Sustainable Connecticut Businesses for All Your Winter Fun
There are plenty of exciting things to do in Connecticut during the colder months—you can walk along the beach, go for a hike, set up a campfire and roast s’mores or even take a sleigh ride once the snow hits the ground. No matter what you choose, you’re sure to find the charm our great state is known for. You’ll also find a plethora of businesses incorporating sustainability into their daily practices and all of them deserve our support. The Energize Connecticut℠ Sponsors are kicking off the holiday season by sharing a list of some of these great local spots.
Give the Gift of Sustainability
Eco Evolution Co.
Looking to get a jump start on your holiday shopping? At Eco Evolution Co., you can search gifts from categories like home décor, sustainable fashion, kitchen accessories, handmade jewelry and more. The best part? All products are ethically made, eco-friendly and recyclable. This curated collection comes from “The Eco Dude,” who is best known for living a low-waste and sustainable lifestyle on his social media accounts.
Tanger Outlets
Find virtually anything you need at the Foxwoods Tanger Outlets. With 100s of brands at low prices, this is the perfect place to shop for everyone on your list. Plus, you can feel good about your purchases knowing that all U.S. locations are implementing sustainability and environmental initiatives with the goal of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The brand has also doubled its solar infrastructure and added over 160 electric vehicle chargers to locations across the country.
Winter Fun
Mystic Aquarium
If you need a fun way to spend a chilly afternoon indoors, the Mystic Aquarium is calling your name! Spend the day admiring the adorable animals while knowing you’re supporting a business that prioritizes sustainability. When they enlisted the help of Energize Connecticut Sponsor Eversource, they knew internal sustainability was the most important goal. Eversource helped by installing an electric vehicle charging station, lighting upgrades and updated HVAC systems. They also provided consultation services. Additionally, financing from Energize Connecticut Sponsor CT Green Bank allowed the aquarium to install a solar project that will produce 295,649 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy each year.
Saybrook Point Inn & Spa
Want to say you’ve stayed at “Connecticut’s first green-certified hotel”? Get ready to book your stay at the Saybrook Point Inn & Spa! Pamper yourself with a staycation dripping with both luxury and energy efficiency. This local business has installed energy-efficient lighting, an HVAC energy management system, geomatrix soil air technology, a natural gas cogeneration plant and more.
Bushnell Theater for the Performing Arts
A day at the theater is a great treat for the colder months, and the Bushnell Theater for the Performing Arts is a great option. In fact, it has hosted over 20,000 performances across its 90-year history. But despite its historic look and feel, this organization is keeping things modern by spotlighting energy efficiency. In 2001, the Bushnell added the Belding Theater, incorporating LED lighting and other energy efficiency measures. Then, in 2012, they took things one step further by replacing their boiler with a more efficient three-way steam system, which is 92 percent efficient, compared to the previous boiler’s 42 percent efficiency.
Park Street Library
What better way to spend a winter afternoon than by cozying up with a good book? Head on over to the Park Street Library, which, with the help of Eversource, was designed with efficiency in mind. This library is an affiliate of the Hartford Public Library. The architect aimed to design the new space with energy efficiency in mind and did so by installing LED interior and exterior lighting as well as cooling and heat recovery equipment.
Eat, Drink and Be Merry
Beverly Pizza House
When you’re ready to grab a bite to eat, you can feel great about stopping for a slice (or the whole pie!) at Beverly Pizza House. They worked with Energize Connecticut Sponsor United Illuminating to upgrade interior and exterior lighting, including LED bulbs in signs. Other upgrades included replacing an old gas furnace and gas-fired water heater with high-efficiency equipment, installing an ENERGY STAR® certified air conditioning unit and updating vending machine controls. Pizza you can feel extra good about eating? Count us in!
Kneads Bakery, Café, and Mill
If you find yourself in Westport, make a trip to the Kneads Bakery, Café, and Mill. Not only do they serve delicious meals that source ingredients from local farms, they also support sustainability in virtually everything they do. Recycling efforts were a great start on their quest to reduce waste, but they took it quite a few steps further. This business partners with a local food bank to reduce 90 pounds of food waste each week. Additionally, they reduce food waste even further with their composting program. So enjoy a delicious meal here with a side of positivity knowing you’re helping them make a difference.
Riverview Bistro
Enjoy dinner with a view at the scenic Riverview Bistro in Stratford overlooking the Housatonic River. This local spot worked with United Illuminating and the Small Business Energy Advantage program to install energy-efficient interior and exterior lighting, programmable thermostat sensors, improved motor controls, evaporator fans and more. Plus, they reduced hot water usage by installing high-efficiency sprayers and aerators.
Whether you’re planning a vacation or a staycation, Connecticut offers plenty of winter fun for the whole family. We hope you’ll join us in celebrating the season by supporting local, sustainable businesses that truly do make a difference for our state.
