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Citizen Energy Conservation Program

Burlington 10% Challenge

Community Profile: Burlington is the largest city in Vermont, serving as the County Seat for Chittenden County, with a population of approximately 200,000 residents. The city has a city council-mayor form of government and is home to the University of Vermont, as well as two other colleges. Geographically, Burlington sits in the northwest portion of Vermont, resting on the eastern shore of Lake Champlain.

Project Outline:

• In May of 2000, the City Council of Burlington adopted a Climate Action Plan aimed at reversing the steady growth of greenhouse gas emissions in the City of Burlington. This plan calls for the continuation of joint effort by task force members and key community leaders to implement, nurture and monitor the progress of the plan. The Alliance for Climate Action (ACA) was formed in December, 2000 to pursue this strategy. In April of 2002, the ACA initiated the 10% Challenge program to encourage individuals, households, and businesses to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to educate communities in and around Vermont on the threat of global climate change to the environment and the economy. The program's goal is to reduce greenhouse gases by 10% below 1997 emissions levels by 2010.
• As part of Burlington’s behavior change efforts, employees in municipalities are being encouraged to take energy saving initiatives such as making thoughtful decisions regarding consumption of office products, turning office equipment on to “sleep” mode when not in use, purchasing Energy Star equipment and buying office supplies in bulk whenever possible.
• Through education of the public and by leading by example, the City of Burlington hopes to voluntarily change the way its residents and businesses view the usage of energy. The 10% Challenge is aimed at showing that the small changes and thoughtful acts made by individuals can add up to a collectively large gain by the community. To further rally support, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream is offering “Free Scoop” coupons to new household participants in Vermont.
• Other participants in the 10% Challenge include Keene, NH, Williston, VT, Charlotte, VT, Underhill, VT, Brattleboro, VT, and Middlebury, VT.  
• For more information, visit 10% Challenge online or contact Deb Sachs, director of the Alliance for Climate Action in Burlington and coordinator of 10% Challenge.

An additional Behavior Change initiative that has been very effective in Toronto, Canada is the E3@Work awareness program. Standing for “Employee Energy Efficiency at Work,” the program is designed to save money and promote energy efficiency practices by managing office equipment power loads. The goal is to reduce energy consumption and building operating costs, improve energy security and reliability and help preserve the environment.