INITIATIVES

Much is changing, and has been, to protect and preserve our beautiful planet for ourselves and the generations to come.  Yet so much more needs to be done to reduce our eco-footprint.  Below are highlights of local initiatives to learn more about, volunteer to help with, and/or do your part to help meet the goals.   If you are aware of other initiatives that deserve highlighting, please email to livingwiselyandwell@gmail.com.

In the News


Sustainable CT

Branford Is a Participating Community With Sustainable CT. 

Sustainable CT
In October 2018, the Branford RTM approved a resolution in support of Branford's participation in Sustainable CT. We joined 83 other CT cities and towns committed to working locally on behalf of the environment and healthy development.  www.sustainablect.org.  Contact: Terry Elton, 203-315-5279.


Bring Your Own Branford (BYO Branford)

Congratulations BYO Branford Team!  With a crowd of all ages coming out to show support on June 12, Branford RTM has voted to pass an ordinance restricting the use of retail plastic bags. Branford Bans Plastic Bags at Retail Checkout

[Photo: Lisa Reisman / For Hearst Connecticut Media]
Members of BYO Branford, from left, Kate Galambos, Meg Kilgore, Dave Schneider, Marge Schneider, and Richard Hill, along with Reverie Kitchen owner and chef Diana Staley (second from right).

Team members are here to educate and motivate citizens and assist merchants toward becoming plastic-bag free. Contact them by email of visit them on Facebook!

Recycling

Food Waste/Composting

Compost Challenge!  Can you reduce your food waste 50%+ by 2030?  This is an important initiative for Branford Community Gardens Director/Weed, Seed & Feed Program, Malaine Trecoske.

There are four ways to compost.

  1. Indoor Composting with Worms, called Vermicom-posting.
  2. Outdoor Traditional Backyard Composting of grass clippings, egg shells, food scraps (only plant based, no meats, oils or dairy), plant material and chopped leaves.
  3. Green Cone Solar Compost Digester  (can handle bones, meats, seafood, dairy, grease and small amounts of pet waste.)  Search retailers online.
  4. Blue Earth Compost  Blue Earth Compost  Blue Earth Compost is a food scrap collection service for residents and businesses in Connecticut. They collect your scraps and deliver the finished product back to you 3 times a year.   They make the whole process clean and easy.  Go to their website to sign up. 

For more facts and information on Composting and Food Waste, click here. (Thank you to Malaine Trecoske for the research and information):

Solar Energy

Every town in CT is making plans to support the Clean Energy Fund.  Connecticut Green Bank, a quasi-governmental investment organization, was given the authority to administer the Clean Energy Fund, the goal being to accelerate the growth of green energy.  They innovate, educate, activate and accelerate!  The Green Bank’s model fuels acceleration by creating a vital green energy marketplace—one increasingly driven by attracting private investment into CT rather than ratepayer funds. It drives the critical transition to green energy, creates good jobs, and helps state residents and businesses save on energy costs.  To learn more visit ctgreenbank.com.

www.energizect.com   Empowering you to make smart energy choices.  The Energize Connecticut initiative helps you save energy in your Connecticut home or business with rebates, financing and services for energy efficiency and clean energy improvements. Use Connecticut’s Official Rate Board to compare generation supplier rates that may lower electricity costs.

CT Solar Loan 

Full story, plans and annual reports are available here:

Have or want an electric car?  Charging Station Locations in Branford.

Branford has 5 public charging station ports (Level 2 and Level 3).   There’s also one in East Haven and two in Guilford.  Most of the ports offer free charges for your electric car.  The main charging network in operation is Tesla. You can find out more about the charging networks (policies, pricing and registration information) here.  The ChargeHub charging stations map (link to pdf or directly to the link on the pdf) gives you the address, the type of connector, the network, the price and a lot more. ChargeHub lists all charging stations (level 1, level 2 and DC Fast Chargers) from any provider or manufacturer in North America like ChargePoint, Circuit Électrique, EVgo, SemaConnect, Sun Country Highway and Tesla. You can check out the map on the responsive website or the native iOS and Android mobile app.

Kelp Farming

Selling kelp in Branford as a fresh food product has been growing since 2013 when Branford’s Thimble Island Oyster Company became the first entity to sell fresh kelp grown in Long Island Sound.  Connecticut Sea Grant has invested in more companies to increase kelp farming.  And it’s working. 

In the News

Branford Land Trust Earns National Accreditation!

For over 45 years, the Branford Land Trust has preserved open space in Branford and promoted our community’s appreciation of Branford’s diverse natural features through education, events, and programs.  Branford Land Trust members protect more than 1,300 acres of wonderful natural areas in Branford for generations to come.  Volunteers are the backbone of the organization handling everything from land acquisition and membership to property management and stewardship.

Current initiatives include:

  1. Long Island Sound Blue Plan.  This is a new paradigm in Connecticut’s management of Long Island Sound that seeks to identify and protect significant human use areas and ecologically significant areas, as well as reduce conflict with future activities.  The complete draft plan may be found at www.ct.gov/deep/lisblueplan.  Branford Land Trust is partnering with the Connecticut Energy Environment, Town of Branford and the Thimble Island Brewing Company on this initiative. 
  2. Branford River Project   Promote and monitor health of Branford’s river and assist with the early fall Branford River Parade.
  3. Project Limulus   Assist with this late spring and early summer research project tagging and counting horseshoe crabs. 

To learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit the Branford Land Trust.

Ban Balloons

A message from the Conservation Program of Branford Garden Club, by Michalah Bracken.

What's wrong with balloons? 

  • Balloons are on the Ocean Conservancy's top 20 cleanup list and rank third in deadliest ocean trash behind plastic bags and discarded fishing nets.  They can travel thousands of miles before landing in the ocean or sound. 
  • The diet of many sea turtles consists of jellyfish and they mistake balloons for a meal.  When swallowed, balloons block an animal's gut and result in a slow death by starvation. 
  • Birds become entangled in strings and ribbons restricting their movement and ability to feed.  Flippers of seals can become wrapped in string, causing infections. 
  • Helium used to inflate balloons is a finite resource, better used to cool MRI's and to inflate airbags.   Resources are prioritized to fill medical and safety needs first. 
  •  Balloons are not biodegradable!

https://oceanconservancy.org/