Following the North Haven Board of Selectmen's decision in early 2007 to purchase 20% of its electricity for public facilities from clean renewable energy sources by 2010, the Clean Energy Task Force was created. The town received a $5,000 grant from the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund for becoming a Clean Energy Community. As a Clean Energy Community, the town has pledged to reduce its energy consumption by 20 percent and increase its use of renewable energy by 20 percent by 2018.
The objectives of the Clean Energy Task Force are:
- Educate and encourage Town Residents and Businesses to invest in Clean Energy and Energy Efficiency projects in order to save money and to help the Town to earn credits for Bright Ideas Grants from UI and other grants and benefits State.
- Help the Town of North Haven to create a Municipal Energy Plan (this has been done - we have an energy plan) and to advise the town leadership on efficiency projects and policy.
- To solicit grant proposals and select, oversee, and report on grant projects by community groups.
- To encourage efficient energy use by town officials, households, and businesses.
- Increase Task Force Membership and Participation.
Major Accomplishments:
- Clean Energy Option sign-up campaign leading to free solar array for high school Multi-year partnership with Project Green high school student organization
- Sponsorship of 4 community forums on climate change, energy efficiency, solar power and state resources
- Highly successful Home Energy Solutions energy audit promotion campaign in conjunction with Town government and vendors. Presented $13,025 check to S.A.R.A.H.
- Solarize North Haven Campaign in conjunction with SolarizeCT to encourage residents to install residential solar arrays.
- Our cumulative work earned the Town of North Haven $30,000 in EnergizeCT Bright Idea grants which we have used to offer 300 free HES home energy assessments to North Haven residents
- The Town was awarded a Clean Communities grant from the CT Green Bank which has been used to install an Electric Vehicle charger in the Recreation Department parking lot.
- The task force is working with the CT DEEP and Project Green students on an anti-idling campaign to encourage North Haven residents to obey the state anti-idling law – to save energy and improve air quality.
- The town of North Haven and its Clean Energy Task Force worked with United Illuminating and Johnson Controls for $6 million of town wide energy improvements. The town will repay the cost for the work over the next 18 years using that money saved by the upgrades. North Haven is one of the first municipalities in the state to enter into such a performance contract as the one with Johnson Controls.
- Other Town accomplishments supported by the Task Force include
- The municipal landfill solar array that is providing power to the water treatment plant
- Replacement of all the bulbs in its 3,700 streetlights with LED bulbs
- Installation of a gas-fired, co-generation system to the town pool. It produces electricity and uses the waste heat to heat the pool and showers.
- In June 2017, the North Haven Clean Energy Task Force won a Green Circle Award from the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection for its work. For more information about this go to: http://m.hartfordbusiness.com/article/20170619/PRINTEDITION/306159948/1002?utm_source=enews&utm_medium=HBJToday&utm_campaign=Monday
The Task Force meets the second Monday of each month at the North Haven Recreation Center on Linsley Street at 7:00pm. Visitors are welcome and the task force is looking for additional members.
Want to help? The Clean Energy Task Force is looking for more members -
Contact Kenny Foscue at 203-230-2488 (kfosc@snet.net) or Hugh Davis at 203-248-6685 (hjdavis@comcast.net)
The members of the North Haven Clean Energy Task Force are:
Hugh Davis
Kenny Foscue
Ed Jones
Champak Shah
Jim Stenqvist
Alan Sturtz
Georgann Witte
Meetings:
2nd Monday each month, 7:00 p.m.
North Haven Recreation Center (Except for Town Holidays)
7 Linsley Street
North Haven Energy Information:
Click Here for North Haven Energy Information
Clean Energy/Energy Conservation Resources and Links:
Home Energy Resource Information:
Home Efficiency Resource Sheet
Energize Connecticut
http://energizect.com
CT Green Bank:
http://www.ctcleanenergy.com
US EPA Clean Energy Site:
http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/
The Institute for Sustainable Energy – Eastern CT State University:
http://www1.easternct.edu/sustainenergy/
Energy Guide: information on analyzing your energy use, buying products, finding contractors, etc:
http://www.aclaratech.com
US Department of Energy Site:
https://www.energy.gov/eere/office-energy-efficiency-renewable-energy
Department of Energy Tips:
https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/downloads/energy-saver-guide
Energy Planet Renewable Energy Directory:
http://www.energyplanet.info/
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Editorial
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/05/opinion/05herbert.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Clean Energy Task Force Newspaper Columns & Articles
North Haven Clean Energy Task Force Article 05/2008
Lower Your Electric Bill 06/2008
Solar Power Article 08/2008
Reasons Behind the Reason to Opt for Clean Energy 10/2008
Clean Energy and the Economy 03/2009
National Hanging Out Day 04/19/2009
Energy Efficiency Forum 05/30/2009
The Ant and the Grasshopper 10/2009
Solar Power Forum 01/09/2010