Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

Emergency Burn Ban In Effect 10/26/24 - An emergency burn ban is now in effect for all Connecticut State Parks, Forests, and Wildlife Management areas, prohibiting the use of all outdoor grills, firepits, and campfires, and the kindling and use of flame outdoors. DEEP and local agencies are working to contain several active fires across the state. Please avoid all affected State Parks and Forests, as well as the blue-blazed Mattabesett Trail. The Enduro Trail in Voluntown and portions of North Stonington within the Pachaug State Forest are closed at this time. Please note that today's forest fire danger report remains at an 'extreme' level. More information about the current fire danger, burn ban and recommended safety measures can be found here

Residential Buildings

In Connecticut, residential buildings account for thirty- three percent of total energy consumption. The majority of energy consumption is associated with space heating and cooling, appliances and lighting, and water heating and refrigeration. Decisions made at the household level can significantly reduce energy consumption and associated costs. Learn more about your household impact and actions you can take to reduce your energy consumption:

Energy Efficiency 

Save money and energy, benefit from renewable energy, reduce your carbon footprint, and improve the comfort of your home.


Energize CT (residential): Energize CT offers nationally recognized programs and services that can make it simple for you to make smart energy choices.

Green Buildings: A green building is one where the indoor and outdoor (house and landscape setting) environmental qualities have been considered and protected during its design, construction, maintenance and use.  .

Residential Solar

Installing a solar photovoltaic (PV) system may be a great way to reduce your electricity costs while reducing the Greenhouse gasses associated with electricity consumption in your home. 


Residential Solar Investment Program: Find out how this program can help you purchase a solar system or lease one with little to no upfront cost.

Solarize Connecticut: Solarize CT is a proven model for advancing residential solar by utilizing key ingredients. Over the past several years thousands of homeowners have installed solar through the Solarize CT program.

Go Solar CT: Find out what's involved in making solar work for your home, become a savvy solar shopper, learn about the installation process, and get information about living with solar energy.

Reducing Your Carbon Footprint at Home

A carbon footprint is the total set of greenhouse gas emissions attributed to an individual, typically expressed in carbon dioxide equivalents.


Carbon Footprint Calculator: Use this tool from the EPA to calculate the size of your carbon footprint.  

What You Can Do: Explore these 10 simple steps you can take at home to reduce the size of your carbon footprint.

Waste Reduction

Connecticut still disposes of 2.4 million tons of trash annually, an estimated 1,370 pounds of trash per person per year. Disposing of and processing the waste that we produce at home both require energy, usually generated from the combustion of fossil fuels, the largest source of heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions.


Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Learn more about how we manage our waste in Connecticut and how you can contribute to waste reduction, reuse and recycling.

Composting: Did you know that by composting kitchen scraps and yard trimmings at home, and leaving grass clippings on the lawn, the volume of garbage you generate can be reduced by as much as 25 percent!

Food Waste Reduction: The single largest component of solid waste sent to incinerators and landfills is food waste. Learn some tips that you can use in your home to reduce food waste.

Climate Change 

Content last updated December 2017