Ways To Save – Residential
BED’s Energy Services team is available to help you save energy during these challenging times. We are happy to do virtual visits to your home or business via laptop, tablet, or cell phone. We will Zoom in to review your energy usage patterns one-on-one and help you learn where savings opportunities may be. Our Energy Services team can help you with your specific project.
Energy Assistance for Low-Income Residents
Our Energy Assistance Program provides a 12.5 percent discount for eligible customers, helping offset recent rate changes. BED continues to encourage our low-income customers who are enrolled in the State of Vermont Fuel Assistance Program or federal Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program to apply for BED’s Energy Assistance Program.
Vermont Home Energy Profile
Homebuyers consider many factors when shopping for a home: updated kitchens, attractive floor plans, curb appeal, and size. For buyers who place a high value on energy efficiency, it can be hard to find this information. The Vermont Home Energy Profile helps solve this challenge.
The Vermont Department of Public Service has created a free and simple tool to help find all the ways to decide where to make improvements that lower energy costs and appeal to energy-conscious buyers when the time comes to sell your home.
Video: How to Create Your Profile
Residential New Construction
If you are planning to build your own home, there have been changes to Vermont’s statewide residential new construction program for 2022. These changes apply to both single-family homes and multi-family homes up to four units. These changes can be found on the Efficiency Vermont’s website.
If you’re building in the city of Burlington, there are additional requirements that are applicable to the way that you will heat your new home. Please refer to the Renewable Energy Space Heating Ordinance for details.
How Can I Help
- Talk with your friends and neighbors about the benefits of Net Zero Energy
- Avoid trips by using alternative transportation:
- Walk, bike, ride the bus, carpool, rideshare, vehicle share
- Consider telecommuting to work
- Electrify your vehicle
- Consider replacing a vehicle with an electric bicycle
- Buy or lease a new or pre-owned electric vehicle (EV) or plug-in hybrid EV (PHEV) to replace a conventional vehicle
- Charge your EV off-peak with BED’s special residential charging rate at the equivalent of 60 cents per gallon.
Additional Resources
- Path to Net Zero Energy buildings
- Minimum Housing Code Weatherization Ordinance (effective beginning 1/1/2022)
- New Construction
- Vermont Gas Systems (VGS) Residential Energy Services
- CVOEO Champlain Valley Weatherization
- Burlington’s new construction Renewable Energy Space Heating Ordinance (effective 9/8/2021) (Only applies to new construction projects and not existing buildings)