Trainings & Events

Tune in for this discussion with expert guest panelists from across the country, highlighting the benefits and opportunities of transit oriented communities.
 

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to join us for a briefing series about the climate impacts of producing building materials, plastics, and food. Panelists will explain the upstream greenhouse gas emissions generated from the production of these materials and discuss solutions designed to reduce those emissions at scale.

The built environment uses an immense amount of carbon-intensive materials such as concrete and steel. Switching building materials to lower-carbon alternatives can reduce the climate impacts of the built environment, but first, systems must be put in place to assess and reduce the carbon intensity of materials. When buildings reach the ends of their lives, there are also opportunities to reuse materials. Panelists will discuss ways to reduce emissions and material waste in the built environment from construction and deconstruction.

Speakers:

• Jordan Palmeri, Environmental Scientist and Policy Analyst, Materials Management Program, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality


• Dr. Fernanda Cruz Rios, Postdoctoral Researcher, Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation, University of Pittsburgh

The webinar will provide an overview of the UConn TAB’s Technical Assistance program for activities supported in Spring 2022. UConn TAB is offering to provide assistance to New England municipalities at no cost for the Spring semester of 2022. The proposals will be supported through the University of Connecticut course Brownfield Redevelopment, which trains UConn students on all aspects of brownfields investigation, cleanup, and redevelopment. This webinar will outline examples of projects supported and details for submission.
 

Next Wednesday, Dec 8th at 2 pm ET, Climate Now will be hostinga live conversation with Bryan Garcia, President and CEO of Connecticut Green Bank for a discussion on clean energy finance and the mandate and impact of green banks.

Bryan Garcia is the president and CEO of the CT Green Bank, the first green bank in the US, who's mission it is to accelerate the flow of private capital to markets that energize the green economy.
 

Introducing Energy Storage Solutions, a new statewide energy storage program designed to help Eversource and UI customers install energy storage at their home or business. Energy storage backup can help people across Connecticut – from homeowners and small business owners to industrial manufacturers and critical infrastructure facilities – be more secure in the face of our changing climate. Join our partners at the Connecticut Green Bank as they dive into the 2022 launch of Energy Storage Solutions.

This program is overseen by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), is paid for by ratepayers, and is administered by the Green Bank, Eversource, and UI.
 

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to join us for a briefing series about the climate impacts of producing building materials, plastics, and food. Panelists will explain the upstream greenhouse gas emissions generated from the production of these materials and discuss solutions designed to reduce those emissions at scale.

Plastic production is expected to account for an increasing portion of global oil consumption and its resulting greenhouse gas emissions as plastics become more ubiquitous worldwide. Panelists will discuss findings from Beyond Plastics’ new report, The New Coal: Plastics and Climate Change; how emissions associated with plastic production affect communities across the country; and potential policy solutions.

Speakers

• Judith Enck, President, Beyond Plastic; Former EPA Regional Administrator


• Jim Vallette, Co-Founder and President, Material Research L3C


• Miriam Gordon, Policy Director, Upstream Solutions

Recent and pending federal funding initiatives, including the American Rescue Plan Act and bipartisan infrastructure bill, may provide billions of dollars that can help cities and states reach their goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and advance equity in their communities. Governments can learn from example programs to efficiently and effectively leverage these generational opportunities.  

Join the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy to learn more about how your government can strengthen its new or expanded energy programs. Attendees will hear lessons shared in a new ACEEE toolkit that lays out guiding principles for governments, as well as 17 strong programs that can serve as models for new or expanded efforts. The lead author of the toolkit will highlight key takeaways from this research. 

Officials from Connecticut and Washington, D.C. will share insights from their programs and how they are planning to leverage federal funding, and a representative from Elevate will discuss how governments can ensure that programs are deployed equitably to advance energy justice.
 

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) invites you to join us for a briefing series about the climate impacts of producing building materials, plastics, and food. Panelists will explain the upstream greenhouse gas emissions generated from the production of these materials and discuss solutions designed to reduce those emissions at scale.

While composting is a solution for downstream food waste management, upstream reduction of food waste and food waste diversion can be the first steps to reduce emissions and resources unnecessarily used across the sector. Panelists will discuss some strategies available to policymakers that could bolster food waste reduction and diversion efforts.

Speakers

• Dana Gunders, Executive Director, ReFED


• Emily Broad Leib, Director, Food Law and Policy Clinic of the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation, Harvard Law School

Join expert guest panelists for a discussion that offers a national perspective on lot size regulations and reform.
 

Join Sustainable CT for informal discussions the third Friday of each month. We'll share program updates and resources, explore your questions, and strengthen the network of Sustainable CT champions. These sessions are open to all and will be recorded.

Recordings of Previous Coffee Hours

Organizing Your Sustainability Team with the Town of New Milford - January 15th

Equity Coaching and Old Lyme's Approach to Equity - Februrary 19th

All Eyes on Our No-Cost Assistance - March 19th

The Many Flavors of Municipal Collaboration - April 14th

Community Conversations with the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness - May 21st

Meeting the Fellows and Understanding the Sustainable CT Website - June 18th

Creating Inclusive Community Growing Spaces - July 21st

How Can We Help Communicate Your Success? - September 17th

Understanding Your Community And Optimizing For Equity With New Local Data Reports from DataHaven - October 15th

Meeting Joseph, Sustain Your Sustainability Team, and Navigating Transitions in Municipal Leadership - November 19th
 

Cleaning up and redeveloping Brownfields facilitates job growth, increases local tax bases, utilizes existing infrastructure, and improves the environment – a win, win, win, win! To advance understanding of states and federal brownfield programs and opportunities, The Northeast Waste Management Officials’ Association (NEWMOA), the Technical Assistance to Brownfield Communities (TAB) program at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), and state and federal partners are organizing a regional Summit.

The goals of the Summit are to:

- Share information about the financial incentives, liability protections, & technical & other assistance available for brownfields development from federal & state governments

- Promote best practice & lessons learned across states

- Provide an opportunity to increase networking & information-sharing among key stakeholders

- The two-day Summit will include plenary and break-out sessions and an exhibit area. There will be ample time during the breaks to allow for networking and viewing the exhibits. If funding is available, there will be a reception in the evening of the first day.

Organizers expect approximately 300 people to attend, including representatives from:

- State, tribal, & federal government brownfields & waste site cleanup programs

- Local, regional, & state economic development agencies

- Real estate developers, financial institutions, & law firms

- Planning & economic development consulting firms

- Local governments

- Interested citizens & non-governmental organizations

- Job training grantees

- Environmental professional