Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/480070
www.CTGreenGuide.com SprinG 2014 • Connecticut Green Guide 31 The Green Guide eCommunity page recognizes special events and awards in the Connecticut sustainable business community. To submit an item, send photos and captions to: bkane@Hartfordbusiness.com. ECOmmunity PHoToS | ConTRiBuTeD Bright idea Grant Ceremony on Dec. 4, Connecticut recognized 35 municipalities at the State Capitol for their participation in the statewide Clean energy Communities program, an energize Connecticut initiative that incentivizes cities and towns to support energy efficiency and renewable energy. Municipal leaders from the communities were joined by their state senators and representatives to celebrate their city or town earning its first Bright idea Grant through the program. These communities earned the grants based on the level of community participation in Connecticut energy efficiency Fund programs. Bright idea Grants awarded range from $5,000 to $15,000 and can be used toward a community-selected energy-saving project. Together these cities and towns collectively saved more than 441 million kilowatt- hours and 5.8 million ccf through their energy efficiency efforts. Those savings are equivalent to the amount of electricity 52,000 homes would typically consume in one year, and result in avoided emissions of approximately 250,000 tons of carbon dioxide, which is the equivalent of taking 43,000 cars off the road for a year. Pictured in photo are (from left) Robert Schmitt, associate of marketing & outreach, Clean energy Finance & investment Authority; Sheri Borelli, senior business development analyst, united illuminating; Bob Wall, associate director of outreach, CeFiA; Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D- CT); Rebecca Meyer, senior program administrator, Connecticut Light & Power; Ron Araujo, manager of conservation and load management, CL&P; Deputy Commissioner Katie Dykes, Department of energy & environmental Protection; Pat McDonnell, senior director of conservation & load management, ui. Bristol hospital Energize CT Plaque Presentation Bristol Hospital will save more than $115,000 in annual energy costs and more than 886,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per year as a result of participation in energize Connecticut energy- saving programs, offered through CL&P. The hospital received a program incentive of $443,000 to help offset the cost of the $1.75 million project. The project included upgrades to the hospital's energy infrastructure, including the installation of energy efficiency cooling towers and a new energy management system to optimize the water chiller plant's operation. A plaque presentation recognizing the hospital for its efforts was held at the hospital in november. Pictured in the photo are (from left) Jeanine Reckdenwald, vice president of human resources & support services at Bristol Hospital; George eighmy, vice president of ginance/CFo at Bristol Hospital; Ron Araujo, manager of conservation and load management at CL&P; and William C. Mascetti, president of ACG north America.