Connecticut Green Living

Hartford--Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy's office announced today that applications for the latest round of grants under the Connecticut Brownfield Remediation program will be accepted through May 16 of this year. The dictionary defines a brownfield as "a former industrial or commercial site where future use is affected by real or perceived environmental contamination." The Environmental Protection Agency has operated its Brownfield Program to help tribes, states, and other communities restore brownfield properties since 1995. The release reads in part that in this, the eleventh round of competitive grant funding under which Connecticut partners with local municipalities and economic development agencies, "blighted properties" are being put back to use: "Under this round, a total of $4 million will be earmarked for remediation projects and $1 million will be reserved for assessment projects." “We have made brownfield remediation and redevel...

What's refreshing about Sustainability Made Simple: Small Changes for Big Impact is that it doesn't talk down to the reader, nor does it assume the reader knows anything more than that the climate is changing and everyday citizens should do their part to slow the process. The young authors, fairly recent University of California San Diego International Affairs grads, met on campus when they were studying environmental policy. Laurèn DeMates now works in sustainability in San Francisco at a tech startup, and co-author Rosaly Byrd, who blogs on sustainability for the Huffington Post, was calling in from her role as a sustainability professional for the UN in Rio de Janeiro. DeMates told me recently that the idea for the book arose naturally. "We definitely knew we wanted to do something about the polarization about information on sustainability. There was nothing in the middle that was helpful to individuals who don’t necessarily call themselves environmentalists. We wan...

The American Society of Civil Engineers has issued their 2017 "Report Card" for the nation's infrastructure, and the news is not good. The last report, issued in 2013, gave America a D+ and we're still at the same grade. Connecticut is hardly excluded. The ASCE says of our state that our "deteriorating infrastructure" impedes our ability to compete globally, and writes, in part: "While the nation’s infrastructure earned a “D+” in the 2017 Infrastructure Report Card, Connecticut faces infrastructure challenges of its own. For example, driving on roads in need of repair in Connecticut costs each driver $864 per year, and 8.0% of bridges are rated structurally deficient ." ... Connecticut Green Living spoke with ASCE's past president, Andy Herrmann today regarding both the nation and about Connecticut. Following is an edited transcript of the call: CGL: Did the national report card grade surprise you? Why or why not? AH: No – it has...

Governor Dan Malloy announced that in anticipation of Winter Storm Reggie , dangerously cold temps and negative wind chill factors over the next couple of days have forced him to activate the state’s Severe Cold Weather Protocol beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 10, 2017, and remaining in effect through 8:00 a.m. on Monday. The Governor's office issued the following press release to ensure that Nutmeggers stay warm and safe: “Temperatures have been fluctuating a lot lately, which is especially why we want to get word out to the most vulnerable that it will be brutally cold this weekend and anyone in need should seek shelter,” Governor Malloy said. “Following the snowfall that we’re expecting to receive on Friday morning, temperatures will begin to drop for the next couple of days. If anyone is in need of shelter, call 2-1-1 to find the nearest available location.” While activated, the protocol directs staff from the state’s Department of Emergency Services and Public Prot...

The following article by the author first appeared on Examiner.com June 15, 2016 Well, I made it - seven days without sugar ... sort of. Let's say I gave up 90 percent of the sugar I was consuming. That's an A- by any measure. I gave up donuts, cookies, ice cream, even dried creamer in my coffee; plus, I felt weird putting Splenda, a sugar substitute, in my joe. I did use some honey. But mainly, I swapped out natural substitutes such as vanilla or cinnamon for a kick. I feel terrific! I am still waking up every morning with an ache in my mouth (bone spur following extraction) but I feel lighter - which I hope proves true when I go get my annual physical Tuesday. Point to make: I felt eager to book the physical because I am anxious to step on the doctor's scale. The United States Food and Drug Administration states in "How Sweet It Is: All About Sugar Substitutes" that there are five sugar substitutes: Newtame (relatively new), Equal, Sweet 'n Low, Swe...

The following article by the author originally appeared on Examiner.com, June 13, 2016 Today I was told I look thinner. This came an hour after I told a source, "If I sound grumpy, it's because I am giving up sugar for a week." He laughed. The truth is, I'm amazed by how empowering it feels to get a handle on my  sugar addiction . I've eaten more fruit in the past few days than I ate the entire previous three weeks. I just tasted some Raisin Nut Bran and it seemed too sweet for me. I am feeling weak, though, and am not sure why this is. Perhaps, getting used to new eating habits I also need to become more educated. U.S. supermarkets chockful of processed foods are not on my hot list this week, and yet, this is what I can afford. Thankfully, it's summer and I can get apples fairly cheaply. My beloved peaches are cheaper, and watermelon can be bought in smaller slices if I can't afford the whole fruit. People who are pinching pennies often find their w...