Efficiency Vermont is proud to be a partner in the new energy efficient and all-electric farmworker housing at Riverview Dairy in Franklin!
The project was possible with the help of several key partners. Funded by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and administered through Champlain Housing Trust, we’re also proud to work with the Milk With Dignity Standards Council (MDSC) in their longstanding advocacy for healthy, comfortable, and energy efficient new housing for Vermont’s dairy workers. The MDSC’s efforts helped secure grants that funded a significant portion of the construction. Other partners include the Vermont Low Income Trust for Electricity (VLITE), the The Vermont Community Foundation, and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Market’s Working Lands Enterprise Initiative.
Denna says she’s really proud of her electric bills: “Vermont dairy has a responsibility to provide safe and dignified housing. This is what it needed to be. It took a long time to get here.”
Denna and Michael at Riverview Dairy were committed to working with local tradespeople to make this new house just right for the people who will call it home. The new housing is a great example of the benefits of high performance construction. The building uses no fossil fuels. Heat pumps meet all heating and cooling needs, with rooftop solar panels to help offset its energy costs. Excellent indoor air quality is achieved with an advanced ventilation system.
“Efficiency Vermont worked with Riverview from the start on a design that would serve farmworkers while also helping them manage energy costs over time. With Efficiency Vermont’s guidance, the builder, Laroche Construction, revised the project to add more insulation and better air sealing,” said Li Ling Young, lead engineering consultant with Efficiency Vermont. “We also inspected the house during construction and, when it was done, conducted performance tests as a final verification the home met its energy goals. Many tradespeople contributed to this high performance home, and Riverview Dairy led the way with high expectations and perseverance. The outcome is truly something to be proud of.”
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