The Brandon Energy Committee has been hard at work supporting the Town of Brandon in becoming more energy resilient during these uncertain times. We hope you’ll take a moment to read about our latest efforts and learn how you might benefit.

You may have heard of our Energy Navigator Program, available to Brandon and Addison County residents. We’re happy to report that over the past 6 months this grant-funded program has helped a dozen homeowners to develop cost-effective plans to weatherize their homes and reduce their energy use. The recommendations and resources our navigators provide can help save money and improve your comfort in your home. If you would be interested in setting up a navigation, reach out to Energy Navigators at [email protected].

Special Incentive! If you sign up for the Energy Navigator program during the month of March, you will be entered into a $200 gift card drawing.

Have you noticed the colorful ToolShips outside the Brandon Free Public Library? These ToolShips, created in collaboration with ReBHS, have become part of the Library’s “Library of Things”. You only need to be a member of the Library to check out any of these easily accessible, easy to use, efficient yard maintenance tools for free! Currently available tools are a snow blower and an electric snow shovel. When spring settles in, the ToolShips will be placed at locations around town with the following equipment available: two electric mowers, weed whackers, snow blower, leaf blowers (with gutter attachments), a hedge trimmer and a new power washer. 

Weatherization materials are currently available both inside the library and in ToolShip #2. Thanks to grant funding, all materials are available for you to take at no cost.  This includes weather stripping, caulk, foam, door sweeps, window kits, pipe insulation, and outlet gaskets.

In addition, you can borrow a sophisticated air quality monitor and an infrared camera from the library.  The air monitor measures radon, CO2, VOC’s, particulate matter, heat, humidity and air pressure.  The infrared camera helps identify where heat loss and cold penetration are most prevalent in your home so you can focus your weatherization efforts where they will be most effective.

This free program, along with a $100 DIY rebate available from Efficiency Vermont, can go a long way toward reducing your energy costs. 

Our last piece of good news is that with the help of the Energy Committee, the Town of Brandon has secured an incredibly generous $50,000 donation from Nifty Thrifty to be used to implement three solar projects for the town. These projects will be undertaken in the coming months and when completed will save taxpayers over $13,000 a year for decades to come.

We are looking for more volunteers to support the work of the Brandon Energy Committee. If interested please contact [email protected]. 

For the Brandon Energy Committee — Joyous! Emerson