SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – It was the warmest winter on record in Chittenden County and other parts of Vermont, which led to unexpected heating savings for property owners and municipalities.
During one of the state’s warmest winters on record, many Vermonters turned their thermostats down and saw savings go up.
“Anytime you can save money these days, it is very gratifying,” said Nancy Belisle, who typically spends around $300 a month to heat her South Burlington home. This past heating season, she paid just over $200. “Let’s face it, we’ve had days where you could drive with the windows open. We’ve had days where you didn’t need a coat.”
Belisle also spent significantly less on snow plowing. It’s a win for her but a loss for her plow driver. “I feel bad for Rusty, because he’s plowed my driveway for me for a number of years,” Belisle said.
It’s not just residents who are profiting. South Burlington cut their salt use by nearly a million pounds this winter, spending 40% of what they’d typically shell out. “I’ve been doing this for 14 years. It’s probably been the largest savings we’ve had for salt use,” said the city’s Adam Cate. While they’re under budget overall, he says they saw unexpected pothole costs. “Crews have been out on Williston Road numerous times just because just continues to degrade and stuff doesn’t stay put and there’s so much traffic.”
Trisha Shrum, an environmental economist at the University of Vermont, says as temperatures rise, accompanied by an increase in extreme weather, the way Vermonters spend money will continue to evolve. “Certainly, winter heating savings. Certainly, snow plow savings. But then when you’re faced with the extreme events that can really wipe out a lot of the savings that you might have otherwise had,” she said.
Shrum advocates for energy-saving infrastructure like heat pumps and increased state investment in climate technology to cut costs that come with climate change.
South Burlington’s Adam Cates says winter budget surpluses could help cover spring potholes and next winter’s maintenance work.