BRATTLEBORO — Congratulations to Winstanley and Integrated Solar of Brattleboro on their successful development. I wish those involved with Windham Solid Waste Management District much luck as they go down their development path. Having their potential solar array available to community net-metering customers will be very beneficial.
The article ends with an assertion - “Increasing energy efficiency in homes, however, remains important” - and a quote from Kim Smith, assistant planner, Windham Regional Commission: “And that's one our greatest opportunities.”
I am a home energy-efficiency guy, so I stayed with the article until the end. I hope most readers did.
To reduce the cost of living or cost of doing business and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, persons or businesses have three opportunities - conservation, efficiency, renewables - that my friend and colleague, Dave Bonta, Sunnyside Solar proprietor, calls the “three-legged stool.”
To sit comfortably and sustainably without pratfalls, comic, tragic, or otherwise, we need each leg of the stool to be strong.
Conservation means air sealing, insulating, and ventilating our buildings correctly so we use less energy for heating and cooling.
Efficiency means continually improving our lighting, equipment, and appliances so they do the same work with less energy.
And renewables means we have a sustainable source of power that emits less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
The questions are not “whether,” “or,” or “versus” the three legs. The questions are “when” and “how” does one incorporate each leg into one's personal or business financial planning. It's frugal, prudent, and smart.
So, again, I offer hearty congratulations to all the businesses and people investing in solar energy, along with all those who are investing in conservation and efficiency.
Keep the three-legged stool strong!