Are you interested in how to become more energy efficient in your home and world? 

Each day, more and more information comes across our newsfeeds on how citizens of the world can become more energy efficient, but, navigating that information and learning what resources are actually available in our area can sometimes prove difficult. It is our hope that this page can help guide Windsor residents, and others, towards resources on energy efficiency efforts Vermont is taking and that residents can take at home.

Fun Fact: Did you know that Windsor’s Municipal Energy usage comes from renewable sources? A combination of solar energy from Windsor based solar arrays and hydro power from Martinsville Hydro in Hartland powers as much as 85% of the Municipal energy usage. The Town also uses propane as a source of heating. While it may not seem that a traditional heating fuel, such as propane, would be “green”, propane emits less emissions than traditional heating sources and was listed as a cleaner fuel in the 1990 Clean Air Act.


Driving Electric

Vermont and the Federal Government have tax credit incentives for Vermonters to go electric. Find out more about incentives and switching to electric transportation from these links below!

 
 

Solarize

Solar is nothing new in our little New England State. In the bounds of the Town of Windsor we have over 5 large scale solar arrays as well as many residents that have installed solar on their homes.

Small Changes you can make that have a big impact

Ready to become more energy efficient, here are some small improvements you can make that have a big impact, without being a big hit on your wallet.

  • Make your home more energy efficient: weatherizing you home with increased insulation and finding and reducing airflow gaps in your home help keep warm/cool air and assist in maintaining temperatures in your home resulting in energy cost reductions.

  • When buying new appliances, make sure they have the “Energy Star” logo, to ensure you are getting a product rated for high energy efficiency.

  • Need to replace your outdoor tools, like mowers, trimmers, etc? Buy electric! These battery powered tools are much quieter than gas powered, release no fumes.

  • Speaking of batteries, when the batteries you use, even those for power tools, electric yard tools, etc, ever reach the end of their life-cycle, you can easily recycle them right in Town! There are two battery recycling buckets outside the Police/Municipal Offices entrance.

  • Properly recycle and dispose of other “hazardous waste” deemed items to keep them out of the land fill. Learn more, and see when the next large collection day event is for Windsor residents on the Southern Windsor/Windham Counties Solid Waste Management District webpage.

  • Switch to LED lightbulbs when you need a bulb change in your home, garage, or workspace. LED bulbs are longer lasting and more cost efficient over time than traditional bulbs. Just make sure you properly dispose of your old bulbs!

  • Think more about where your food comes from and food waste. Shopping local farms and stands benefits your community. Edgewater Farms in Plainfield even has a Windsor drop-off on Wednesday evenings. Learn more: https://www.edgewaterfarm.com/csa-shop. With food waste, make sure you are composting. Composting can be picked up curbside by your local rubbish collector, brought to Jeff’s Rubbish Fast Trash on Wednesday Evenings, or by composting right at home. Home composting makes for great, nutritious soil for your garden or flower beds. Click this link for home composting information from our solid waste district: https://www.vtsolidwastedistrict.org/composting.html