Come join us at Manchester’s town hall on Earth Day - Saturday, April 22 - from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM to find out how to save money, feel more comfortable at home, and help meet Vermont’s climate goals. This event is free, open to the public, and in addition to free LED light bulbs, you could win a $50 gift certificate to R.K. Miles or Home Depot.

Local businesses that sell and install solar panels, battery back-up systems, and wind turbines will be present. There will be information about plastic waste and recycling; about regenerative farming techniques and soil health; and about the role our national forests play in fighting global warming through carbon sequestration.

A representative from the Heat Squad, a subsidiary of NeighborWorks of western Vermont, will explain how a home energy audit works, what it costs, and how it can help reduce the cost of heating and cooling your home or business. They can also help facilitate loans and locate contractors for insulating/weatherizing.

Green Mountain Power will discuss incentives that will help with the cost of switching to an electric range, car, lawn mower, battery back-up system, or cold-climate heat pump. For example, you may qualify for a $3,200 rebate plus a free Level 2 charger (worth $650) when you buy an all electric car or a plug-in hybrid. With the home car charger, your cost of driving could be as low as the equivalent of $1 per gallon.

Find out how to order custom-built storm windows that are inserted from the inside, through a program called Window Dressers. Each insert costs a tiny fraction of what a commercial storm window costs because you help construct them at a Community Build, alongside your neighbors. Because you help assemble them, Efficiency Vermont will give you $100 (for three or more inserts) through their DIY rebate program.

Efficiency Vermont will share information about their other programs that can save you money while reducing your energy consumption. They will be also be giving away LED bulbs, low-flow shower heads, and faucet aerators - while supplies last.

B-ROC (Bennington-Rutland Opportunity Council) will explain how their Financial & Energy Coach can work with individuals and families to lower your energy costs and improve your credit score.

In addition to the presenters inside, there will be electric bicycles on display outside that will be available to borrow - for free - through a “lending library” run by a Vermont-based group called Local Motion. The e-bikes can be borrowed for a few days to give you a sense of what it’s like to own one.

Come to the town hall on April 22 from 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM to learn how to borrow an e-bike, stop winter drafts from giving you chills, replace volatile fuels with alternatives, grab an LED bulb, and enter our raffle for a $50 gift certificate from R.K. Miles or Home Depot.

Presenting Partners:

11:30 AM Green Mountain Power

12:00 PM HEAT Squad

12:30 PM BROC Community Action

1:00 PM Green Mountain Power

1:30 PM Grassroots Solar

2:00 PM Efficiency VT

2:30 PM HEAT Squad

Informational Partners:

Window Dressers

Star Wind Turbines

Solar Pro

Standing Trees

Earth Matters/350VT

Bennington County Solid Waste Alliance

Local Motion

Co-sponsors:

Arlington Energy Committee

Dorset Energy Committee

Sunderland Energy Committee

Earth Matters/350VT