Page 25 - Green Builder Jan-Feb 2021

SUSTAINABLE CITIES

OF THE YEAR 2021

and the remaining 20 percent comes from landfill methane, wind and
solar. Residents are experiencing environmentally friendly power,
as well as benefits such as utility rates that haven’t increased since
2009. The city, meanwhile, expects to save about $20 million by
2035, according to BED.
Burlington’s next goal is to become net zero by 2030. According
to city mayor Miro Weinberger, the “roadmap” to gaining a carbon
neutral footprint will include getting 95 percent of household floor
space to be heated by electric heat pumps and water heating systems,
80 percent of vehicles to be electric, and for annual vehicle travel
to decrease by 15 percent. “Reaching the goal will require us to
completely restructure our transportation and thermal sectors in One with the wind. A key part of Burlington’s journey toward 100 percent green
less than [nine] years,” Weinberger notes in a report in VTDigger. status is courtesy of the neighboring Georgia Mountain Community Wind farm’s four
“[But] with political will, and with strong technical expertise…very wind turbines, which power more than 4,200 Vermont households.
ambitious climate goals are possible.” GB CREDIT: U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL

Great panes. Solar energy only makes up a little more than 10 percent of Burlington’s green power, but careful placement around the community helps the
city make the most of every panel. CREDIT: ENCORE RENEWABLE ENERGY
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