Home Energy Conservation
Benefit From a Home Energy Assessment and Upgrade subsidized by the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund. The value of this audit ranges from $450 to over $1000, depending on the “tightness” of your home. Co-pays vary over time, and may depend on your heating fuel, but the service is always very cost -effective. Click here and write “energy audit” in the space for the message. We will reply with more information.
An educational article (pdf) on home air sealing and insulation by the Rocky Mountain Institute may be downloaded here: Home Energy Brief, Building Envelope
Help minimize air pollution and global warming by conserving electricity and fossil fuels for home heating, lighting, and appliances. All the rate-payer-funded programs for energy conservation in the State of Connecticut may now be accessed at a single website, EnergizeCT.
Why change your lighting? Here is a short, informative article about different kinds of light bulbs. Different Kinds of Light Bulbs
Composting Food Waste
Here is an informative article by Krishna Winston on composting home food waste and supporting restaurants that send food waste to biodigesters. Why Should We Compost by Krishna Winston
Eco-Friendly Landscaping
Jonah Center Tips on Eco-Friendly yard care. Download our Eco-friendly Landscaping brochure
Project Green Lawn –You can have a lush, green lawn without using chemicals that can harm people (especially children), pets, wildlife, and the environment.
Visit UConn’s Home and Garden Education Website at www.ladybug.uconn.edu
Eco-friendly Shopping and Life Style Choices
There is more to an item of food or an article of clothing than how it looks and how much it costs. What pollution was produced in manufacturing that article of clothing? How much fuel was spent transporting that little basket of strawberries in mid-winter? What other creatures lives were damaged or sacrificed?
Watch “The Story of Stuff” — an entertaining video about the true cost of stuff we buy.http://www.storyofstuff.com
Water Conservation
Installing water efficient (say, 1.3 gallons per flush) toilets and fixing leaky faucets will reduce your water/sewer bill or reduce the load on your septic system and pump. Here is a link to a calculator that you can use to determine (based on drips or volume per minute) how much water is wasted by a leaky faucet.
Highway Fuel Conservation
Improve your car’s fuel efficiency. Download this pdf to learn more: Improving Your Car’s Fuel Economy
Find a more fuel efficient car at www.fueleconomy.gov
Household Hazardous Waste Disposal
To see where and when you can dispose of paints, solvents, and other materials, visit the Lower CT River Council of Governments (RiverCOG) website that lists Household Hazardous Waste, Paper Shredding, and other events. https://www.rivercog.org/household-hazardous-waste/