Projects and Events

Sharing Heat: An interactive workshop exploring local, affordable, clean heat solutions for Williston’s homes, businesses, and more…

The Workshop

Today, much of the heat from our homes and other buildings is wasted—vented outside or flushed down the drain— and there is untapped thermal potential right under our feet. Could we capture, repurpose, and share that thermal energy to provide efficient and affordable heating and cooling for a whole community? On May 7, 2025, 40 community members participated in a Sharing Heat workshop exploring Thermal Energy Networks.

The Replay: The event recording is available on Town Meeting TV's YouTube channel view! Please feel free to share with others who could not be in person with us on 5/7.

Take-Aways: At the workshop, we gained a shared understanding of what a TEN is, reviewed case studies near and far, and learned how TENs can play a part in achieving our urgent affordable housing goals locally. We identified two specific areas of town to focus on adding affordable and clean heating capacity, while also re-using the heat we already have:

The Taft Corners designated growth center, where we have sources of heat (especially restaurants, supermarkets, banks, and industrial uses) and needs for heat (especially hotels, residential buildings, and all manner of businesses), plus a number of to-be-built city blocks.
The Village Strip where town municipal buildings are clustered near businesses, WCS, and residences along Williston Rd.

What Happens Next?: The planning team and town committees will now assess feedback from the event and review the village/Taft Corners maps attendees doodled on together to look for promising projects we can come together around. We’ll let you know when we’re ready for another gathering. If you are inspired to work on a project, contact VTCN's Debbie New at debbie@vctn.org or Williston Energy & Community Development Planner, Melinda Scott, at mscott@willistonvt.org.

Continue Exploring TENs: Have an itch to continue learning at your own pace? Visit Vermont Community Thermal Networks' website at https://www.vctn.org/.

Thanks again to the planning team and our event sponsors: local businesses Healthy Living & Twincraft, the Williston Energy and Housing Committees, nonprofits Vermont Community Thermal Networks and Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation, and Sustainable Williston.

Williston Energy Fair

On Saturday September 16, 2023, the Williston Energy Fair hosted an Energy Fair at the Allen Brook School, 497 Talcott Road, in Williston, VT. The 2023 Energy Fair was an expansion of our very successful 2022 EV Fest. Electric vehicle (EV) owners were again in attendance to display their EVs and to discuss with residents their experiences of evaluating, purchasing and owning an EV. In all, eighteen EVs of various makes and models and a battery powered e-bike with a solar charger were on display.

The 2023 Energy Fair included a number of partner organizations and vendors who specialize in solar installations, home weatherization, cold climate heat pumps, electric lawncare devices and many more energy related products. Participating partners included Green Mtn Power (GMP) Vermont Gas (VGS), eLAWNZ, Building Energy, Green Mountain Solar, SunCommon, Safe Routes to Schools, PlugInAmerica, Mow Electric, and Williston 2050.

See this Article in the Williston Observer Green Living section for more details.

EV Fest

On Saturday, October 1, 2022, the Williston Energy Committee hosted an “EV Fest” at Allen Brook School on Talcott Road. This event showcased 18 electric vehicles of different makes and models, including the Champlain Valley School District's electric school bus. 75-100 people attended and got the opportunity to talk with EV owners about their buying and ownership experiences. Participating partners included Green Mountain Power, Green Mountain Solar, Efficiency Vermont and Drive Electric Vermont. The Energy Committee plans to hold the event again in successive years. This event also served to kickstart the Energy Committee's EV Ambassador Program described below.

EV Ambassador Program

Have you read about EVs and PHEVs and still have questions?

Would you like to talk to a Williston resident who owns an EV or PHEV?

Ask Our EV/PHEV Ambassador Team!

A group of Williston EV and PHEV owners have come together to form our EV Ambassador Team. These Ambassadors have provided information for this website and many have offered to answer your questions as you consider which EV or PHEV is right for you.

If you already own an electric vehicle and are interested in being on our Ambassador Team, please contact us at energy@willistonvt.org.

Weatherize and Electrify Campaign

In Fall of 2022 the Energy Committee received funding through the Vermont Council on Rural Development's Climate Catalyst Innovation grant program to conduct targeted outreach to provide information about weatherization and electrification incentives to low and moderate-income households with outdated heating systems and/or homes in need of weatherization. In spring of 2023, the Energy Committee conducted a survey of households in Williston identified as potentially energy burdened to get information about home energy usage, weatherization efforts and their familiarity with and/or interest in energy efficiency programs.

In total, 83 people responded. Nearly 30% of respondents noted that energy costs seem higher than they should be, and an additional 30% expressed that energy costs were currently a challenge or could be challenging if the costs were to increase. When asked to list specific energy efficiency measures they have taken, respondents answered as follows:

· Switched to LEDs (25%)

· Lowered thermostat settings (23%)

· Weatherized their homes (19%)

· Installed a more efficient heating system (10%)

· Installing a programable thermostat (10%)

· Other measures (collectively 12%) such as replacing doors and/or windows, installing on-demand hot water systems, installing a heat pump, and installing energy efficient appliances.

Many people shared tips and advice, a few of which are excerpted here:

Biggest bang for the buck are my solar panels. Used Sun Common. Expensive but without an electric bill for 3 years, they will pay for themselves in a few more years.

Vermont Gas weatherization program for mobile homes did a fantastic job in insulating underneath the house, doors, attic, windows, etc. which has greatly improved the warmth in the house this past winter and was able to lower the thermostat.

Weatherization cut our heating by 30%. LED bulbs cut our electric bill by 40%.

We had an energy audit from Building Energy and got some insulation and air sealing work done. We also had some windows replaced and doors upgraded.

Solar Panels. GE heat pump hybrid water heater. Mitsubishi heat pump for spring/summer/fall. Weatherization of all attic/crawl space/roof.

Most of what we have done has been 'do it yourself' or w/a local handyperson who can help with the easy stuff.

The Williston Energy Committee is present at many town events (such as the Isham Farmers Market, Independence Day celebration and more) to provide information on how to leverage funding and incentives from both established and newly emerging programs, so you can increase your energy savings and comfort at home. Stay tuned for announcements on Front Porch Forum and on this site. Also, you can find more information on the Resources page of the Energy Committee website.

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