Sustainable Living at Home
Reduce Energy & Water Use Inside Your Home
Save Energy, Save Money: Reducing energy use at home is one of the easiest ways to cut your carbon footprint - and can lower your utility bills at the same time. A great place to start is with a professional home energy audit.
Eversource offers low cost energy audits, rebates and incentives on energy saving products that make a real difference. It's a true win-win.
Easy Ways to Cut Your Energy Consumption
Small habits add up quickly. Try these simple changes to reduce everyday use:
Turn off the lights: When you leave a room, turn off the lights. It sounds simple - but making it a habit ca significantly reduce wasted energy over time.
Clean your refrigerator's coils once a year: Refrigerators and freezers are among the biggest energy users in most house? According to the Consumer Energy Center, cleaning the coils can reduce energy use by up to 30%.
Recycle old appliances responsibly: Upgrading your refrigerator or freezer? Eversource offers a no-cost appliance recycling program and you may be eligible for a $30 rebate when you recycle your old unit.
Explore Eversource's Refrigerator & Freezer Recycling program.
Switch to wool dryer balls: Using three wool dryer balls at once can reduce drying time by about 10% while naturally softening laundry - no chemicals needed. Add few drops of essential oil for a light, fresh scent and say goodbye to disposable dryer sheets!
Take Action:
- Schedule a home energy audit
- Turn off lights and unplug unused electronics
- Maintain major appliances for efficiency
- Choose reusable, chemical free alternatives
Think About Conserving Water
Want to conserve water too but not sure where to start? Understanding your current usage is the first step.
Take this short water-use survey to learn how you can reduce water consumption at home.
Take Action:
- Fix leaks promptly
- Use water efficient fixtures
- Be mindful of daily water habits
Get Rid of Stuff Responsibly
Spring Cleaning? Downsizing?
Cleaning out closets, garages, or storage areas doesn’t have to send usable items to the landfill. New Canaan offers several great options for donating, reusing, and recycling responsibly.
New Canaan Swap Shop: Launched in November 2022, the New Canaan Swap Shop accepts a wide variety of gently used items including: household goods, sporting equipment, books, puzzles, toys, baby items and electronics.
The Junkluggers: An eco-friendly junk removal service that prioritizes upcycling, recycling and donating as much as possible.
Sports Equipment: Pick Up Please. A free pick-up service for used sporting goods – snowboards, skis, helmets, balls, gloves, and more! Proceeds support programs of the Vietnam Veterans of America.
Take Action:
- Donate usable items instead of throwing them out
- Choose services that prioritize reuse and recycling
- Schedule pickups to make decluttering easy
In Our Backyard: The New Canaan Thrift Shop
Cleaning out closets? Rather than throw out items you no longer need or want, give them a second life at the New Canaan Thrift Store, located at 2 Locust Avenue. Proceeds from items sold at the Thrift Store benefit Visiting Nurse and Hospice of Fairfield County, a member of Waveny LifeCare network. With the Swap Shop now open, some of the items below can also go to the Swap Shop at the Transfer Station (as noted below).
What's Accepted
The New Canaan Thrift Store accepts the following items for donation:
- Gently used clothing, hats, ties, handbags and wallets;
- Shoes and boots in good condition
- Jewelry and watches
- Children's books (The Swap Shop will accept if less than 10 years old);
- Laptops, housewares (The Swap Shop will accept);
- China and decorative glassware, kitchen appliances (The Swap Shop will accept);
- Linens that are clean and free of stains;
- Small pieces of furniture, antiques, artwork and collectibles (also accepted by the Swap Shop).
Reduce Waste: Upcycle
Think Twice Before Throwing Out Old Furniture
Upcycling offers a sustainable, creative way to breathe new life into worn pieces, keeping them out of the landfill while adding unique character to your space.
With sources like the Swap Shop, New Canaan Thrift Shop, and local tag or estate sales, anyone can find old furniture ready for a fresh twist. This approach not only reduces waste but also allows for personal expression through unique, stylish pieces.
The takeaway? Don’t throw out old furniture—REDUCE and reinvent! Upcycling is a simple way to make a positive environmental impact, one piece at a time!
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Planet New Canaan
P.O. Box 12
New Canaan, CT 06840
Email: [email protected]