Category Archives: Economic Development
Efficiency Vermont, FPF and South Burlington Energy Committee work to reduce residential electricity use by neighborhood
South Burlington Residential Electricity Reduction by Neighborhood
By Kristan Hatfield
Program Manager for Efficiency Vermont
The South Burlington Energy Committee, Front Porch Forum, and Efficiency Vermont partnered together to create a map of the city that displays changes in residential electricity consumption. The incorporation of neighborhood boundaries has added a relevant new dimension to the tool’s visualizations. The tool calculates changes in each of the Front Porch Forum neighborhood’s average kWh use per home.
A new understanding of community electricity use in the residential and municipal sectors has been inspired by three Vermont teams, South Burlington, Montpelier, and Waterbury/Duxbury, who are participating in the Georgetown University Energy Prize. The City of South Burlington and their partners have worked together to develop innovations in communicating trends in residential electricity and natural gas use. The result: South Burlington used less electricity per capita in 2015 than had been used in 2013 and 2014.
South Burlington Residents can look for the Map Update in The Other Paper this Fall (pp. 14-15) to see how each neighborhood is performing in 2016.
How do I love thee, let me count the ways
Huge shout out to Front Porch Forum. Over the years we have used it to:
- Borrow a neighbor’s ladder to reach higher up our cherry tree in exchange for some cherries
- Get a free dog crate to go pick up chickens and then pass on that free dog crate to a new home
- Know of bobcat or bear sightings in our neighborhood to close up the chicken coop
- Ross found a job
- Recommend and find great service providers (trash pick up, window washing, tree service, etc.)
- Get a heads-up on great upcoming community events
- This weekend David got a free bed for a previously homeless person setting up housing
It is such a great community resource. Win/win/win.
• Maureen, Charlotte FPF
Vermont contractors use FPF to find good customers
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“Thanks to everyone who suggested roofers for the project I listed last week. I met several roofers, got bids that were all competitive and decided to go with Clayton Flye who many of you FPF members mentioned. He had a brief gap in his schedule and jumped right on the project, finishing the job this afternoon. I couldn’t be more satisfied with the work. I let him know I would be adding my name to a growing number of Front Porch Forum‘s satisfied customers.”
• Tina, East Montpelier FPF
Click here for details about putting FPF to work for your business or nonprofit.
Making connections for small businesses
“Thanks to everyone who replied with names of people who do brush hogging! I am all set now. Brush hoggers – if you don’t get a call from me, you might get calls from a couple other folks who asked me to forward the responses to them as they’re looking for brush hogging services as well!”
• Amy, Waterbury Front Porch Forum
Front Porch Forum named Climate Economy Innovator
Vermont Council on Rural Development featured Front Porch Forum as a Climate Economy Innovator recently. Here’s the story. This is part of VCRD’s impressive Vermont Climate Change Economy Initiative.
Need recommendations for local businesses?
• Jen, Montpelier Front Porch Forum
Look for other Vermont businesses in the new online FPF Business Directory.
Micro-businesses often use FPF to fuel their launch
“A couple of months ago we were looking to lease an acre of land to start a market garden and thanks to Front Porch Forum, we found a perfect location in Montpelier. We want to thank Geoff and Kim for trusting us to till up their lawn and giving us the opportunity to start our business on their land. We have come a long way since we started, and are very excited to announce that we are offering delivery of organic produce to the Montpelier area.”
• Patrick, http://www.anandagardens.com, Montpelier FPF
Shelburne-ite finds small-job carpenter for Burlington friend
“I am posting for a friend who lives in the South End of Burlington. She needs someone to repair a few exterior steps and landing. The carpenters she has contacted have said the job is too small for them to bother with. If you know of a person that would do small odd jobs such as this, please send me their contact information and I will pass it along to my friend.”
• Karen, Shelburne FPF
“A huge thanks to all the carpenters who responded to my request on behalf of a friend in Burlington for someone to work a small job. I received numerous responses which I will forward to my friend. Front Porch Forum is truly a great resource for helping our neighbors out. Thanks again.”
• Karen, Shelburne FPF, next day
Williston electrician recommendations piling up
“Front Porch Forum is great. I got about a dozen recommendations for an electrician. I contacted the first person recommended, and he came the next day and did a great job. Thanks everyone for your help.”
• Tom, Williston FPF
Rather than phone book or Google search, FPF finds roofer fast
“It occurred to me how much I depend on Front Porch Forum. Phone books are pretty obsolete an not everyone has a website. Yesterday, we posted for a roofing quote. A LOCAL professional roofer came to the property today and gave us an estimate — less than 24 hours later!”
• Mary, Northfield FPF
About Blog
Ghost of Midnight is an online journal about fostering community within neighborhoods, with a special focus on Front Porch Forum (FPF). My wife, Valerie, and I founded FPF in 2006... read more
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