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Jeff Padgett is a Division Director at Burlington’s Department of Public Works. As a neighbor he has worked to move his Burlington home to Net Zero Energy and away from fossil fuels. We will talk about the steps he has taken in recent years as a homeowner. 

Winter is not too far off. Is it ever far off in Vermont? So now is as good a time as any to start preparing. Today, we’re talking weatherization with Tim Perrin, Manager of Energy Efficiency and Innovation at VGS. Like BED, VGS is an Energy Efficiency Utility with their own staff of energy experts dedicated to helping Burlingtonians find ways to save energy and money.

Sophia Donforth, Executive Director at VEEP – Vermont Energy Education Program, talks about their programs that guide K-12 students and teachers in developing a deep understanding of energy efficiency and conservation, renewable energy technologies, and climate change. She also discusses the kits and other classroom materials they make available to Vermont (and NH!) classrooms.

About 90% of people who live in Burlington live within 1,500 steps or a short 15-minute walk of a market. While grocery shopping is a universal task, most people are in the habit of driving to the grocery store. Debra Sachs came by our studio to discuss Walk to Shop, a non-profit program that offers shopping trolleys at cost – or fully subsidized to many Burlingtonians in need.

Peggy O’Neill-Vivanco from the Vermont Clean Cities Coalition talks about residential and commercial advantages of switching your lawn care to electric tools. O’Neill-Vivanco and host Jennifer Green also discuss the many rebates available for helping Burlingtonians make the switch.

Burlington High Schoolers Chenoa and Finley discuss their semester in the innovative Burlington City and Lake program learning about how every aspect of the city affect our lives.

Sebbi Wu, Climate and Equity Advocate at VPIRG, and BED GM Darren Springer discuss the City of Burlington charter change that affects new construction. They also talk about the equity ballot question, our new Net Zero Energy yard signs, and the new rental weatherization policy.

Chef Chris Galarza is the founder of Forward Dining Solutions which is a resource for electric induction cooking. Chris consults with large commercial restaurants and with homeowners about the co-benefits moving away from gas cooking to electric.

Directed by Jenna Antonino DiMare, the Burlington 2030 District is public-private partnership that encourages commercial property owners and building managers in our city to reduce fossil fuel use from buildings, transportation and through stormwater mitigation.

Betsy Lesnikoski, BED’s Chief Forester, ensures that the wood burned at McNeil is harvested sustainably and ethically.