electric grow operation is based in the Intervale and currently supports local families from Congo, Rwanda, Nepal, and elsewhere. Nour also discusses the business model and their plans going forward.

Kevin Chu, a Vermonter from birth, is now Executive Director of the Vermont Futures Project, an independent non-partisan organization working toward encouraging long-term economic growth for Vermont. Kevin talks about how they provide useful data and recommendations to achieve this goal.