Facebook  Twitter  rss

Blog Search

Blog Topics to Search On
NAR GreenLogo_CMYK
WM Wendy Martinenas updated 1-09

Lower Electric Rates for 2012 in Connecticut.

By David Popoff                    

Effective January 1st, 2012 the generation rates charged by The Connecticut Light and Power Company and The United Illuminating Company will be reduced.

On November 28, 2011, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) approved the 2012 generation rates for The Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P) and The United Illuminating Company (UI).

For UI customers:

The generation rate for residential customers will decline by about 1.8 cents/kWh going from 10.616 cents/kWh to 8.727cents/kWh.  Continue reading Lower Electric Rates for 2012 in Connecticut.

It’s National Radon Awareness Month

When is the last time you tested your home for Radon?   Don’t wait until you buy a new house because the levels can change from year to year. Tell your family and friends about the health risk and encourage them to test their homes too.  You can call a radon mitigator or pick up a kit and do the testing yourself. It’s easy. Write to Snappy if you need help.

For more on this subject see:
Radon Facts: What Is It?
Factors Affecting Indoor Air Quality

Holiday Stuff: In With The New, Recycle The Old

by Wendy Brandt Martinenas

Are there traces of holidays still in your home? In our house, all the ornaments and decorations are packed away but the holiday cards and tree still remain in their stands and I’m staring at an older iphone which has been replaced by the brand new 4S.  How should I discard these items?  I asked Siri but her answer came up as ‘search the web’ so I thought I’d share my thoughts about what to do with the remants from Christmas past.

If you just had to have the latest and greatest gadget and still have an older version in good working order, MoneyTalksNews tells you where you can cash in your older Apple devices, Kindles and more, as well as how much money you can get from several places.  $340 instant sale on ebay for an iphone 4 is not bad. My iphone 4 has a cracked screen which according to Gazelle (a site that sells electronics for cash) is worth $65. That’s not bad either especially since I thought it was worthless.  Of course if you simply wish to recycle your old device, check out the Recyling Center Search on the Resources tab of Snappy Green. Continue reading Holiday Stuff: In With The New, Recycle The Old

Water for Wellness

by Wendy Brandt Martinenas

Is the water fountain as we know it outdated?  According to JWT Intelligence, in 2012 we’ll be seeing a proliferation of Hydration Stations in public places where people can fill reusable bottles.  If you want the same setup at home, consider either a  whole house water filter, an under-the-counter filter which is a less expensive alternative, a faucet filter or the the least expensive and most common option, the Brita pitcher.  The automated filters are beneficial in that they filter more substances than pitchers.  While they certainly require a monetary investment, the under the counter version is reasonably priced and an adequate solution given that the most convenient and logical water source in our homes is in the Kitchen.  If interested, check out Culligan, a comprehensive resource in our local area.

To incent more college campuses to install hydration stations, like  the College of St. Benedict in the above video, Brita has implemented a Hydrate U program where purchases of custom-branded Nalgene bottles help the school to earn a free Brita®Hydration StationTM.  Don’t forget your water bottle.  Sigg is a also a good one and available at Whole Foods.   Here’s the healthy drinking in 2012.

wendy@ctgreenrealestate.com    William Raveis Real Estate

 

30 SNAPPY Green Tips for the New Year 2012.

By David Popoff

When you think “green” sometimes you tend to think expensive, well here are 30 snappy simple ways to be environmentally conscious that you can incorporate into your daily routine. Once you have started you will see how simple they are and will just become common sense habits that will save you money over time. Please share your experience with friends.

  1. Use reusable bags instead of plastic throw always.
  2. Compost, even old coffee grinds work great for indoor and outdoor plants.
  3. Pay bills on line, remove your name from paper mailing catalogs, and reduce mail.
  4. Replace toxic home cleaners with organic all natural cleaners or make your own such as baking soda and vinegar.
  5. Continue reading 30 SNAPPY Green Tips for the New Year 2012.