2016 LEAP Projects

Here’s a sample of LEAP’s 2016 activities: 

  • School Greenhouse Project: In March LEAP made a generous donation to support the school greenhouse project at Crossett Brook Middle School.  This project will help CBMS students learn about different ways our community can become more sustainable.

  • 10th LEAP Energy Fair: On Saturday, April 11 the 10th LEAP Energy Fair was held at the CBMS gym and attracted 75 exhibitors and more than 600 attendees. This fair is now the largest such event in Vermont. Attendees at this free event toured displays and spoke with experts about solar power, weatherization, green building, electric vehicles, pellet stoves, geothermal, biomass, and many other topics.  

  • Walk & Bike to School Day: On May 4 Waterbury in Motion (a LEAP program) helped organize a Walk & Bike to School Day with TBPS and CBMS. 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. These events help encourage an expanded biking and walking culture in Waterbury and Duxbury.

  • 4th LEAP Solar Fest: On July 19 LEAP hosted the 4th LEAP Solar Fest. It was held at the Crossett Brook Middle School cafeteria and almost 125 people attended.  The free event included 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.  

  • Articles in the Waterbury Record: Throughout 2016 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.

  • EV charging station at Harwood Union High School: LEAP members joined an effort led by local Electric Vehicle (EV) advocates to support the installment of an EV charging station at Harwood Union High School. The station was installed at HUHS in the fall of 2016 and is now in active use.

  • Walk & Bike to School Day: On September 21 Waterbury in Motion (a LEAP program) helped organize a Walk & Bike to School Day with TBPS and CBMS.  Two hundred 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.  

  • Heat Pump Information Session: On October 20 LEAP held a free Heat Pump Information Session at the Steele Room in the new Municipal Complex.  The event was standing room only. Attendees learned how heat pumps efficiently heat and cool a house and save money.  They learned about leasing options, heard from neighbors who are already benefitting from this technology, and then were able to speak with several local heat pump installers who answered their questions. 

  • Electric Hot Water Heaters: LEAP and Efficiency Vermont teamed up on a mailing to inform local residents about a $400 rebate to upgrade old electric hot water heaters to energy-efficient heat pump water heaters.

  • 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.

  • CVRPC Energy Planning: Upon the request of town officials, LEAP members have offered to assist with a CVRPC energy planning project if the town receives the necessary grant.

  • Lighting upgrade at Crossett Brook Middle School: Through a partnership with Efficiency Vermont, LEAP helped get a grant to pay for a lighting upgrade at Crossett Brook Middle School. The project helped CBMS replace old, inefficient bulbs in the school entryway with new energy-efficient LED bulbs. This will reduce the school’s energy bills for many years to come.