The following is a list, in reverse chronological order, of LEAP’s activities since we began in April, 2007.  We are always looking for creative and effective ideas for ways to reduce carbon emissions and promote energy efficiency and the use of renewable resources in Waterbury and the surrounding area.   If you would like to suggest an initiative LEAP should consider, please contact us and join us in this exciting, important work!

2010 Projects

4th Annual LEAP Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Rally: Saturday, April 10 from 10:00 am - 12:30 pm at the Crossett Brook Middle School gym in Duxbury, VT. Tour 40 exhibits. Meet energy efficiency, renewable energy, and localvore experts. Get your questions answered. Learn how to save energy, reduce your fuel bills, and shrink emissions. Help celebrate Crossett Brook Middle School's $50,000 solar grant and hear about the project. Listen to several inspiring guest speakers. Learn about energy efficiency and renewable energy projects by local students.  Enjoy great localvore food and products by local vendors. 300-350 people are expected to attend. Come join your neighbors at the Rally!  Shop local! Questions? Contact Keith Thompson at kothomps@hotmail.com or 224-6933.

LEAP Website and Social Media:  Our Social Media Guru, Nathan Winters, has designed and built LEAP's beautiful new website, and he is also helping LEAP spread the word about our work through Twitter, Facebook, an E-Newsletter, and other social media efforts.   If your organization needs web or social media assistance you should contact Nathan at nathan.andrew.winters@gmail.com 

Business Energy Savings Breakfast:  On Thursday, March 4 from 7:30 - 8:30 am. Energy efficiency expert Paul Zabriskie, Director of EnergySmart of Vermont will share dozens of ways a business or commercial property can reduce its energy consumption and save on fuel bills. Paul will provide lots of tangible suggestions you can put into practice immediately, answer questions you’ve been puzzling about, and provide helpful materials you can take with you. Click here for details.

EECBG Energy Efficiency Grants:  LEAP helped Waterbury submit a final application for $49,500 from EECBG (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants) to help Waterbury upgrade its street lighting to much more energy efficient technology.

Crossett Brook Middle School Solar Project:  CBMS was awarded one of ten $50,000 Solar in School grants from the Vermont Department of Education!  LEAP and CBMS have sent out a Request for Bid to solar vendors and we expect that by mid-August we will have constructed a 10 -14 kW solar array on Crossett Brook Middle School.  The school will also have a video monitor in its front hall showing live data from the array, and many classes will have included renewable energy in their curriculum.

2009 Projects

EECBG Energy Efficiency Grants:  Assisted Waterbury in submitting two EECBG (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants) applications that would fund almost $100,000 in local energy efficiency projects.

Crossett Brook Middle School Solar Project:  Submitted a $50,000 Solar in School grant application to the Vermont Department of Education to support the construction of a 9.4 kWh solar array on Crossett Brook Middle School.

Renewable Energy Curriculum in Local Schools:  LEAP members held several meetings with local school teachers, principals, and the School Board to help support and encourage the discussion and study of renewable energy alternatives in various classes in Thatcher Brook Primary School, Crossett Brook Middle School, and Harwood Union High School.

LED Holiday Lights:  LEAP partnered with Revitalizing Waterbury to replace the old holiday lights used throughout Waterbury with much more energy efficient LED lights that last many times longer than conventional lights and use a fraction of the energy.

LEAP Becomes a Non-Profit:  LEAP applied for and received from the IRS the designation as an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. This designation will help LEAP when applying for future grants, and will allow it to receive tax-deductible donations to support its work.

Spoke at VECAN Conference:  Keith Thompson (LEAP Treasurer) and Duncan McDougall (LEAP Chair) were panelists at the VECAN Community-Based Energy & Climate Action Conference.  Keith spoke about how LEAP was started and what keeps it going.  Duncan spoke about LEAP’s proposed solar power projects on local schools.

Button Up Seminar:  Held a free ‘Button Up’ Home Energy Savings Workshop.  30 people attended – one of the best turnouts in Vermont in 2009 for a Button Up event.

Thatcher Brook Middle School Solar Project:  Received a $6,000 grant from Green Mountain Power to help support the construction of a 2.0 kWh solar array on Thatcher Brook Primary School. LEAP is continuing to raise the remaining funds necessary to start the project.

350.org Event:  Duncan McDougall (LEAP Chair) was a panelist at the 350.org event with Senator Bernie Sanders in Waterbury.

Waterbury Energy Coordinator:  Selected Jim Goodman to be the first Waterbury Energy Coordinator.  Jim is a Waterbury resident, and he has several years of experience in the wind industry.  He works approximately 8 hours per week on LEAP-related projects.

Local Presentations:  Gave presentations about LEAP’s work to the Waterbury Selectboard, Waterbury Tourism Council, and the Waterbury-Duxbury School Board.

3rd Annual LEAP Rally:  Hosted 3rd Annual LEAP Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Rally at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters.   225 people attended.   The event involved 24 exhibits, guest speakers, and a parade through town.

1st LEAP Film Festival: Hosted the 1st LEAP Film festival that screened four films at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters with subjects relating to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and emissions.

Support at Town Meeting:  Received unanimous support from local residents at 2009 Waterbury Town Meeting for an appropriation of $2,500 to help support LEAP’s work.

Fundraiser with Revitalizing Waterbury: Held a joint fundraiser (‘Spring for Waterbury’) with Revitalizing Waterbury that raised approximately $5,000, half of which went to LEAP to support a Waterbury Energy Coordinator

Grant to Replace Two Municipal Furnaces:  Received a $12,000 Vermont Community Climate Change grant to replace old burners in the Waterbury Town Library and the Waterbury wastewater treatment facility with much more energy efficient models.

2008 Projects

Spoke at VECAN Conference: Duncan McDougall (LEAP Chair) was a panelist at the VECAN Conference “Community-Based Approaches to Energy & Climate Change”.  He spoke about organizing and running a town energy committee (see Duncan’s 10 Tips).

Arranged Free Energy Audits for Local Businesses: Partnered with Efficiency Vermont to provide free energy audits to almost a dozen local businesses.

Button Up Seminar:  Held a free Button Up Home Energy Savings Workshop.  72 people attended – one of the best turnouts in Vermont in 2008 for a Button Up event.

Energy Efficiency Contest at School:  LEAP organized and coordinated an energy efficiency contest among some classes of students at Crossett Brook Middle School to encourage the students and their families to make changes that would allow them to reduce energy usage and lower fuel bills.

Helped Draft Waterbury Town Plan:  After being contacted by the Waterbury Planning Commission, LEAP members provided considerable input and ideas to help draft the Energy and Transportation sections of the Waterbury Town Plan.

New Logo and Banners: Thanks to a grant from the New England Grassroots Environment Fund, LEAP hired a designer to create a logo and we produced two banners to use a public events.

Arranged Free Energy Audits for All Municipal Buildings: Partnered with Efficiency Vermont to provide free energy audits to all Waterbury municipal buildings.  Town officials have since carried out many of the changes and investments recommended by the audit report.

2nd Annual LEAP Rally:  Hosted 2nd Annual LEAP Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Rally at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters in Waterbury.   185 people attended.   The event involved 16 exhibits, guest speakers, and a parade through town.

2007 Projects

Distributed Compact Fluorescent Bulbs: At various locations and events LEAP volunteers distributed more than 2,100 compact fluorescent bulbs to local residents at 99 cents each (the cost at which LEAP purchased the bulbs through an arrangement with Efficiency Vermont and local retailers). Over time the bulbs will save our community almost $100,000 in energy costs!

Column in Local Paper:  Started a periodic column (“Get Energized”) in the Waterbury Record

Energy Efficiency Tips:  Distributed many hundreds of cards with energy efficiency tips at Waterbury Independence Day parade and farmer’s market. The cards offered ideas for ways to reduce energy usage and save on energy bills.

Organizational Meetings:  Held meetings to form the LEAP organization, determine LEAP’s mission, and select upcoming projects.

1st Annual LEAP Rally:  Hosted 1st Annual LEAP Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Rally at the Waterbury Senior Center.  The event, help in conjunction with the national Step-It-Up Day, was standing-room-only and drew 125+ people. The rally involved 10 exhibits, guest speakers, and a colorful parade through town.