2015 LEAP Projects
Here’s a sample of LEAP’s 2015 activities:
9th LEAP Energy Fair : On Saturday, April 11 the 9th LEAP Energy Fair was held at the CBMS gym and attracted 75 exhibitors and almost 700 attendees making it one of the largest such events in Vermont. Attendees at this free event toured displays and spoke with experts about solar power, pellet stoves, geothermal, biomass, green building, and many other topics.
Walk & Bike to School Day: On May 6 Waterbury in Motion (a LEAP program) helped organize a Walk & Bike to School Day. More than 175 children and adults gathered at Rusty Parker Park, enjoyed breakfast provided by LEAP, and then bikers and walkers proceeded in groups to TBPS and CBMS. These events help encourage an expanded biking and walking culture in Waterbury and Duxbury.
3rd LEAP Solar Fest: On July 22 LEAP hosted the 3rd LEAP Solar Fest. It was held at the Crossett Brook Middle School cafeteria and more than 100 people attended. The free event included live music by Colin McCaffrey, free pizza, drinks and Ben & Jerry's ice cream, and the opportunity for local residents to speak to several local solar installers, to VSECU regarding financing solar, and to hear first-hand from a number of neighbors who are already using solar power.
Georgetown University Energy Prize: Thanks to LEAP’s leadership, Waterbury and Duxbury have been selected among 50 communities across the United States to be semi-finalists for the Georgetown University Energy Prize (www.guep.org). The $5 million prize, which encourages communities to save as much energy as possible, is aimed at towns of between 5,000 and 250,000 residents. The objective of the prize is to foster innovative approaches to energy efficiency, to foster public awareness and engagement in energy-related issues, and to grow markets for the products and services that facilitate energy efficiency. The proposal includes actions that would help continue to improve energy efficiency in schools, town buildings, and residences through education and public awareness activities, and the promotion of rooftop and small-scale backyard solar arrays for private residences. Should Waterbury and Duxbury be selected for the finalist phase, there will be meetings in both towns to generate feedback about how the prize money would be used. LEAP is currently collaborating with two other Vermont semi-finalists (Montpelier and South Burlington) as well as Efficiency Vermont, Green Mountain Power, and other statewide entities.
Articles in the Waterbury Record: Throughout 2015 LEAP has run articles in the Waterbury Record on a wide variety of topics related to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and emissions reduction. In each case, the articles were designed to help readers learn different ways to save energy and reduce their fuel bills.
Walk & Bike to School Day: On September 16 Waterbury in Motion helped organize a Walk & Bike to School Day. More than 150 children and adults gathered at Rusty Parker Park, enjoyed breakfast provided by LEAP, and then bikers and walkers proceeded in groups to TBPS and CBMS.
NEST thermostats: Through a partnership with Efficiency Vermont LEAP helped distribute for free 100 NEST thermostats (worth $250 each) in Waterbury and Duxbury. These programmable thermostats help people save on their fuel bills by systematically reducing the temperature when programmed to do so, such as at the end of the day when everyone goes to bed.
Solar Panels on the Roof: Upon the request of town officials LEAP helped prepare a draft RFP that could be used to solicit proposals for bids to install solar panels on the roof of the Waterbury Municipal Complex.