VITAL COMMUNITIES
Resources
Results Summary
301 new solar homes, 1.7 megawatts of new renewable energy …and counting!
Solarize Toolkit
Timelines, templates, and examples to help you plan a successful solar campaign.
Solarize Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the site visit?
Before the site visit, the installer may ask you some questions over the phone or by email about your electricity usage, the orientation of your home, the age of your roof, whether there are large trees near your house, etc. The installer may also look at your home using satellite imagery.
If the installer believes you may have a viable site, they will schedule a site visit. Your site visit will be free and will usually take between 30 and 60 minutes. The installer will take pictures and take measurements related to solar exposure. The installer may also want to look at your electric meter, past electric bills, and sometimes also your roof rafters if there is any question of whether they can support the additional weight of a solar array.
If your site is better suited for a ground-mounted array, the installer will discuss possible locations with you.
After the site visit, the installer will send you a detailed quote.
How much does it cost to go solar?
Out of 181 contracts for solar signed through Solarize Upper Valley in 2015 (including many towns across the Upper Valley) the average gross cost (before incentives) was $23,810, and the average size was 6.01 kW. Of course, cost and system size will vary from house to house.
What rebates/credits are available?
The federal government offers a 30% federal income tax credit to homeowners who install residential solar arrays. Talk to your installer and consult a tax professional to determine how to apply.
Incentive programs in Vermont and New Hampshire can change from year to year. Ask you installer about current offerings.
How long does the process take, from site visit to solar installation?
The process can be as fast as a couple of months. It can take a few weeks to schedule a site visit and decide whether or not to go solar. If you decide to move ahead, it will take a week or two to secure state incentives and approval from your utility before your installer can start on your installation. The installation itself will take 1-3 days, after which your installer will walk you through everything you need to know about your new system, and your utility company will come plug your system into the grid so you can start saving.
What if I rent my home?
Talk with your landlord or purchase a share in a community-scale solar project located within your electric utility’s service territory (only available in Vermont as of Dec 2016).
What's Happening
Five Inspiring Stories
On March 18, Vital Communities held a webinar featuring five inspiring stories from energy committees across the Upper Valley. Stories included:
[...]
13th Annual Roundtable – September 15
You're Invited!
The 13th Annual Upper Valley Energy Committee Roundtable will be held Tuesday, September 15, 5-8 pm in West Lebanon! Th [...]
Efficient Heating in Vermont
Check out this newly produced, six-minute YouTube video on Efficient Heating in Vermont, created by Two Rivers Ottauquechee Regional Commission.
The [...]
Nov. 19 Green Real Estate Crash Course
Vital Communities is offering its popular Green Real Estate Crash Course again on Tuesday, November 19, at Service Credit Union, just off I-89 [...]
12th Annual Roundtable – May 7
You're Invited!
The 12th Annual Upper Valley Energy Committee Roundtable is Tuesday, May 7, 5-8 pm in West Lebanon! This annual gathe [...]
Seeking Bids from Solar Installers by Nov. 30
Vital Communities is teaming up with Kearsarge Climate Action to launch a Solarize Kearsarge campaign in spring 2019, following on the tails of the up [...]
Lebanon Area Businesses – Join us on Sept. 27
So many small businesses in the Upper Valley are burdened with high energy costs. And not enough time to do anything about it!
We've got some g [...]
Get Stoked on Automated Wood Heat!
Boiler on its last legs? Looking to opt out of fossil fuels? Come learn about today's self-stoking automated wood heat! Opt out of oil with delivery o [...]
Weatherize Events in January
Weatherize Round Two kicks off this month across the Upper Valley region.
What is Weatherize?
Vital Communities partners community volunteer te [...]
Green Real Estate Network Kick Off
Working together to empower home buyers and sellers throughout the Upper Valley to understand home energy costs and invest in energy efficiency.
O [...]
Vital Communities Program News
Fresh Food Sources: An Update
For an increasing number of families, the cost of putting food on the table is becoming more and more of a burden. If you or someone you know could use a hand, know there are ...more
Theater + Pandemic: Four Upper Valley Theaters' Stories
Remember when performances looked like this? (That's Opera North performing at Blow-Me-Down Farm in summer 2019.) Needless to say, times have changed. How do you do your work when its usual nature involves bringing people into ...more
Get Ready for the Upper Valley E-Bike Library!
Do you wish biking was part of your life? E-bikes can greatly increase that possibility. E-bikes (electric bikes) are like regular bikes but with an electric motor in addition to human-powered pedals, a battery to ...more
Newly Increased Rebates for Home Weatherization
Newly Increased Rebates for Home Weatherization Now's the best time to think about weatherizing your home as both New Hampshire and Vermont state weatherization programs have announced a temporary increase to weatherization rebates. NH Saves rebates ...more
Questing During Stay at Home Orders
Getting outdoors is good for your mental, physical, and spiritual health, especially during this time of added stress due to COVID-19. We are closely following our state government recommendations in Vermont and New Hampshire regarding ...more
Pick Your Own is OPEN ♥
Yes...Local as Usual, Safer than Ever. Pick Your Own strawberry farms opened this past weekend. Get out there and pick the delish! There is nothing like ripe berries. So good. Each berry that comes into season ...more
Lend Your Voice to Local/National Commute Survey
The commutes of many Upper Valley residents have changed significantly due to COVID-19, with many shifting to telecommuting. Now that workplaces are starting to open back up, transportation planners are interested in understanding the potential ...more
Berries: Delicious, versatile and in season now!
The Upper Valley berry season typically ranges from late June to early October. In our short, but fruitful season, we can enjoy raspberries and strawberries (although neither are technically real berries), then move into summer ...more
Welcome 31 New Upper Valley Change-makers
Vital Communities celebrated the graduation of the Leadership Upper Valley Class of 2020 on Wednesday, June 10. This event marked the program’s 14th graduating class, as 31 local leaders completed the 10-month program with a ...more
Quest to Refresh Challenge!
Do you need to press the reset/refresh button? Have you spent too much time behind a screen these days? We have a solution! Take our challenge – Quest to Refresh! Complete five or more Quests ...more
Family Project: Write a Quest for your House!
Over these past few weeks I have experienced waves of anxiety and sadness, and at the same time such gratitude. I can’t imagine going through this crisis in any other part of the world. The ...more
TLC 4WARD Crowdfunding for Businesses
Do you own an Upper Valley business that is suffering due to the effects of the pandemic and could use a little help from your friends? TLC 4WARD Upper Valley is here for you. The Local ...more
Raise Money while Working from Home
Work from home and help raise $500 for Vermont Foodbank. Simply record your telecommute trips in your Go! Vermont account every day that you work from home and when 500 telecommutes have been recorded, we'll ...more
A Letter To Our Upper Valley Schools
I hope this note finds you all healthy and adjusting to the routines of remote learning and teaching. I know my family and I are starting to feel a rhythm in our days and finding ourselves to be ...more
Donation Platform for UV Businesses
Do you own an Upper Valley business that is impacted by Covid-19 and could use a little help from your friends? TLC/4WARD is here to help. Vital Communities launched The Local Crowd (TLC) Upper Valley in ...more
Give to the Businesses You Love!
Wendell Berry once said that by choosing to support a local business in your community, you're essentially telling that business owner, "I want you to exist. I acknowledge that you and I are neighbors and ...more
Stand in Your Circle of Strength and Lead
Ed. Note: On May 30, Vital Communities honored 12 community leaders who’ve added immeasurably to the vitality of the Upper Valley at its annual Heroes & Leaders Celebration. The following are the event’s keynote remarks ...more
Heroes & Leaders: Creating a Vital Upper Valley
Every spring, Leadership Upper Valley, a program of Vital Communities, hosts the annual Heroes & Leaders Celebration to recognize individuals who make significant contributions to the Upper Valley. In 2019, we are pleased to honor ...more
Staff
Ana Mejia
Climate Projects Coordinator
Transportation, Energy
Transportation, Energy
— Ana Mejia, Climate Projects Coordinator
Ana Mejia is the Climate Projects Coordinator at Vital Communities. She is a Southern California native and first arrived to the Upper Valley in 2018. Ana received her Bachelor’s degree in Geology from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania and her Master’s in Environmental Sciences and Policy from Central European University in Budapest, Hungary, where she wrote her thesis on solar home affordability and energy efficiency programs for low income families. When she is not actively working towards creating sustainable communities, Ana enjoys swimming, cross-country skiing, birding, and trying out new dessert recipes with her KitchenAid mixer.
Sarah Brock
Energy Program Manager
Energy
Energy
— Sarah Brock, Energy Program Manager
Sarah Brock joined Vital Communities in 2013 as our Energy Program Manager. Through her work Sarah provides support for our region’s 40+ local energy committees, engaging with dozens of volunteers and clean energy businesses in programs like Solarize Upper Valley, Weatherize Upper Valley, and the Upper Valley Green Real Estate Network. Prior to joining the Vital Communities team, Sarah was an Environmental Philanthropy Associate with the High Meadows Fund, a supporting organization of the Vermont Community Foundation. Sarah now lives in Warner, New Hampshire, with her husband Zach and her chickens. When she's not busy advocating for energy efficiency, Sarah enjoys playing the trombone and taking walks in her backwoods to look for signs of New Hampshire's abundant wildlife.