Madison saves big bucks on energy bills

Updated control systems help make sensible choices, like not heating or cooling rooms that are not in use. CT Energy Efficiency Fund (funded through our electric bills) shelled half of the $68k installation, allowing the school to save $27k per year. That's an impressive 2.5 year pay-off.

Click here to read more from the New Haven Register's Alexandra Sanders.

"Exotic" wind turbine in Torrington

Not all wind is harnessed equally. Here's an interesting 150 KW wind turbine design by Optiwind and installed at a farm in Torrington.

Read more.

Free energy analyses available for UI customers

The CT Energy Efficiency Fund is offering free energy use analysis and cost-saving tips to the first 6,000 United Illuminating customers to sign up. UI will supply "detailed" energy reports for one year, comparing your energy use (electricity only, I assume) to last year's usage and also in relation to similar homes in the area. They are promoting the program through facebook. Click here to sign up and get more information.

You help pay for this and similar programs through small charges on your electricity bill, so don't be shy about signing up!

South Kent School goes solar

Congrats to South Kent School on their new PV system.

http://www.southkentschool.org/article.php?id=297

University of New Haven develops 500 mpg car

UNH has designed and built a single-seater that can travel 500 miles on a single gallon of gasoline. It relies not on hybridization, regenerative braking, solar or human power -- just good old fashioned ingenuity and efficient design. Best of luck to team who will be competing in the national supermileage competition this weekend!

Read here and here.

Rell vetoes energy bill

Governor Jodi Rell put the kibosh on the legislature's comprehensive energy reform bill. This bill was to become the most sweeping energy change in the state since deregulation was passed in 1998.

Read here

WOW! UI buys gas companies

UI's parent company jumps head first into the Natural Gas business. They just bought the two largest NG companies in CT and one in Mass. Read more from Luther Turmelle.