Climate Action For You
PURPOSE
This webpage acts as a resource for incentives on energy efficiency actions and technologies that you may be interested in incorporating into your life. It provides basic information on each type of technology and up-to-date Federal, State, and Utility financial incentives available.
Energy Audits
The first step in saving energy is understanding how much you use and which products or systems use the most. A professional home energy audit will give you details about your home and prioritized recommendations. Please see the Energy Audits subpage for more information.
Weatherization
Weatherization is the key to home energy performance. Regardless of how you heat (and cool) your home, you want to keep that temperature inside. There are two main aspects of weatherization: air sealing and insulation. Air sealing means making sure that your home doesn’t have leaks. Once leaks are under control, insulation can do its job in keeping indoor temperatures stable at a comfortable level. Please see the Weatherization subpage for more information.
Heat Pumps (Space Heating)
As Efficiency Vermont explains, a heat pump can lower your heating costs considerably and double as a cooling system in the summer. Heat pump systems draw heat from the environment and move it indoors to heat your home or move it outdoors to cool your home. Air-source heat pumps gather heat from the ambient air, while ground-source heat pumps extract it from the ground. Heat pump technology has evolved in recent years, enabling this equipment to perform well in cold climates like Vermont. Please see the Heat Pumps (Space Heating) page for more information.
Heat Pumps (Water Heating)
Water heating is a home’s second-highest energy cost (up to 20% of your energy budget), so making sound choices now can lead to big savings later. Electric heat pump water heaters typically offer the best balance of up-front cost, ease of installation, and savings over time. Please see the Heat Pumps (Water Heating) subpage for more information.
Electrical System Upgrades
Switching to heat pumps, heat pump water heaters, and EVs can involve electrical service upgrades. Please see the Electrical System Upgrades subpage for more information.
Electric Vehicles
Plug-in electric vehicles (EVs) are fast, fun, and efficient. Maintenance is simpler and cheaper. Re-“fueling” is as simple as plugging into an electrical outlet, and you’ll spend the equivalent of about $1.50 per gallon of gas to do so. EVs increase our energy independence and contribute to healthier air and lower carbon emissions. Multiple purchase incentives are available to help reduce the cost of buying an EV. Please see the Electric Vehicles subpage for more information.
Electric Bicycles (eBikes)
For many Vermonters, an electric-assist bicycle is a perfect solution for local transportation, providing the right amount of boost to handle hills, be safe on the roads, and do round-trip commutes without breaking a sweat. Making an e-bike a regular part of how you get around has a big impact on your household carbon emissions. Please see the eBikes subpage for more information.
Residential Solar
Producing on-site electricity using solar panels is a great way to reduce household electric costs and carbon emissions. When combined with battery storage, solar panels also provide resilience to power outages and extreme weather events. Please see our Residential Solar subpage for more information on going solar in Vermont.
Home Appliances
Numerous incentives are available for upgrading your home kitchen and laundry appliances to high-efficiency electric models. Please see our Home Appliances subpage for more information.
Please contact Harry Falconer with any questions.
Updated April 2024.