Vermont Green Building Network (VGBN)

What Vermont Green Building Network (VGBN) does

Vermont Green Building Network (VGBN) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2002 in Burlington, Vermont, that serves as the primary convening body for green building professionals in the state. The organization connects builders, architects, contractors, engineers, consultants, and community members through building tours, networking events, educational webinars, and an annual awards celebration. VGBN's core programs include Vermont's Greenest Building Awards (a statewide competition recognizing exemplary residential and commercial buildings for energy performance, with categories added in 2025 for low embodied carbon), the Burlington 2030 District (a public-private partnership sponsoring 10.6+ million committed square feet toward 50% reductions in energy, water, and transportation emissions by 2030), and a Green Schools initiative that includes a Green Renovation Guide and legislative advocacy. The organization is led by Executive Director Jenna Antonino DiMare (since 2013) and governed by a 10+ member Board of Directors, with historical affiliations including former status as the USGBC Vermont Chapter from 2005 to 2015.

VGBN's offerings are programming and community services rather than technology products — the organization has no proprietary software platform, API, or AI/ML capabilities. Its product surface consists of Vermont's Greenest Building Awards, Burlington 2030 District, Green Schools Initiative, membership programs (Individual $65/year, Business $175/year, Student $15/year, plus Partner tiers of Green Champion, Platinum, Gold, and Silver), educational webinars and Building Science and Beer gatherings, an email newsletter, and annual reports. The organization connects its network through web content, email newsletters, in-person events, and self-serve enrollment via its Wild Apricot membership platform.

The business model is a hybrid non-profit funding structure: recurring revenue from individual, business, and student membership subscriptions; higher-value annual partnership contributions at four tiers; event and webinar programming revenue; and grants (historically including seed funding from the Vermont Department of Public Service and a grant from USGBC's Center for Green Schools). VGBN is funded entirely through this community/member/partner base and grants, with no institutional equity, venture, or private equity ownership. Customer segments include green building professionals (primary), property owners and managers, educational institutions, and community members, all concentrated within Vermont.

Name

Vermont Green Building Network (VGBN)

Legal name

Vermont Green Building Network

Website

https://vtgreenbuildingnetwork.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

VGBN is a Burlington, Vermont-based 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2002 that convenes builders, architects, and community members through educational events, networking, and the Vermont's Greenest Building Awards competition and Burlington 2030 District initiative.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Burlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: VGBN generates revenue through annual membership fees at three tiers: individual membership at $65/year, business membership at $175/year, and student membership at $15/year.
2. Partnership Program: VGBN offers partnership levels (Green Champion, Platinum, Gold, Silver) that include business membership plus additional benefits. Partnership rates were adjusted in 2025 after more than 10 years without increases.
3. Event Programming: Revenue from events including webinars, building tours, networking events, and the annual Vermont Green Building Celebration where awards are announced.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

VGBN is a non-profit networking organization that advances green building practices in Vermont through educational programs, membership services, and the annual Vermont's Greenest Building Awards competition. The organization manages the Burlington 2030 District initiative and the Green Schools program, connecting builders, architects, engineers, and community members through events, webinars, building tours, and awards recognition.

Product overview

Vermont Green Building Network (VGBN) is a non-profit organization founded in 2002 that operates as a networking and educational platform rather than a software product. Its core offerings consist of Vermont's Greenest Building Awards (an annual competition recognizing energy-efficient buildings), the Burlington 2030 District initiative (a public/private partnership for carbon reduction), Green Schools initiative, membership programs, educational webinars, and Building Science and Beer social events. The organization connects builders, architects, and community members through building tours, networking events, and educational programming. VGBN does not offer a software platform, API, or technology products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vermont's Greenest Building Awards An annual statewide competition that recognizes exemplary residential and commercial buildings meeting the highest standards of energy performance, including awards for Vermont's Greenest Building, Vermont Green Building Award, High Performing Building Recognition, Net Zero Award, and Low Embodied Carbon Recognition. Open to builders, architects, and property owners in Vermont.
• Burlington 2030 District A private/public partnership initiative working to reduce building energy consumption, water usage, and transportation emissions 50% by 2030, supporting the City of Burlington's net zero energy vision with over 10.6 million square feet committed. Targets commercial and multifamily property owners in Burlington.
• Green Schools Initiative An initiative focused on promoting green renovation practices in Vermont schools, including the Vermont Schools Green Renovation Guide published in 2012, advocating for green schools legislation and long-term energy savings. Serves Vermont public schools and educational institutions.
• VGBN Membership Program Annual membership program with three tiers: individual membership at $65/year, business membership at $175/year, and student membership at $15/year. Membership includes access to events, networking opportunities, voting in awards, and other programming benefits.
• Partner Sponsorship Program Tiered partnership program with Green Champion, Platinum, Gold, and Silver levels that include business membership plus additional benefits such as logo placement, event sponsorship, and enhanced visibility. Partnership rates were adjusted in 2025 after more than 10 years without increases.
• Educational Webinars and Events Educational programming featuring webinars on green building topics including decarbonization, bio-based materials, heat pump technologies, geothermal, waste in construction, building electrification, indoor air quality, energy benchmarking, and the BEAM material carbon calculator. Targets green building professionals and community members.
• Building Science and Beer Gatherings Informal networking events combining building science education with social gatherings at breweries and venues across Vermont, featuring factory tours and industry presentations. Targets green building professionals and community members.
• VGBN Annual Vermont Green Building Celebration Annual culminating event that announces Vermont's Greenest Building Award winners and brings together the green building community in Vermont. Targets members, partners, and award entrants.

Quantifiable outcome

• Buildings achieving Vermont's Greenest Building Award have demonstrated Energy Use Intensity (EUI) as low as 7.3-9 kBtu/sf/yr, significantly below regional averages
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered green champion, platinum, gold, silver, core, former and minor.

• Burlington Electric Department (BED)green championStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Champion Partner of VGBN. Collaborates on the Burlington 2030 District initiative, helping property owners with energy benchmarking and reduction targets through customized Property Energy Plans.
• Vermont Gas (VGS)green championStrategic or Co-development PartnerGreen Champion Partner of VGBN. Partners on the Burlington 2030 District, participating in Property Energy Plans for property owners/managers.
• ReArch ConstructionplatinumStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum Partner and active member. Submitted award-winning projects including OnLogic headquarters (2024 Greenest Building Award winner).
• RockwoolplatinumStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlatinum Partner. Provides fire and acoustic masonry stone wool insulation products for high-performance buildings.
• Efficiency VermontgoldStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold Partner. The state's efficiency utility provides energy consulting and incentives for projects submitted to VGBN awards.
• Vermont Integrated ArchitecturegoldStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold Partner and highly active member. Has submitted numerous award-winning projects across multiple years including the Yellow House Community Carriage Barn (2024) and The Putney School dorms (2025).
• Shelterwood ConstructiongoldStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold Partner and frequent award submitter. Built multiple award winners including Joslin Hill Passive House, Barnes Hill Net Zero Home (2023), Bear Den and Hillside House (2025).
• Pill-Maharam ArchitectsgoldStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold Partner. Architecture firm specializing in high-performance buildings with multiple award-winning projects over the years.
• Duncan Wisniewski ArchitecturegoldStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold Partner. Firm dedicated to high-performance housing and community projects, including the first Certified Passive House in Burlington.
• Cx AssociatesgoldStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold Partner. Building commissioning and energy engineering consultancy. Board Treasurer Katie Mason is Senior Engineer at Cx Associates.
• RedstonegoldStrategic or Co-development PartnerGold Partner. Real estate development company that submitted award-winning projects including One Lakeview multi-family housing.
• Vermont Passive HousesilverStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver Partner. Organization promoting Passive House standards in Vermont, aligned with VGBN's green building mission.
• Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR)silverStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver Partner. Business association promoting socially responsible business practices in Vermont.
• Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund (VSJF)silverStrategic or Co-development PartnerSilver Partner. Board Member Christine McGowan is Director of the Forest Products Program at VSJF.
• Burlington 2030 DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVGBN is the non-profit sponsorship organization for the Burlington 2030 District, a private/public partnership working to reduce building energy consumption, water usage and transportation emissions 50% by 2030. One of 22 2030 Districts across U.S. and Canada, with over 10.6 million square feet committed.
• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)formerStrategic or Co-development PartnerVGBN was the official Vermont Chapter of the USGBC from April 2005 until December 2015, connecting to a network of over 70 other USGBC Chapters across the country.
• U.S. Green Building Council's Center for Green SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrant funder for Vermont Schools - Green Renovation Guide published in 2012.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• PHIUS (Passive House Institute US): Non-profit standard-setting and education body for Passive House in the U.S.; aligns tightly with VGBN's programming on Passive House and high-performance buildings (e.g., Maple Hill Passive House award). Membership, training, and certification revenue model closely mirrors VGBN's community approach.
• Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA): Regional non-profit that convenes building professionals and clean energy practitioners across the Northeast via events (including BuildingEnergy conference), training, and community programs - structurally analogous to VGBN at a wider regional footprint and similar revenue model (membership + events).
• International Living Future Institute: Non-profit advancing regenerative design and the Living Building Challenge, with programs and credentialing used by high-performance building practitioners. Comparable mission, practitioner audience, and certification/awards/community model.
• Architecture 2030: Non-profit driving building-sector carbon-reduction targets (the "2030" framing also used by Burlington 2030 District). Mission-aligned convener for design professionals pursuing deep energy and embodied-carbon reductions - comparable role in the ecosystem to what VGBN plays at state scale.
• Passive House Network: North-American Passive House education and outreach non-profit with overlapping practitioner audience and event/membership model. Directly comparable to the Passive House sub-community that VGBN serves and convenes through Vermont Passive House (a VGBN Silver Partner).

Emerging players

• Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR): Vermont-based business membership association promoting social and environmental responsibility - a Silver Partner of VGBN. Overlapping membership businesses (e.g., construction, architecture, energy firms), similar state-level convener model, and shared advocacy posture.
• Building Energy (NESEA program/community): Vermont-based building-performance professional community credited in VGBN's site and serving the same pool of practitioners; comparable event-driven, knowledge-sharing model at narrower scope, often overlapping with VGBN's audience and board ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC): National umbrella for green building practice, credentialing (LEED), and chapter network; VGBN was the official Vermont Chapter of USGBC from 2005 to 2015. Comparable mission, audience (building professionals), and member-based model at much broader scale.
• RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute): Mission-driven non-profit focused on decarbonization of buildings and energy systems. Operates programs (e.g., the 2030 District network) that overlap with VGBN's Burlington 2030 District work; broader scope and resources but shares the community-of-practice model.

Regional players

• AIA Vermont: State chapter of the American Institute of Architects serving Vermont architects; adjacent professional membership body with overlapping practitioner audience (e.g., Pill-Maharam Architects and other VGBN partners) and similar regional convener role.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/vtgbn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vermont-green-building-network

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vermont Green Building Network (VGBN)