Windham Regional Commission

Details

Windham Wood Heat Initiative

Local, renewable, clean heat for our communities

The Windham Wood Heat Initiative is yielding community benefits, business success, and high performance buildings based on a sustainable local forest industry. This $1.6 million program – funded through closure of Vermont Yankee via the Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund (CEDF) – has already helped municipal, school, and public service institution buildings convert to heating with local, sustainable wood while addressing those buildings’ energy efficiency and durability needs. The program has also included public education, training for local building professionals, fuel supply procurement and other elements needed to make Windham County a long-term hub of advanced wood heat technology and practice.

CEDF defines advanced wood heating systems as those that utilize highly efficient technology, produce low emissions, support healthy forest ecosystems, and consume local wood (from within a 50-mile radius).

Request for Proposals
WRC is seeking proposals for WWH projects for a final round of supported installations.
Please see the Request for Proposals here.
Due Date for Proposals: Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 5pm.

Eligibility
Public schools, municipal buildings, public serving institutions and commercial buildings within Windham Country are eligible for assistance.

Incentives Available
Buildings selected for participation in the program will get one-on-one coaching through the project development, bid review, budget, and public approval process, plus incentives of 25% of the installation cost of the boiler system (with a maximum of $75,000) and an added 10% of that installation cost if the buildings pursue energy conservation measures outlined in the audit report (with a maximum of $25,000).

For Interested Towns, Schools, Institutions, and Commercial Buildings
To inquire about the available opportunities, contact Margo Ghia: 116 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., (802) 257-4547 x116. You will be asked for some basic information about your building, including current heating system and average annual fuel bills, and lean what the next steps will be based on your particular situation.

Woods to Warmth: The Journey of the Pellet

About the Windham County Team
A Windham County-based project team consisting of seasoned business and non-profit and public entities, leveraging regional and national expertise, created the program now housed with the Windham Regional Commission, a quasi-public agency assisting towns in southeastern Vermont to provide effective local government and work cooperatively with them to address regional issues. The commission draws advice from the team and its advisory committee consisting of:

Sustainable Energy Outreach Network: a non-profit organization dedicated to developing a strong renewable energy and energy efficiency economy in southeastern Vermont.
Building Green, Inc.: a consulting group specializing in an integrative approach to design, specification, and construction that minimizes ecological impact and maximized economic performance of buildings.
Innovative Natural Resource Solutions: a consulting group specializing in forest policy, renewable energy, environmental auditing, land conservation and wildlife management.
Northern Forest Center: a non-profit organization catalyzing economic opportunity and community vitality from healthy working forests.

Completed Projects
Windham Wood Heat Initiative has supported 27 projects to date with 11 new system installations completed or currently underway, 20 comprehensive audits, and 2 system upgrades. We are happy to arrange tours of the completed systems and to connect you with those who’ve made the switch- contact us if you’d like to make a connection! A sample of installed systems is below: