Conference Scholarships
Efficiency Vermont is pleased to offer two scholarship categories for the 2026 Better Building by Design (BBD) conference: Social Equity Scholarships and Blair Hamilton Student Scholarships.
Learn more about both scholarships and apply below.
Social equity scholarships
Efficiency Vermont is proud to offer Social Equity Scholarships. These scholarships are offered to support and inspire women and BIPOC applicants in advancement of energy efficiency and social equity.
Scholarship applications are not yet open for the 2026 conference.
Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC), which operates Efficiency Vermont, places energy justice at the core of its mission. As we continue to learn how climate change has a disproportionate impact on communities of color, we've committed to designing energy efficiency programs to bridge the gap and reduce energy burden. Recognizing and removing obstacles to energy efficiency education is one step in the greater effort VEIC is undertaking to increase access and equity in our programs and services.
The Social Equity Scholarships are generously sponsored by VEIC.
Student Scholarships
Efficiency Vermont is pleased to offer Blair Hamilton Student Scholarships to support and inspire students to learn about energy efficiency and renewable energy, which Blair dedicated his life to.
One-day student scholarships are available to college students, high school students, and adult learners in Vermont. Adult learners eligible for scholarship consideration are those that are actively enrolled in coursework to pursue a degree, license, or certification in the trades.
Scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be a waitlist for students who are not awarded scholarships, because more scholarships could be added if additional funds become available. We strongly encourage those from socially disadvantaged communities to apply. Efforts will be made to broaden the number of institutions with awarded applicants.
Scholarship applications are not yet open for the 2026 conference.
Remembering Blair Hamilton
Blair Hamilton passed away in the spring of 2011. As one of the founders and the director of Vermont Energy Investment Corporation (VEIC), Blair was the driving force in creating Efficiency Vermont, the first "energy efficiency utility" in the country, and helped to start similar entities in other states and countries. He was an international innovator and leader in the field of energy efficiency research, policy, design and implementation, and a visionary and mentor to colleagues around the world.
In 2002, Blair was named a "Champion of Energy Efficiency" by the American Council for an Energy- Efficient Economy, and in 2003, he accepted an innovation award from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government on behalf of VEIC. Over 25 years, Blair was responsible for the installation of at least 30 million efficient light-bulbs.
The Blair Hamilton Student Scholarships are generously sponsored by Vermont Energy Investment Corporation.