Press Release from Town of Essex

The sponsorship collective of Energize Connecticut; Eversource and Avangrid, Inc., subsidiaries of United Illuminating; Southern Connecticut Gas; and Connecticut Natural Gas recently awarded Sustainable Essex of the Town of Essex with a $9,025 Community Partnership Initiative grant.

In an effort to make energy efficiency affordable and accessible to everyone, the Community Partnership Initiative grants enable local community groups, non-profit organizations, and municipalities to further energy efficiency adoption and educate residents and businesses on the energy efficiency solutions available to them.

“We are so pleased to be able to help spread the word about residential energy assessments performed by Eversource-authorized contractors,” said Kalyn D’Occhio, the chair of Sustainable Essex. “If we all make small changes within our daily living, we can make a much larger cumulative impact. Essex, let’s start the change at home.”

Essex First Selectman Norm Needleman shared his encouragement.

“The Energize CT energy efficiency programs offer residents a great opportunity to find out where energy might be being wasted,” Needleman said. “I encourage the residents of the town to take advantage of this resource.”

The grant awarded to Sustainable Essex will support outreach to encourage participation in EnergyWise Essex and focus on achieving energy efficiency goals, such as demonstrating actions that will lead to an increase in homes participating in Home Energy Solutions.

This is the second round of funding the program has awarded. In 2022, the Community Partnership Initiative supported efforts in Bethel, Branford, Hamden, Middletown, New London, Waterbury, West Hartford, and Wilton.

“Programs like the Community Partnership Initiative make energy efficiency more affordable and accessible to people in the communities we serve and help work towards a greener economy in Connecticut,” said Penni Conner, the Eversource Executive vice president of customer experience and energy strategy. “We’re proud of the continuous effort by our community partners to help customers lower their energy bills, while spreading awareness about the variety of energy saving solutions that will help their small businesses and local organizations thrive.”

Frank Reynolds, the president and CEO of United Illuminating, Southern Connecticut Gas, and Connecticut Natural Gas, shared his thoughts on the grant.

“Energy Efficiency helps customers improve the value of their homes and businesses, increase their comfort, and reduce their carbon footprint,” said Reynolds. “With this Initiative’s second round of funding, we look forward to reaching businesses and homeowners with new opportunities for energy efficiency projects, and we celebrate the contribution they’re now making to Connecticut’s clean energy goals as we work to achieve a green economy.”

Essex residents can sign up for a Home Energy Solutions assessment by calling 203-292-8088 and are encouraged to mention EnergyWise Essex. For more information on the Community Partnership Initiative, please visit EnergizeCT.com.