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Thetford Energy Committee

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Thetford Energy Committee News & Notes

Members of the TEC hosted an "Ask A Neighbor/Virtual House Tour" Zoom event on February 27, 2026 to share our experiences with weatherizing and electrifying our homes. We discussed the pros and cons of our updates, as well as the actual costs for installation. 

Please see the updated slides here: 022726-TEC Ask A Neighbor

Thanks to everyone who attended, and please feel free to contact us with additional questions, or if you would like us to host a similar event in the future!

We hope you find the information and links on this page helpful. If you have questions or suggestions for us, or would like any other energy-related information, please contact us at by email at energy@thetfordvt.gov. We can assist in connecting you with various programs or help you find answers to your energy-related questions.

 

Committee Mission:

The Thetford Energy Committee (TEC) works with the Selectboard, the School Board, Town Manager, schools, residents, and businesses to help reduce energy use, save money and protect the environment.

Committee Opening: 

The Town of Thetford has two openings on the Thetford Energy Committee.

If you are interested in joining this committee, please send a letter of interest to the Energy Committee at energy@thetfordvt.gov and the Selectboard at selectboard@thetfordvt.gov or by mail to P.O. Box 126, Thetford Center, VT 05075

Committee Members:

  • Chuck Cole (Selectboard appointee, term expires 2026)
  • Chris Hebb (School Board appointee)
  • Klaus Keller (Selectboard appointee, term expires 2027)
  • Erica Ko (Selectboard appointee, term expires 2027)
  • Nolan Riegler, Chair (School Board appointee)
  • Pi Smith (Selectboard appointee)
  • Alice Stewart (Selectboard appointee, term expires 2026)
  • Open (School Board appointee)
  • Open (Thetford Academy Liaison)

Committee Meetings:

The Thetford Energy Committee will meet on the second Thursday of each month, 6:00pm-7:30pm.

Shared Energy Coordinator (SEC):

This position, which is the first of its kind, began when a group of towns came together to fund the position of a shared Energy Coordinator to support each town's energy goals and facilitate shared goals through multi-town projects. The position began in July of 2020 and provides Energy Coordinator services to towns that do not have the resources on their own to implement and manage energy efficiency programs. The SEC works closely with a Steering Committee, comprised of a representative from each of the participating towns, as well as interacting with town government and energy committees. Currently in FY2025, the towns of Bradford, Fairlee, Norwich, Sharon, Strafford, Thetford, and Woodstock are participating in the SEC program, which is administered by the Two Rivers-Ottaquechee Regional Commission (TRORC). 

More information about this program can be found at: Shared Energy Coordinator

Additionally, one of the SEC's projects is to maintain a website with up-to-date resources for incentives or energy efficiency technologies that you may be interested in incorporating into your life: Electrification & Energy Efficiency (E3) Guide for Individuals

Below is a list of our current projects and useful information:

Transportation

Electric Vehicles
eBikes
Public Transportation Options
Vehicle Energy-Saving Tips

Weatherization

Weatherization Overview

Heating

Overview
Energy Saving Programs

Lawn & Yard
Solar & Battery Backup
State and Local Energy Resources
Local Food Initiatives

Transportation


Considering buying an Electric Vehicle? Have questions?

Ask Our Electric Vehicle Ambassador Team!

Have you read about Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) and still have questions?
Would you like to talk to a Thetford resident who owns an EV or PHEV? 

A group of Thetford EV and PHEV owners have come together to form our EV/PHEV Ambassador Team. These Ambassadors helped create the EV/PHEV content on this website and many have offered to answer your questions as you consider which EV or PHEV is right for you.

Curious about eBikes? Considering trying or buying one? Have questions?

Ask Our eBike Ambassador Team!

Are you curious about eBikes? Do you wonder if they can help you tackle Vermont's toughest terrain and biggest hills (with a smile on your face), or wonder if eBikes are a viable way to commute to work? Do you want to know if riding an eBike is cheating? (hint: No it's not.) If you have questions, our Thetford eBike Ambassador Team may have the answers you are looking for.

A group of Thetford eBike owners have come together to form our eBike Ambassador Team. These Ambassadors helped create the eBike content on this website and many have offered to answer your questions as you consider if an eBike is right for you.

  • eBike Overview: Click on eBikes on the side menu for an overview.
  • eBike FAQs: Click on eBike FAQs on the side menu. Our Ambassadors have answered some of the most frequently asked questions from people considering buying an eBike.
  • Ask an eBike Ambassador: Click on eBike Ambassadors in the side menu to access a table listing EVs and PHEVs in town and listing the Ambassadors. If you don't find an answer to your question(s) on our website pages or in the FAQs, feel free to email one of our Ambassadors (just click on a name in the eBike Ambassadors table). Or, email the Thetford Energy Committee with your question.

Transportation Options

Take advantage of ride sharing and public transportation options available in the Upper Valley:

  • The Thetford Park and Ride is a commuter parking lot for carpooling and public transit at I-91 Thetford exit 14 with level 1 EV and EBike charging.

  • GO VERMONT helps people looking to carpool from Vermont to destinations in and outside of the state.

  • COMMUTESMART NEW HAMPSHIRE provides carpool matching resources for people in New Hampshire.

    Other resources are available to find a carpool partner through the Vital Communities website.

Vehicle Energy-Saving Tips

Tire Inflation, Fuel Economy, Savings and Safety

Did you know that tire pressure impacts fuel efficiency? Under-inflated tires have higher rolling resistance; this reduces fuel economy. In fact, fuel efficiency is reduced by 1% for every 3.0 PSI that your tires are below recommended levels. Properly inflated tires save you money, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

  • Save about $65/yr on gas and extend your tire life, by having properly inflated tires.
  • According to the U.S. Department of Energy under-inflated tires wastes 4 million gallons of gasoline daily, or nearly 1.5 billion gallons annually.

Tires lose pressure even without a leak

Tires materials are porous, so they lose air even when they do not have a leak and the vehicle is not even being driven. A Consumer Reports study showed that air-filled tires naturally lose about 3.5 psi of pressure over a year at rest. However, under normal driving conditions, air-filled tires can lose from 1 to 2 psi per month. Vehicles with under-inflated tires not only decrease fuel economy, they create handling problems that can cause crashes.

Climate also affects tire pressure. If your tires are properly inflated during a Vermont winter they can become overinflated when the weather gets warmer and the air inside tires expands. Similarly, properly inflated tires during the summer suddenly look flat when the weather turns cold and the air inside tires contracts.

When and how to check your tire pressure 

This Edmunds article details when and how to check and fill your tires. 

In summary, since you may lose about 1to 2 psi of pressure every month, it's good practice to check your tires monthly. Edmunds states you should check the pressure when the tires are cold, as the friction from driving causes them to heat up and affects the pressure. They take about a half-hour to cool down. Or you can just check the tires first thing in the morning when the ambient temperature is lower.

Use a tire gauge. Edmunds confirms what you probably already know, that "you can't tell if a tire is under-inflated just by looking at it. If it actually looks under-inflated, it is way, way under-inflated. And you can't really rely on a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) to keep track. Most systems only warn you when the pressure is 25 percent below the manufacturer's recommended tire pressure." 

To take a pressure reading, unscrew the cap from the tire valve, position your gauge on the valve and then press down.

To inflate a tire, use either your own air pump or one at a gas station to inflate them until they reach the needed pressure. Be sure to use your pressure gauge to verify proper inflation.

Do not inflate tires according to the maximum pressure rating written on their sidewalls. Most cars have a sticker on the driver-side door jamb that lists recommended tire pressure. If you are unsure, ask a your car dealer.

Vehicle Idling

Reduced idling saves fuel and thus money, reduces pollutants (particularly those that cause respiratory problems like asthma), saves wear and tear on the engine, and reduces your contribution to climate-changing greenhouse gases. One easy way to reduce your vehicle idling is to eliminate unnecessary warmup. Consult your vehicle manual for the manufacturer’s instructions on warmup — vehicles with direct injection engines (produced beginning in the mid-1980s) do not need to be warmed up and excessive warmup can damage the engine, wastes fuel, and increases emissions. Vehicle Idling Q&A pdf (73kb)

Other common situations that lead to unnecessary vehicle idling include dropping off and picking up children at school; stopping at the post office, stores, and recycling; pulling over to talk on cell phones; waiting to pass through roadwork sites or for a freight train to pass; and waiting at drive-thru windows. The EPA recommends parking your car and going into restaurants, banks, and the like instead of idling in drive-up lanes. In most situations, you will save gas by turning the engine off and restarting it again rather than idling the engine.

Weatherization

 

Weatherization Overview

Heating bills in many older homes can be cut by 30% to 50% by getting an energy audit and effectively weatherizing your home. Households meeting income eligibility guidelines may qualify for free energy audits and retrofits, through the Vermont Weatherization Program. More information about Vermont’s Weatherization Program is available at: the State or Vermont weatherization site.

If you do not meet the low income eligibility criteria, visit Efficiency Vermont and search for Home Performance with Energy Star contractors.

Heating

Energy Saving Information

The Energy Committee has been working with Vital Communities to improve awareness of the many state and local programs designed to save energy, improve home comfort and reduce energy bills.  Many of these programs have been created especially for low to moderate income households.  Vital Communities has developed an Energy Savings Guide for Orange County residents.  Take a look at the guide here:  Orange-County-Energy-Savings-Guide

For more information about energy savings, please visit Vital Communities Vermont Energy Savings website.

Lawn & Yard

De-Lawnification

Reducing the amount of lawn you mow (De-Lawnification) is a great way to reduce your climate impact!

Here are just a few ideas of ways to convert your lawn. (Hint: think incrementally – you can do a small area each year to gradually convert away from a lawn.)

 #1 – Plant a vegetable garden
Food gardens don’t have to be high maintenance
  • Potatoes and garlic are two examples of things that are easy to grow
  • Perennials like asparagus and rhubarb do well in our climate
 
Consider raised beds – they can make it easier to control weeds and they drain well when we have heavy rains

#2 – Plant an herb garden
Herbs like oregano grow well in a south-facing area – and it spreads like a ground cover. And bees love it! Experiment with what grows well at your house (and what doesn’t get eaten by deer or woodchucks)

#3 – Put in edible landscaping
Berries are a great way to convert a hillside to edible landscaping. So you can skip the mowing and have tasty fruit for your family (or for the chipmunks). Blueberries and raspberries are two options that grow well here, and raspberries will spread if you let them.

#4 – Replace grass with clover
Got some bare spots? Put down some white clover seed! Clover doesn’t grow very tall, so it doesn’t need to be mowed. Bees enjoy it, kids love to make crowns from the flowers, it’s pleasant to walk and play on, and it makes an attractive “lawn.”


 

Electric Lawn & Yard Equipment

 

May 21, 2022 Electric Lawn & Yard Care Event on the Town Green

 

 

Solar & Battery Backup Systems

Community Solar - Past Projects

The Thetford Energy Committee has helped with the development of multiple community solar projects.  The first was a joint effort with Strafford and went online in September 2018.  The second is on Godfrey Road and went online in late 2019.  The third was an expansion of the Thetford Elementary School solar array and went online at the beginning of 2025.

Ribbon Cutting for Thetford-Strafford Community Solar, September 2018
Ribbon Cutting for the Thetford-Strafford Community Solar Project, September 2018

 

What do you do when the power goes out? Battery Backup Webinar (Information from March 2023 Event)

View Green Mountain Power Webinar Slides: HERE (These slides coincide with webinar recording minutes 13:00-46:00)

View SunCommon Slides: HERE (These slides coincide with webinar recording minutes 46:22-59:10)

In March 2023 the Thetford Energy Committee held a discussion of options for battery backup systems.  We heard from Green Mountain Power and SunCommon about what options are available for home battery systems, the link to solar, incentive programs, and steps to finding more information about what’s right for your home.

We invited Thetford residents and service providers to join, and others with battery backup systems shared their experiences. Topics addressed include:

-  What are the benefits of batteries for me, the grid, and the planet?
-  What can batteries handle during an outage and for how long?
-  How do they work with solar?
-  What are the incentives?
-  How long do they last?
-  How do they compare to a traditional generator?
-  Is my home viable for batteries?
-  How do the GMP's resilient grid incentive programs work?
-  And of course, how much do they cost and how do I sign up?!

State and Local Energy Resources

 

Energy Reference Section in Latham Library
To learn more about reducing your energy consumption and the effects of energy’s overuse, you can borrow books and DVDs from the Energy Reference Section at Latham Library on Thetford Hill. Also on loan is a Watt meter – just plug in your home appliances to measure how much energy they use. A PDF copy of the Watt meter instructions is available online. Killawatt instructions.pdf (29kb). For Library Hours call 802-785-4361.

Efficiency Vermont
Efficiency Vermont helps Vermonters reduce energy use in their homes, farms and businesses through a variety of services. These services include technical assistance, education and financial incentives for the purchase of energy-efficient products; EnergySmart home energy analysis CD’s and on-line, a list of certified Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractors and weatherization contractors and more, 888-921-5990, efficiencyvermont.com.

EnergyStar
You can also get information on energy efficient appliances and other advice for saving energy in your home from the federal government at energystar.gov 

 Local Foods Initiative

Eating locally produced foods not only supports neighboring farmers, it can reduce the energy impact of the food you eat. The Thetford Energy Committee is working with various groups to increase awareness of and access to local food options:

 

Annual Reports

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