Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/515487
BY THE NUMBERS 10th Connecticut's rank in states' commitment to locally produced food, up 10 spots from 2014. $99M Total Connecticut received from the Northeast cap-and-trade program Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative from 2005 to 2013. 45% Amount cost of wholesale New England electricity dropped in winter 2015 from the previous year, as weather was warmer and power plants were better prepared. 995,000 Gallons of sewage pumped out of boats in 2014 in Long Island Sound and Candlewood Lake, a record since the Department of Energy & Environmental Protection started working to prevent boaters from dumping into the state's waterways. $23.6M Loss incurred in 2014 by Enfield solar manufacturer STR Holdings, up from a loss of $18.3 million in 2013. The company's general counsel, Alan Forman, resigned in May to pursue another opportunity. 450 Employees housed at Comcast Cable's regional headquarters in Berlin, which now receives 80 percent of its electricity from an onsite fuel cell. SOURCE: STROLLING OF THE HEIFERS, RGGI, ISO NEW ENGLAND, DEEP, STR HOLDINGS, COMCAST Utility Investiga- tions — The Con- necticut Office of Consumer Counsel and the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority got Berlin natural gas utility Eversource Energy to refund $1.5 million to customers, after it was learned the company earned above its ap- proved amount. This came after PURA fined Connecticut Natural Gas $50,000 for having too many gas leaks. Good looking out. EPA Fines — After not handling chemi- cals properly at their water treatment plants, Groton and Norwich agreed to pay $614,330 in fines to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and in upgrades to the plants. While EPA fines are nothing new to private industry, we hold gov- ernments to a higher standard. Grade: A www.CTGreenGuide.com SUMMER 2015 • Connecticut Green Guide 11 Grade: F fluorescent systems. In an effort to further reduce energy usage, the restau- rant purchased new refrigeration equipment with evaporator fan controls and electronically commutated motors, which will streamline maintenance and maximize efficiency. Gas efficiency measures were a key component of the comprehensive project, and the restaurant received $300 in incentives to cover upgrades. Lenny & Joe's installed new high-efficiency sprayers and water-efficient fau- cet aerators in the kitchen sinks, optimizing the water system and signifi- cantly impacting water and energy usage. "In the competitive restaurant industry, maintaining efficiency is essential for cost-conscious operations and long-term sustainability," said Roy Haller, director of commercial and industrial energy services programs for Orange electric utility United Illuminating, which administers the Energize Connecticut program. UI helped the restaurant develop an efficiency plan, identifying strategic opportunities to improve energy use, and provided step-by-step technical assistance to ensure smooth execution of the plan. "The custom energy solutions we present are intended to make facil- ity improvements and equipment upgrades tangible and feasible to help restaurants reduce operating costs and ultimately enhance the overall customer experience," Haller said. Information on Connecticut's energy efficiency programs can be found at EnergizeCT.com or by calling (877) WISE-USE. As with most energy efficiency projects, Lenny & Joe's included a lighting retrofit in its performance package. PHOTOS | CONTRIBUTED