FACT SHEET

WHO WE ARE - Efficiency Vermont is the nation's first statewide provider of energy efficiency services. We're operated by an independent, non-profit organization under contract to the Vermont Public Service Board.

WHAT WE DO - Efficiency Vermont provides technical assistance and financial incentives to Vermont households and businesses, to help them reduce their energy costs with energy-efficient equipment and lighting and with energy-efficient approaches to construction and renovation.

HOW WE'RE FUNDED - We're funded by an energy efficiency charge on your electric bill. Before Efficiency Vermont was created, the energy efficiency charge was used to pay for energy efficiency services formerly provided by your electric utility. If you're a Burlington Electric Department (BED) customer, your charge still pays for the energy efficiency services you receive from BED.

HOW, WHEN AND WHY WE GOT STARTED - We were created in 2000 by the Vermont legislature and the Vermont Public Service Board to help all Vermonters save energy, reduce energy costs and protect Vermont's environment. When we opened our doors, Vermont electric utilities (except Burlington Electric Department) were able to stop providing energy efficiency services. This enabled all Vermonters to receive the same services.

HOW PEOPLE WORK WITH US - Efficiency Vermont works directly with business operators, homeowners and renters to reduce their energy costs. The state's energy-efficiency utility also works with Vermont businesses that provide energy-efficient products and services, such as retailers, architects, builders, and electricians.

PEOPLE SERVED, DOLLARS SAVED - Efficiency Vermont began operating in 2000 and has helped Vermonters reduce annual energy costs in their businesses and homes by a total of more than $44 million. In 2007 alone, Efficiency Vermont helped 43,590 Vermonters complete efficiency investments that resulted in:

• $13.4 million in annual electric, fuel and water savings
• 103,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of annual electric savings
• A 14.9 megawatt (MWh) reduction in summer peak and a 16.1 MWh reduction in winter peak capacity requirements
• A 663,165 ton reduction in greenhouse gases over the lifetime of the installed measures
• A savings of 4.7 million gallons of propane, 242 million cubic feet of natural gas, 3 million gallons of oil and 284 million gallons of water over the lifetime of the installed measures

ENVIRONMENT - Efficiency Vermont's work to-date will save Vermonters more than 14 million gallons of propane, 1740 million cubic feet of natural gas, 10 million gallons of oil, 2.3 billion gallons of water and 3.3 million tons of carbon dioxide over the lifetime of the installed measures. Its efforts have provided reductions in air emissions that improve local air quality and lower our contribution to global climate change.

ELECTRICITY SAVED - Vermont businesses and homeowners who worked with Efficiency Vermont from 2000 to 2007 to make cost-effective efficiency investments saved more than 410 million kilowatt hours (kWh) in annual electric energy. Households and businesses are expected to see these savings continue for an average of 13 years.

PEAK DEMAND SAVINGS - Since 2000, Efficiency Vermont has lowered Vermont's summer peak load by a total of over 59 megawatts and winter peak load by over 68 megawatts. These peak demand savings increase the reliability of existing generation, transmission and distribution facilities, while helping to postpone the need for costly upgrades and expansion.

EVERYONE BENEFITS - All Vermonters share the benefits of Efficiency Vermont's work, because when any Vermonter saves energy, utilities generally need to buy less energy, and all of our electric bills are lower than they would be without energy-efficient practices.

ECONOMY - Efficiency Vermont's work strengthens the state's economy, as most of every dollar spent on energy efficiency stays in state, while most of each dollar spent on power purchases leaves Vermont.

LONG-TERM VALUE - Since 2000, when Efficiency Vermont was established, the cumulative lifetime economic value of efficiency investments in Vermont totals more than $410 million. The continuing savings in electricity, fossil fuel and water help to decrease the cost of living and doing business in the Green Mountain State.