Julia Westbrook
I'm a journalist and editor.
Health, nutrition, and food.
Eating Well
Meet the Miracle Mutts
If you're a dog lover, you know they're special. But these service dogs go above and beyond to help people—here's how.
Eating Well
Pancake Mixes that Really Stack Up
We love homemade pancakes, but when you're in a rush, these store-bought mixes are a great healthy back-up option—and they taste great too.
Eating Well
Veggie Patties We Melt For
The veggie burger section has exploded with more options than ever, especially when it comes to believably beefy flavors and textures. But are store-bought veggie burgers good for you—and do they taste good? We love making our own homemade veggie burgers when there's time, but keeping a box of veggie burgers in the freezer can be convenient and healthy. We inspected the nutrition labels of 23 varieties, tasted 14 patties that stood up to our standards, and flipped for these winners.
Eating Well
All the Alt Milks
Plant-based "milks" seem to be taking over the supermarket. We sampled 64 cartons! in 14 categories to find five truly delicious winners.
granitestatesolar.com
How Solar Protects Against Utility Rate Hikes
Feel like your electricity rate is set at the whim of the utility? Solar is your answer for avoiding rate hikes and electric bill fluctuations.
greenmtnsolar.com
How to Use Solar Backup Battery in Vermont
Most people think about electricity one way: Turn on a light, pay the utility for it. (Grumble about how expensive it is and turn the light off.) But when you go solar with a battery backup system, you get a whole host of ways to use—and optimize—your power.
greenmtnsolar.com
How Do I Get Snow Off My Solar Panels in Vermont?
You know what powder days look like on the slopes, but what does it mean for your solar panels? The good news: You don’t need to get cold feet for solar because of the snow.
greenmtnsolar.com
Vermont Utility Battery Programs
Looking for a way to offset the cost of buying a battery and help keep Vermont green? Check to see if your utility offers a battery program. Here’s what you need to know.
A battery is the ultimate in peace of mind technology, but that’s not the only benefit. Some Vermont utilities—namely, Green Mountain Power and Vermont Electric Co-op—have Vermont Battery Storage programs that will pay you for some of your stored power and make the grid greener and more resilient for all. Here’s how.
How Doe...
greenmtnsolar.com
Will Solar Panels Work During a Power Outage?
This is one of the biggest misconceptions in the solar industry. Here’s the truth about solar and power outages.
greenmtnsolar.com
It's Never Too Late to Go Solar
Going solar can seem like a big undertaking, but when this Vermonter finally decided it was right for her, she realized just how easy it can be.
greenmtnsolar.com
Going Solar Safely During COVID-19 in Vermont
How one woman went solar in Vermont, in spite of COVID quarantine restrictions.
greenmtnsolar.com
Helping Keeping Vermonters Warm this Winter with the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity
Everyone shudders to open their heating bill when temps plummet in the winter, but for many Vermonters, the stakes are higher than you could imagine.
greenmtnsolar.com
Ask an Installer: 7 Questions This Solar Company Hears All the Time
Want the inside scoop on going solar—before you go solar? We asked our install crew what questions customers ask all the time. Here’s what they said.
No one knows solar panels quite like the team that installs them. From installation to troubleshooting, this crew has seen it all. Ben McFeeters, lead solar and battery technician at Green Mountain Solar, answers the most common solar installation questions he gets all the time.
How do you install solar panels?
Measuring everything first is very...
greenmtnsolar.com
5 Reasons to Get Solar Panels in Vermont
Should I go solar? We’ve got 5 answers that point to yes!