REV2025: Sustainable Heat for Big, Old Buildings in Vermont: Four Projects
Wednesday, October 15th, 2025 – 1:15. to 2:15 p.m.
Emerald Ballroom
Too many of Vermont’s big older buildings are still heated with oil, and many are either too difficult or too expensive to electrify with heat pumps. This presentation will review how four 50 to 150-year-old buildings saved money and cut their fuel oil use to power their existing hot water or steam heating systems.
Moderator: Mark Froling, Froling Energy
Mark Froling is President of Froling Energy, a Peterborough, NH based business focused on commercial renewable energy installations, with an emphasis on biomass. He has more than 20 years experience in the construction field, most recently in biomass boilers but also in the installation of wood pellet manufacturing.
Speakers
Lyall Smith, Director of Property Services, Burlington School District
Lyall Smith is the director of property services for the Burlington, VT school district. He has worked in the public school maintenance/management field for 25 years and has been involved in several heating plant conversions to large wood chip plants and smaller wood pellet systems.
Robbo Holleran, Vermont Forester
Ever since he was a boy exploring the forest, Robbo has loved everything about the trees, wildlife, and plants. Though he began his wildlife management education at UMaine, he was hooked after seeing their managed forests, and has been working in the woods ever since. Whether for wildlife, recreation, tax savings, or investment, he has been helping landowners achieve their land management goals for over 40 years.
Eric Lafayette, Project Developer, Energy Efficient Investments
Eric has been working in the building energy efficiency & HVAC industry for over 15 years, developing creative solutions to complex building needs. Often working with clients who have limited resources and lofty goals, Eric and the team at EEI provide stepped approaches to building upgrades that help improve the efficiency and building comfort while utilizing grants, rebates, and creative financing to achieve them.