Annual Reports

In 2011, SERG partnered with the Thetford Energy Committee to form Thetford Home Energy Action Team (HEAT), field testing Community Based Social Marketing techniques to promote home weatherization in town.  Thetford HEAT included several programs to give homeowners a better opportunity to understand and get started on weatherizing their homes, including:

• Recruited and trained 50 volunteers who visited 650 homes (60% of Thetford homes) in town a town-wide "Door2Door" canvassing campaign, distributing free CFLs, information on energy efficiency initiatives and resources for making upgrades. Volunteers also conducted a home energy survey and helped calculate the energy efficiency of the homes visited.
• Organized a Thetford Home Energy Expo, giving homeowners the opportunity to meet with energy service contractors, attend workshops and see demonstrations of weatherization measures being installed.
• Develop 3 humorous skits on the theme that “Weatherization IS Sexy” performed by Thetford’s Parish Players at the Expo – these are posted on YouTube, linked off our website.
• Developed case studies about two Thetford homeowners who had successfully weatherized their homes—one having reduced his energy use by about 40% and the other by 46% and organized Open Home Tours of those homes so folks could visit with the homeowners and weatherization contractors.
• Organized a Weatherization Skillshop for “Do-It-Yourself” homeowners to learn how to weatherize their own homes.

Over the next 3 years we will keep track of how many Thetford residents weatherize their homes, how much energy they save and what measures made them act so we can replicate the successful measures in other communities.

SERG developed the first town energy committees in Vermont and New Hampshire in 2002.  We have since helped form networks of more that 100 town energy committees in each state and now help provide them with information, programs and resources. Each of the past 4 years we have helped organize the day-long Vermont Community Energy and Climate Action Conference that draws more than 250 local energy organizers for workshops, roundtable discussions and organizing around energy-saving and renewable energy projects. In May we organized our annual Upper Valley Energy Committee Roundtable, attended by 60 representatives from 22 town energy committees, the EPA, 3 regional planning commissions and several energy-related nonprofits and for-profit service providers.

In 2008 SERG helped create the hugely successful Button Up Home Energy Saving Workshops, which have been presented more than 200 times throughout Vermont and New Hampshire.  SERG presented 10 Button Up workshops in the winter of 2010 and has led 2 others so far this fall.  Contact SERG for a 2011/12 Button Up workshop schedule.

SERG has conducted more than 120 comprehensive, whole-house Home Performance with ENERGY STAR assessments on Upper Valley homes since 2008.  These assessments include blower door tests, infrared scans, combustion efficiency tests, and health and safety checks and help homeowners learn how to save energy, save money and increase their home comfort. Requests for our energy audits have begun to pick up as the economy recovers and fuel costs rise.  For more information on these services, check out the Home Energy Assessment link on our website.

SERG began consulting with the Town of Thetford on removing and upgrading its streetlights in 2005.  Since then, Thetford has removed half of its 44 lights, to 22. This year we consulted on switching the Town’s remaining lights to LEDs.  By the time Thetford switches over to LEDs, in early 2012, it will have cut its electric use for streetlights by about 86%, saving more than 15,000 kwh/yr!

SERG decided after 10 years, it was time for a face-lift.  We worked with Heron Graphics to develop a new logo and website.  In the coming months, we will add new social media formats, making it easier to stay updated on energy-saving programs, tips and resources with SERG.

SERG is very excited after 10 years to have hired Erin Sterner as our first Education and Outreach Assistant.  Erin grew up in Norwich, graduated from Hanover High School, received a master’s degree in Sustainability & Environmental Management from Harvard University and worked formerly at the Sustainability Institute (now the Donella Meadows Institute). Erin will expand and manage SERG’s internet technology platforms and provide more direct assistance to homeowners and town energy committees.

SERG continues to educate the public through public forums and workshops, letters to the editor and regular outreach to our database of over 2,000. We continue to work with town energy committees, individuals, state agencies and other organizations to support and promote energy conservation, efficiency and renewal initiatives.

Jeff Bernstein, President and Managing Director of the law firm BCK Law, P.C.
Alan Berolzheimer, SERG Secretary/Treasurer, historian, editor and chair of the Norwich Energy Committee
Bruce 'Buff' McLaughry, Chief Operating Officer of the Real Estate firm, Lang McLaughry Spera
Jeff Wolfe, SERG Vice-President, CEO of the renewable company, groSolar
Bob Walker, SERG Executive Director and Board President