Net Zero Energy Podcast

While working at 1-800-Got-Junk, Josh Costa saw tons of mattresses being sent to the landfill and was inspired to start Sleep Well Recycling. Josh’s new business takes apart retired mattresses so they can recycle the component materials and divert 75%-100% of it away from the landfill and over to a recycling center or to McNeil Generating Station.

Caytie Campbell-Orrock from the Building Electrification Institute joins us to talk about their work in helping guide Burlington’s work in eliminating fossil fuel use in buildings.

Burlingtonian Bill Calfee has launched Myti, an online shopping platform that aims to provide local alternatives to Amazon and other large online retailers. Working with local retailers keeps the money local and greatly cuts down on shipping and packaging costs and their effect on our environment.

Jared Duval, Executive Director of the Energy Action Network, shares the findings of their annual progress report. The report provides an in-depth analysis of where Vermont stands relative to its climate commitments and energy goals.

Kelly Lucci from Efficiency Vermont and Justine Sears from VEIC join Jen to discuss the 2023 Vermont Energy Burden Report that details the percentage of a household’s income spent on electricity, heating, and transportation. Measuring this burden is a powerful way to understand the impact of energy costs across the state, and where energy expenses are highest.

Rob Conboy from Glavel, a foam glass gravel manufacturer out of Burlington VT, talks about the versatile and lightweight building material.

Daryoush Khmanei shares his story of learning to cook and creating the all-electric Micro Mobile Kitchen vehicle to bring his lunch menu to locations all around Burlington.

Charles Dillard is Burlington’s Principal Planner in the office of City Planning. He joins us today to talk about Transportation Demand Management or, the more friendly term, Transportation Options. The goal of TDM is help get people out of cars as often as possible and, for when cars are necessary, making that option more accessible to all of our neighbors.

BED Regulatory Specialist Amber Widmayer and General Manager Darren Springer talk about the recent legislative session. Amber and Darren talk about the progress made on the Clean Heat bill, fee structuring for EV drivers, and how they contribute to the legislative process at both the State and Federal level.

Our next door neighbors at the Department of Public Works, Lee Perry (Division Director for Maintenance) and Dave Hammond (City Fleet Manager) join us to discuss the successes and challenges of moving our city’s fleet of vehicles to electric.