KILLINGTON, Vt. – More than 190 people gathered at the Killington Grand Resort Hotel for the 15th annual Best Practices Exchange (BPX) on Sept. 23 and 24. Efficiency Vermont’s yearly event brings together the state’s largest commercial and industrial operations and businesses to share insights on energy efficiency and reducing energy costs.
Five Energy Leadership Awards honored projects and partners that demonstrated excellence in energy efficiency. The winners ranged from college campuses, to manufacturers, to innovative wood heating systems. The award-winning projects are among the commercial and industrial efficiency efforts in 2025 that will save Vermont businesses $78 million over their lifetimes.
This year’s event assembled leaders from industries like healthcare, manufacturing, education, agriculture, hospitality/tourism, and Vermont’s ski industry. Executives, facilities managers, and mechanical contractors met to discuss projects and share expertise. Presenters and installers shared energy-saving technologies and solutions, and 21 sponsors and vendors demonstrated equipment, industrial systems, and related technologies.
Efficiency Vermont Managing Director Peter Walke surveyed attendees about the biggest barriers they faced to completing energy projects. Many cited challenges like funding, costs, and inflation. Other barriers were operational constraints like staffing, labor, and time. Several said return on investment or changing federal policies created barriers. “This all means one thing: extend uncertainty,” Walke concluded. “That’s why investing in energy efficiency is always a good idea. Because efficiency gives you control – on costs, on runtimes, on fuel and energy use – when so many other things are out of your control.”
Jed Davis, Cabot Agri-Mark’s vice president of strategic engagement and sustainability, delivered a keynote about the co-op’s commitment to sustainability, including energy efficiency. “The farm family owners of our dairy cooperative know sustainability extends from farm to fridge,” Davis said. As a certified B Corporation, Davis told BPX attendees that commitment starts with Cabot’s people. “Our people identify projects that turn our values and strategy into savings. Working with Efficiency Vermont brings incentives and data-driven insights that help us invest in projects with measurable impact.”
The benefits of efficiency from Vermont’s commercial and industrial sector go beyond saving $78 million. In partnership with Efficiency Vermont, projects completed in 2025 will save 386 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity over their lifetimes. That’s enough to power 5,600 homes for a decade. The projects will also save enough fuel to heat more than 12,000 homes for a year.
Five Energy Leadership Awards were presented to individuals and organizations whose work exemplified industry-leading energy efficiency. The winners of the 2026 BPX Energy Leadership Awards are listed below.
– Impact Award: Vermont State University (VTSU). VTSU partnered with Efficiency Vermont on energy projects across its five campuses. The Castleton campus started with a “controls treasure hunt” that found numerous low- and no-cost improvements that reduced energy costs by $150,000. A campus-wide LED lighting upgrade will save Castleton an additional $168,000 annually. The Johnson campus completed a comprehensive controls optimization project, saving $250,000 a year. The Lyndon campus also upgraded to LEDs campus-wide, saving $64,500 annually. And the Randolph campus modernized its meat processing facility’s refrigeration system, saving more than $8,000 a year. Combined, these projects will save more than $600,000 annually, allowing VTSU to direct more resources to support students and academic programs.
– Changemaker Award: Vermont Glove in Randolph. Owner and President Sam Hooper made strategic investments in energy efficiency to reduce operating costs and strengthen his company’s future. A major energy improvement project at its 1920s manufacturing facility replaced an ancient coal boiler with an advanced wood pellet heating system. Adding insulation and air sealing cut the facility’s air leakage by 50%. A new addition was designed with a tight building envelope and high-efficiency heat pumps for heating and cooling. The company applied the same approach to workforce housing, weatherizing Randolph’s Windover House, and converting it from oil heat to wood pellet heating. These investments lowered operating costs while improving comfort, productivity, and sustainability.
– Innovation Award: Londonderry Village Market. Operated by Associated Grocers of New England, the Londonderry Village Market has taken a “continuous improvement” approach to reducing energy use and operating costs. Early efforts focused on refrigerant leak detection and repairs, followed by new high-efficiency refrigeration cases and an LED lighting retrofit. These efforts resulted in more than $40,000 in energy savings per year. The market then turned to its aging HVAC system and partnered with Efficiency Vermont, Turner Piping and Refrigeration, and Green Mountain Power. By installing a dual-fuel heat pump rooftop unit, the market electrified much of its heating and cooling needs while reducing fossil fuel use. Now, Londonderry Village Market is ready for future energy management solutions, and Associated Grocers of New England is evaluating similar upgrades at its other markets throughout Vermont.
– Energy Champion: Shawn Briggs with Vermont Composites in Bennington. Since 2024, Briggs has led companywide efforts to reduce energy costs through operational changes, employee engagement, and facility improvements. He championed a facility-wide “turn it off” campaign that increases awareness by encouraging employees to shut down ovens, lights, and production machinery when not in use. Briggs also led improvements in lighting, HVAC systems, refrigeration systems, and added programmable thermostats in office areas. By championing a compressed air leak audit and facility-wide submetering, Briggs now has energy usage data to inform future projects. These efforts help Vermont Composites save $107,000 annually while developing a culture of energy stewardship.
– Partner of the Year: Morton Bailey and Lyme Green Heat in Lyme, N.H. A member of Efficiency Vermont’s Efficiency Excellence Network (EEN) since 2017, Morton and his team have helped schools, municipalities, and businesses transition to high-performance, advanced wood heating systems with a focus on efficiency, performance, and reliability. The company has worked with Efficiency Vermont to support improvements to enhance wood heating system performance, simplify maintenance, and improve customer satisfaction. Lyme Green Heat is also strengthening regional wood fuel supplies by developing a pellet manufacturing facility at a former lumber mill. These efforts ensure a dependable, regional supply of pellet fuel, support local jobs and economic growth, and demonstrate leadership in advancing the region’s renewable energy future.