2018 Burlington Home Energy Tour

Join us on Saturday, September 29, 10:00-1:00 for Burlington Electric Department’s second annual self-guided Home Energy Tour.  Visit one or all of these open houses for inspiration on how to reduce your own heating and cooling costs while living comfortably.  Learn from Burlington home owners who are using solar, heat pump technology, and in-home energy devices plus weatherization to keep their Burlington homes warm in winter and cool in summer.  Biking, carpooling, and car sharing recommended.  

142 Locust Terrace:  Built in 1950, this Sisters Neighborhood home boasts a tightened up basement, to reduce moisture and dehumidifier use, including air sealing and rock wool insulation.  Coupled with a new heat pump water heater, this home recently transitioned off natural gas, and now meets all its energy needs through electricity, with a pellet stove as its only heat source.  In addition, it has carefully chosen LED lights everywhere except in enclosed dome lights, a new second floor built in 2012 to exceed insulation requirements, and a white-shingled roof.  The first floor underwent an energy audit and received blown-in cellulose insulation and weatherstripping.  Ventilation is provided by two bathroom fans with Air Cycler Smart Exhaust switches.  This home has achieved high energy efficiency on a very tight budget.

196 rear South Union Street:  Winner of the Vermont Green Building Network’s “Greenest Award” for residential properties, this new 2,026 square foot home has a 5.6 kW solar array, two cold climate heat pumps, a heat recovery ventilation system, a heat pump water heater, and LED lighting throughout.  And given its downtown location and the homeowner’s plug-in hybrid vehicle, this home’s transportation footprint is significantly less than that of its suburban counterparts.

19 Oakland Terrace:  This classic cape-style home in Burlington’s New North End was cold and drafty, particularly in the upstairs. Following an energy audit, and thanks to improved ventilation in the bathroom, plus foam insulation in the attic and knee walls, this home now boasts 16% reduction in overall energy use, making it a 2018 Building Performance & Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® award winner.

8 Proctor Place:  This lovely Lakeside home was constructed with health, comfort and energy in mind.  Starting with a thick and well-insulated thermal envelope, including triple-glaze windows, this home meets nearly all its energy needs through solar, and uses about 60% less energy than a home built to current code.  This home also uses many locally sourced products and low carbon-cost components.  A Conditioning Energy Recovery Ventilation system is used to maintain the interior air quality and health.  This home uses no natural gas, making it one of Burlington first “net zero” properties. This home is also part of the High Performance Homes program.

71-73 Peru Street:  Originally built as a duplex, this centrally located property has provided worker housing for over 100 years. In the past decade, renovations have cut energy use by more than half and improved comfort and durability. Now comprised of four apartments, the house has received comprehensive air sealing, attic and wall insulation, and ventilation from CVOEO, and later, basement insulation, two heat pump water heaters, and two dual head heat pumps. The south face was renovated to increase solar gain and daylighting. Finally, and perhaps most important from an energy or emissions perspective, the location one block from Church St is walkable, bikable, close to transit, and makes living car-free attainable and enjoyable.

 

The Burlington Home Energy Tour is sponsored by: