Ward 1 NPA

Ward 1 Neighborhood Planning Assembly (NPA) Wednesday, March 11, 2026 In-person at the Friends Meeting House, 173 North Prospect Street And Zoom online: https://zoom.us/j/96245939050 Webinar ID: 962 4593 9050 Or by phone: +1 929 205 6099 ID = 962 4593 9050 ​ Facilitator: Carol Livingston​ ​ Recorder: Gretchen Platt 6:15 - Welcome and Food (Namaste Kitchen Express) 6:30 - Formal Start - project & review agenda & participation guidelines ​ Introductions & Announcements: share events, meetings, activities of interest to Ward 1 community. ​ 6:40 - Speakout - an opportunity to raise concerns & appreciations about Ward 1 community 6:55 - NPA business ​ Introduce slate of Steering Committee members to be voted on at April’s meeting and solicit interest in new SC members - 10 ​ Annual priorities for City Council consulting with NPA - 20 ​ NPA budget - ideas for spending the remaining balance ($1000) - 10 7:35 - City Council update - Allie Schachter & Carter Neubieser 7:55 - Burlington School Commission update - Matt Price & Gary Golden 8:05 - Reducing fossil fuel use at home - Jacob Flanagan 8:30 - Adjourn Ward 1 NPA Steering Committee Carol Livingston carol.livingston1951@gmail.com, Jonathan Chapple-Sokol chapplesokol.npasc@gmail.com, Sam Doherty samcharlesdoherty@gmail.com Gretchen Platt gshuman7005@yahoo.com Rob Gutman rgutman@gmail.com Page 1 of 30  Participation Guidelines: The Ward 1 NPA is sustained by community involvement and encourages engagement at our monthly meetings per the following guidelines: 1. We are collectively responsible for following the NPA Meeting Agenda as closely as possible regarding both presentation/discussion topics and time. 2. Participants at the NPA will act in a positive, courteous manner that respects all of those present (both participants and presenters/guests) and their differing opinions, experiences and perspectives. 3. Any attendee requesting to speak who has not yet spoken at a meeting will be called on before others who have already had a chance to speak. Priority is given to Ward 1 residents. 4. Whenever speaking, please be sure to project your voice and use the provided microphone if provided. 5. If the facilitator feels the need to redirect activity in the room based on these guidelines, the facilitator will do so per point number 1 above. Page 2 of 30 Ward 1 NPA: To be discussed at Meeting on March 11, 2026 A. Annual priorities for City Council 1. Development agreements and MOUs with UVM and UVMMC 2. Traffic management that could impact pedestrians 3. Tax burden redistribution 4. Advisory Group/Ad Hoc Committee Recommendations 5. Use of parks and development of open space 6. Municipal development plan 7. Others? B. Ideas for spending our account balance ($1,000) by May 31, 2026: [NPA expenditures must address at least one of the following: 1. Promoting the NPA 2. Providing residents with information about City programs/activities 3. Gaining input from residents about City needs] 1. Outreach - distribute flyers 2. Welcome sign to neighborhood 3. Beautification project 4. Community garden 5. Schmanska Park amenity 6. Community Event 7. Little Free Libraries - repair, renovate, create 8. Bus stops - benches 9. Workshops teaching a skill: gardening, pickleball; nature walk; Centennial Woods 10. Update of Zine publication (less than $500) Page 3 of 30 Fossil Fuels How to stop burning them in your home Page 4 of 30  Why it is Important Fossil Fuel appliances are: Big ticket items ○ They last a long time (hopefully) ○ Locks us in to that fuel for a long time Stuck With It Just need 1 appliance that uses fossil fuels and we are stuck maintaining the infrastructure for that fuel. ○ There is a cost just maintaining access to a fuel ○ Incentivises using that fuel for more than one appliance Page 5 of 30 Why make a plan to replace them Now? Great Options Lots of great options and Incentives that weren’t available before Otherwise, Emergency! Most people replace these appliances when they break ○ When it is an emergency it is hard to change to something else Page 6 of 30 The Things What are we talking about? In Your Home (4) ● Dryer ● Stove ● Hot Water Heater ● Furnace/Boiler Outside Your Home (~2) Other Important things we won't talk about ● Car ● Efficiency ● Lawn equipment ● Biofuels Page 7 of 30 Heatpump, Heatpump, Heatpump How much heat Could a heatpump heat If a heatpump Could pump heat Page 8 of 30 Incentives Burlington Electric Department (BED) Rebates ● To switch from fossil fuels appliances to Electric ● To switch to more efficient electric appliances Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Tax Credits ● Renewables, Heatpumps, insulation, electrical upgrades, EVs Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Electrification Rebates for Low/Moderate Income (LMI) ● VT gets $58,555,020 to dole out ● Not available yet! Still working out procedures Page 9 of 30 Dryer Electric Dryer ● If you already have one your already done! ● If you are replacing a gas dryer ○ Purchase cost is the same as a gas dryer ● No Incentives ○ Need an electrician to install a 240V outlet ○ Could trigger need for an electrical service upgrade Page 10 of 30 Dryer Clothesline ● By far the cheapest option ● Takes some more time ● No Incentives ● Need space inside in the winter Page 11 of 30 Dryer Heatpump dryer ● Looks and feels like any other dryer ○ Works like a dehumidifier ● Many can plug into standard 120V outlet ● No vent needed ● Often come as washer/dryer combo Makes it a great ● Has condensate that needs to be emptied option for apartments ● Takes longer to dry Let’s talk about the $ ● Uses ~40% less electricity than conventional electric dryer ● Likely don’t need any electric upgrades ● $400 Rebate from BED BED ● $860 LMI Incentive from IRA - Still pending ● Costs twice as much as electric or gas dryers ● $200 - Hybrid Heatpump ○ But BED rebate gets us back down to striking range ● $400 - Full Heatpump IRA Page 12 of 30 ● *up to $860 LMI Incentive from IRA Stove Electric Stove ● If you already have one your already done! ● If you are replacing a gas stove ○ Purchase cost is the same as a gas stove ■ Starts ~$500 ○ No CO emissions into your home ○ Need an electrician to install a 240V outlet ○ Could trigger need for an electrical service upgrade ● No Incentives Page 13 of 30 Stove Induction Stove ● Knocks the socks off gas and tradition electric ○ Cooks faster ○ More responsive ○ Can set to lower temperatures Because surface never ○ Even heat gets super hot you can ○ Easy to clean clean spills while still cooking ○ Safer ● If you are replacing a gas stove ○ Costs twice as much as electric or gas stove ○ No CO emissions into your home ○ Need an electrician to install a 240V outlet BED ○ Could trigger need for an electrical service ● $200 upgrade IRA ○ Requires the use of steel or iron pots ■ If a magnet sticks to the bottom they ● *up to $840 rebate for LMI work Page 14 of 30 Stove Induction Hot Plate ● Inexpensive $60-$200 ● Works on 120V outlet ● Can supplement use of existing stove ● Portable, can use in other locations ● No Incentives Page 15 of 30 Stove Other ways to Cook without fossil fuels Can usually find one for free when college students leave, or for cheap at a reuse store ● Microwaves ○ super efficient! ● Electric Kettles ○ Fastest way to heat up water! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RpoXFk-ixZc) ● Toasters ● Toaster Ovens ○ more efficient/faster than heating up a full size oven ● Air Fryers ● Crock Pots ● Rice Cookers ● Bread Machines ● No Incentives Page 16 of 30  Heatpump hot water heaters BED Hot Water Heater ● ● $500-$800 (depends on efficiency), +$400 for LMI ● +$300-$600 through contractor (depends on efficiency) Types of Electric Hot Water Heaters IRA ● Resistive ● *30% of cost tax credit ($2000 cap/yr) ○ Cheap to buy, expensive to operate, fast reheat incentive from IRA ○ Needs 240V circuit ● *up to $1750 rebate LMI Incentive ● Hybrid (both resistive and heatpump) from IRA ○ More expensive to buy, less expensive to operate, fast reheat ○ Needs 240V circuit ○ Some dehumidification ● Heat Pump ○ More expensive to buy, cheap to operate, slowest to reheat ○ Can plug into 120V outlet ○ Some dehumidification Heatpumps heat water up slower than electric resistance or gas so to compensate a larger tanks size and/or setting the What determines how much hot water I have? tank to a higher temperature is used to achieve the same ● Tank size amount of hot water. ● Re-heat power -higher tank temperatures don't mean scalding tap temperatures. ● Water temperature Modern Heat pump hot water heaters have mixing valves so that extra hot tank temperatures are mixed with cold water so tap temps are within expectations (if set correctly). Page 17 of 30 Lease/On Bill Financing More E and I xciting th mage a sugg n the Title ests! ● VGS leases Heatpump hot water heaters ○ Lease payments are added to the gas bill ○ VGS owns it and therefore if it breaks they fix it (and it is usually faster for them to come out to your house than a plumber) ○ Great option for landlords/renters ● VGS Also leasing Hybrid centrally ducted heatpumps ○ But only the ones that still have backup gas and aren’t cold climate rated, aka don’t do much :( ● BED on-bill financing for commercial customers ○ For ventilation, emergency swap outs, facada alterations. (limited fed covid money) ● VHFA - Weatherization Repayment Assistance Program (WRAP) ○ Pay on your utility bill ○ Can add in costs for heat pumps and hot water heating to a weatherization project Page 18 of 30 Furnace/Boiler Types of Electric Heating Systems ● Resistive ○ Cheap to buy, expensive to operate, fast reheat ○ VT efficiency code prohibits resistance heat for most applications ● Hybrid (both resistive and heatpump) ○ More expensive to buy, less expensive to operate, fast reheat ○ Includes Air Conditioning ● Heat Pump ○ More expensive to buy, cheap to operate, slowest to reheat ○ Includes Air Conditioning Page 19 of 30 Electric Resistance Heaters ● Baseboard ○ Electrician installs ○ Except in special cases, not allowed by VT efficiency code ● Space heaters ○ Super cheap to buy $30-$100 ○ Super expensive if heating whole house ○ Really great to heat one room ● No Incentives Page 20 of 30 Heatpumps So Many different kinds! ● But the outside compressor probably looks something like this ● Cold climate models rated to work in -15F temps ● Can integrate electric resistance backup Page 21 of 30 Window Unit ● Like your window AC but can provide heat as well ○ Options for 120V (normal wall outlet) and 240V ○ $500-$3000 ○ Great option for renters/trailers/smaller areas ○ Not super common yet. More and better options are coming to market ■ Efficiencies/capabilities can vary greatly model to model BED ● Typical style ● $100 (energy star most efficient) ○ Likely cheapest, somewhat loud IRA ● Saddle style ○ More efficient and quiet. Also leaves more of your ● *30% of cost tax credit ($2000 window for use cap/yr) incentive from IRA ● “Portable” style ● *up to $8000 rebate LMI Incentive ○ Works in windows the other two can’t fit in from IRA ○ Louder and less efficient (the double hose versions are more efficient than the single hose versions) Page 22 of 30  BED ● Mini Split ● $1350-$5450 (depends on tons) +$500 for LMI ● +$1000-$2000 through contractor (depends on tons) ● Most common ● Most efficient IRA ● Typically just one room but can do multiple rooms as well ● *30% of cost tax credit ($2000 cap/yr) incentive ● Don’t work well with small rooms (<10’x10’) from IRA ● The one most contractors are used to ● *up to $8000 rebate LMI Incentive from IRA Page 23 of 30  Furnace Replacement (Centrally ducted) ● Straight swap in replacement for a gas furnace ● Fewer experienced contractors ● Existing ducts may need to be upsized BED ● $1250-$6250 (depending on efficiency) ● +$400 for LMI ● +$1000-$2000 through contractor (depending on efficiency) IRA ● *30% of cost tax credit ($2000 cap/yr) incentive from IRA ● *up to $8000 rebate LMI Incentive Heatpump Heat Old Furnace Replaced With from IRA Exchanger Page 24 of 30  Boiler Replacement (Hydronic - baseboard or radiant floor) ● swap in for a gas boiler ○ Likely need to swap out radiators as well ● Very few experienced contractors in VT ○ More common in UK BED and Australia ● $2000/ton ● +$400 for LMI IRA ● *30% of cost tax credit ($2000 cap/yr) incentive from IRA ● *up to $8000 rebate LMI Incentive from IRA Page 25 of 30 Questions Resources/Thanks To ● Burlington Electric Department ○ https://www.burlingtonelectric.com/rebat es ○ Brian ● Rewiring America ○ https://www.rewiringamerica.org/app/ira- calculator ○ Great compilation of the IRA incentives ● Technology Connections Youtube ○ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVL LNjSLJTQ&t=2s ○ Great resource explaining how this technology works and its pros and cons ● Mr. Electricity ○ https://michaelbluejay.com/electricity/ ○ Outdated but awesome website explaining how you can save on utility bills ● Energy Action Network ○ https://eanvt.org/annual-report/ ○ Incredible organization that, among other things, tracks VT’s progress in reducing GHG emissions Page 26 of 30 https://www.fossilfuelfreeequipmentpledge.org/ Page 27 of 30 Insulation ● Plastic windows Heat flows 3 ways ● Window Inserts 1. Conduction ● curtains ● Latch windows 2. Convection ● Caulk window trim 3. Radiation ● Spray foam holes ● Door seals ● Threshold sweep ● New windows ● New doors ● Basement insulation ● Attic insulation ● Wall insulation ● White roof Page 28 of 30 Special Loans ● Efficiency Vermont - Home energy Loan ○ Low to no interest for low and moderate income households Page 29 of 30 NPA 2&3 march 2024 presentation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbRU01bRKvU&list=PLljLFn4BZd2N95y-kUze wx0ZN0Tf8rLo_&index=2 Page 30 of 30