Grow Up | For those who love to grow their own vegetables or herbs, Green Living Technologies, LLC has created easily maintainable green walls and roofs. Their sustainable design can be assembled indoors or out, on a small or large scale for a touch of nature or a permanent statement. The walls are perfect for someone who wants to grow an abundance of fruits and veggies but does not have the space to grow them the old-fashioned way. Available through The LaurelRock Company, Wilton, 203-544-0062, laurelrock.com.
Grow Up | For those who love to grow their own vegetables or herbs, Green Living Technologies, LLC has created easily maintainable green walls and roofs. Their sustainable design can be assembled indoors or out, on a small or large scale for a touch of nature or a permanent statement. The walls are perfect for someone who wants to grow an abundance of fruits and veggies but does not have the space to grow them the old-fashioned way. Available through The LaurelRock Company, Wilton, 203-544-0062, laurelrock.com.
Top 10 List | If you’re due for new appliances, this should be your first stop. The Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund, teamed with CL&P, has just released a website where consumers can find the most energy-efficient products for their dollar. The site, toptenusa.org/ct, lists the 10 most efficient appliances in 18 categories, plus a search for the nearest retail location. Bosch dishwashers dominated their category. 800-944-2904, bosch-home.com.
Ship Shape | New Haven is getting a big dose of sustainable innovation from Marengo Structures. The architectural company is completing a pilot house on Vernon Street, built from old shipping containers. Christian Salvati, architect and designer of the project, says New Haven was an obvious choice due to its low vacancy rates, the presence of educational institutions (making the community open to novel design techniques), and the city’s incorporation of LEED principles into their building regulations. The home holds two, two-bedroom apartments. And while the façade blends in with other homes in the area, the sides of the house reveal the containers as building blocks. ces@marengostructures.com.
Second Acts | Since 2005, Green Demolitions’ founder Steve Feldman and team have been selling luxury commercial surplus and donated kitchens, bathroom fixtures and appliances from houses being demolished or renovated on CT’s Gold Coast and beyond to benefit addiction recovery program, Recovery Unlimited. Their newest initiative, Renovation Angel, allows qualified donors to allot a portion of proceeds, $1,000 or more, to their charity of choice. Norwalk, 888-887-5211, greendemolitions.com, renovationangel.org.
Urban Growth | MetroCrops’ co-founder Steve Domyan says there’s no reason to import lettuce from California. His innovative project, backed by a USDA research grant, involves turning unused industrial buildings in cities like Bridgeport into indoor farms. Domyan and team are fine-tuning parameters of the initiative while conducting research in Storrs. Using LED lighting technology, indoor farming will require less water, fewer nutrients, and of course have lower shipping costs than traditional farming. Metrocrops.com.