Bright Ideas in Ashford & Coventry

Senator Tony Guglielmo with Coventry town leaders and the Energize CT members at the Bright Idea Ceremony in Hartford.

Hartford, CT – State Senator Tony Guglielmo (R-Stafford) announced were honored on Monday for being two of the 23 cities around Connecticut to have collectively saved more than 277 million kilowatt-hours and 2.8 million cubic feet of carbon through their energy efficiency efforts.

“Any time towns and cities can reduce energy consumption and buy electricity in a green way we all win,” said Sen. Guglielmo.

Representative Sam Belsito and Senator Tony Guglielmo with Ashford Town Leaders and the Energize CT members at the Bright Idea Ceremony in Hartford.

The Clean Energy Communities (CEC) program recognized Bristol and Thomaston for taking a pledge to reduce municipal; building energy consumption by 20 percent by 2018 and to voluntarily purchase 20 percent of its municipal electric needs from renewable sources by 2018.

In turn communities can earn energy efficiency points by participating in the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund programs. The points go toward an overall score and can result in a Bright Idea Grant. The grants range from $1,000 to $15,000 and can be used toward a community-selected energy-saving project.

Ashford received a $5,000 Bright Idea Grant for:

• 11% of the community participating in residential programs
• Being the site of 2011 Zero Energy Home winner for lowest Home Energy Rating System
• 16 businesses & municipal energy-saving projects were completed
• Participating in Solarize Connecticut program

By not creating 270 tons of CO2 the town essentially took 47 cars off the road for one year.

The town of Coventry was awarded a $5,000 Bright Idea Grant for:

• 9% of the community participating in residential programs
• Energy-saving upgrades made to North Coventry Fire Department in 2012
• Joined the Clean Energy Communities program in May of 2013
• 29 business & municipal energy-saving projects completed

By not creating 699 tons of CO2 Coventry achieved the equivalent of taking 122 cars off the road for one year.

“Those are significant changes in the way these two communities do business and leadership should be commended,” added Sen. Guglielmo.

Overall the 23 communities honored by the CEC program saved enough energy to equal the amount of electricity that 33,000 homes would typically consume in one year and result in avoided emissions of approximately 152,500 tons of CO2, which is the equivalent of taking more than 26,000 cars off the road for a year.

For more information on the Clean Energy Communities program, visit EnergizeCT.com/communities.