Energy Efficiency Now…Savings for Years to Come

“Small improvements today can result in savings for years to come,” East Haven’s Director of Administration & Management, Michelle Benivegna said regarding recent energy efficiency programs available in Connecticut. 

As energy rates increase and climate concerns grow, energy efficiency is at the forefront of industry professionals’ minds.  The DOE is looking to help communities big and small by announcing an investment of $104 million across 31 federal facilities.  Residents can also take advantage of additional funding into energy efficiency programs and initiatives. 

A few notable achievements for the grid and for energy efficiency include:

• Free Weatherization! – Tennessee’s MLGW started the Share The Pennies program helps low-income residents weatherize their homes at no cost to make efficiency accessible to all.
• Two-week Test Drive – rural residents in Appalachia will be allowed to test drive an EV for two weeks to determine whether they want to go electric.
• Girl Power! – There are only 2 percent of female electricians in the U.S.  Georgia’s Tonya Hicks made history becoming the first female Journeyman Wireman in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.  Hicks is working on ‘ShEV’ charging stations that will be placed in well-lit areas with safety in mind.
• LEED Zero Energy equals Zero Due – Residents in Hunter, Florida haven’t had to pay an electric bill since they switched to solar.  They’re generating twice as much power than they consume, and sending the surplus back to the grid.
• Charged and Ready to Go – Some $620 million in federal grants will fund an estimated 7,500 charging ports across the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

From EV’s to solar power, weatherization to charging stations, it’s clear conservation and clean energy continue to take centerstage. In East Haven, sponsors Eversource and Avangrid Inc. subsidiaries United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut Gas and Connecticut Natural Gas, awarded the “substantive Community Partnership Initiative funding.  It’s an “effort to make energy efficiency affordable and accessible to all, the Community Partnership Initiative grants enable local community groups, nonprofit organizations and municipalities to promote energy efficiency,” the town said in a news release. “We strongly encourage all residents and business owners to take advantage of these programs,” concluded Benivegna.

How have you seen energy efficiency programs improve and what measures have been taken to make them available to all?