What does it mean to limit fossil fuel usage?

Variants of ordinance for new construction homes has popped up in more than 110 towns accross the U.S.. Burlington and South Burlington have lead the way in Vermont, passing laws which strike a balance of encouraging clean homes while allowing backup options.

Rather than prohibiting fossil fuels completely, buildings are required to use a primary heating source for air and water which uses renewable energy. Practically speaking, this means heat pumps for the immediate future. Gas stoves are not affected.

Heat Pumps have matured incredibly quickly over recent years. Today’s models, which can put out heat at full power at -13°F, are dramatically cheaper and more cold-weather capable than those from just five or ten years ago.

To help homeowners make sense of new technology, and be savvy shoppers, we have put together a Buyers Guide for Cold-Climate Heat Pumps.

What is the petition for?

With 250 signatures (5% of Jericho voters), and with approval from the Selectboard, this petition will add a new item for discussion in the Warned Agenda in Jericho’s 2024 town meeting. If approved by residents at that point, the town will be required to pass ordinance similar to Burlington and South Burlington.

This will discourage fossil fuel usage for air and water in new homes only, but not prevent it completely. You can read the exact ordinance as passed last year in South Burlington.

Why does this matter?

Vermont has ambitous climate goals, which we are unfortunately falling well short of. Over the course of the coming decades, many existing buildings will need to be converted from fossil-fuel based heating to renewable, at great expense to the state, town, and homeowners.

It is far cheaper to build new buildings the right way at the beginning than to have the homeowner stuck updating to prevent pollution.

What will it cost the town?

Nothing. The existing permitting process will be amended. Enforcement

What will this cost to homeowners?

Operation

Much research has been done on the operating costs of today’s heat pumps versus oil, propane, and natural gas.

• Because Heat Pumps are 300% efficient (averaged over the course of four New England seasons), they enjoy significant savings versus oil, propane, and kerosene.
• Heat Pumps can be powered by rooftop solar - giving energy independence
• Natural Gas prices have historically been much lower than other fossil fuels, making costs comparable.

Installation

Modern code requires well-insulated homes, thereby minimizing spending required for heat pumps. Many builders opt to go all-electric as significant cost-savings can be had by not installing gas lines, additional venting, and the like.

Rocky Mountain Institute made a study of costs for all-electric homes versus fossil-fueled ones:

Fully electric homes cost less up-front, and less to operate, leaving savings for backup or other uses.

Back it up

Even with modern cold-climate heat pumps, new homes will often be better with backup heat — be that oil, gas, or something else. With that, initial costs can go back up slightly, in return for the additional reliability in the case of grid outage.

Woodstove

A woodstove works,
grid or no.

Generator

A propane generator can make electricity for the whole house.

Natural Gas

Hybrid Gas+Heat Pump systems can automaticaly switch to natural gas as temperatures drop.

Multi-Unit Dwellings - A Case Study

We talked to Elm Place retirement homes, in Milton VT. They recently completed two 30-unit facilities — one with fossil fuels, and one all-electric. They found that the second cost about 2% in higher costs up-front, but paid for itself within two (!) years.

Sign The Petition

But Wait, there’s More

• Saving money not putting in New Natural Gas Lines
• Technology just gets better from here. As R32 units come over from Euorpe, costs of running heat pumps will drop another 15-20%

Who’s Behind This?

• Peter Ehrlich, Jericho Resident, JETF member. Got his house off of fossil fuels in six months for $3,000
• Maeve McBryde, Jericho Resident. Former head of 350 VT.