In 2018, the City of Burlington Vermont announced the most ambitious climate goal for any community in the U.S.: “Net Zero Energy by 2030” (NZE by 2030). The City of Burlington hired me as a sustainability intern over the summer of 2020 to research how to holistically meet the nexus of energy efficiency and historic preservation in the City’s historically and culturally significant neighborhoods. My roles included researching the city’s historic preservation standards and the new energy standards that would meet the NZE by 2030 plan. I also hosted interviews for local stakeholders and specialists. I then composed a resource guide for homeowners, city staff, and companies to reference when retrofitting Burlington’s historic buildings. Though my summer working remotely for the City of Burlington was challenging, I improved my research, writing and interviewing skills and had the opportunity to work with pioneers in new and exciting sustainability work.
